Light
The most-reported shape by far, and the least informative: a point of light at night is what any distant aircraft, satellite, planet, or drone looks like. Since 2019 a large share are Starlink satellites, alone or in trains.
Triangle
Three lights at the corners of a dark shape, usually silent and slow. Aircraft seen from below, refueling tankers, and blimps produce it; the Belgian wave of 1989–90 and the Hudson Valley boomerang are the classic cases, and the "TR-3B" legend grew from it.
Circle
A round shape or a round light. At night it is often a planet or a bright star low on the horizon; by day, a balloon or a distant aircraft head-on.
Fireball
Meteors, bolides, and re-entering rocket stages and satellites, which can cross the sky slowly and break into pieces. The 1965 Kecksburg fireball and the 2009 Norwegian spiral both sit in this column.
Sphere
The "orb" of modern reports. Balloons and party balloons by day, aircraft lights and Starlink flares by night; the metallic spheres in military footage are the unresolved residue.
Disk
The classic flying saucer, reported far less often than it once was. Lenticular clouds, hubcaps thrown for the camera, and out-of-focus birds have all been "disks."
Oval
An elongated round shape, frequently a blimp, an airship, a balloon, or a disc seen at an angle.
Formation
Several lights moving together. Since 2019 this is very often a Starlink train shortly after launch; before that, aircraft in formation, flares, and geese lit from below.
Cigar
A long thin object, typically an aircraft fuselage seen side-on with its wings edge-on, a blimp, or a rocket body.
Changing
A shape that seems to shift. Atmospheric distortion of a bright light near the horizon does this, as do balloons rotating in the wind.
Flash
A brief bright flash: satellite glints, aircraft strobes, iridium-style flares, and lightning.
Chevron
A V-shape, which is what a flock of birds or a formation of aircraft looks like at night, and what the Phoenix Lights looked like in 1997.
Rectangle
A boxy shape, often a balloon or a drone with a light on each corner.
Cylinder
Similar to cigar: a long tube, usually an aircraft body or an airship.
Diamond
A four-pointed shape; the Cash–Landrum object of 1980 and the Calvine photograph of 1990 are the famous diamonds.
Egg
An egg or teardrop; the Socorro craft of 1964 was described this way.
Teardrop
A tapered shape, often a balloon or a bright light with a motion trail.
Cone
A cone or funnel, sometimes a rocket exhaust plume lit by the sun after dusk.
Cross
A cross of lights, usually an aircraft with wing and tail lights seen head-on.
Star
A star-like point, usually a planet, a bright star, or a satellite.
Other
Anything the witness could not fit into the list.
Unknown
The witness did not give a shape.
Go deeper
- UFO orbs explained: the sphere-and-light reports of the 2024 wave.
- The Belgian wave of 1989–90: the case that made the triangle a shape.
- How to report a sighting: the checklist that resolves most of the shapes above before you file.