Synopsis: On 05 Jan 12, at approximately 1841 hours, the witness of this investigation was onboard the cruise ship MSC Poesia, which was underway and heading back to Florida. The witness, who was in cabin #11151, went outside on the balcony to take a photo of the sunset. Upon reviewing the photo, the witness claimed a UFO could be seen in the photo.
Evidence Submitted: Photo of a UFO.
Initial Action: This UFO investigation was opened as an AN1 – an anomaly that left no lasting physical effects, such as lights in the sky and similar phenomena. A preliminary analysis of the video indicated the UFO was more than likely a Catadioptric Lens Flares.
Investigation and Findings: During the interview, the witness explained that the UFO was not personally observed while taking photos of the sky – a common indicator of a lens flares. In an effort to positively identify the object as a lens flare, investigators obtained the original photo and applied standard cross-section analysis. The analysis of the photo indicated the anomaly intersected with the sun inside the frame of view.
Object Details: Lens flares are created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera’s film or digital sensor. The lens flare often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, giving the appearance of a “flying disk or saucer”.
