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Why are estimates of an unidentified object’s distance and speed often unreliable?
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unidentified flying object
Learn about an unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sighting from this video (known as the Gimbal video) captured by fighter pilots associated with the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. The video shows instrument detections of unknown aerial objects, which the pilots were unable to identify, off the East Coast of the United States, 2014–15.
Visual impressions of an unidentified flying object’s distance and speed are considered highly unreliable for several key reasons:
- Lack of Reference Points: Observations are frequently made against a blank sky, which lacks background objects—such as clouds or mountains—that are necessary to establish a maximum distance or scale.1
- Assumed Size: Estimates of speed and distance are often derived from an assumed size of the object, which can lead to significant inaccuracies if the object’s true nature or dimensions are unknown.1
- Optical Illusions: The human eye and complex optical systems, such as camera lenses, can create misleading visual data. For example, reflections from windows or eyeglasses can produce superimposed images, while bright astronomical bodies like the planet Venus can appear to move or follow observers.12
Because these perceptions are heavily influenced by psychological factors and the limitations of human vision, they do not provide a reliable basis for scientific measurement.12