Caelum Incognitum — The interactive encyclopedia of ufology

Venus (misidentification)

Explanations & misidentifications

The planet Venus, very bright at dawn and dusk, is among the most frequent causes of false UFO sightings, especially when low on the horizon, where the atmosphere makes it twinkle and change color. Experienced pilots have been fooled by it.

In the major cases

• Tehran Incident (1976)

See also

• Meteors and fireballs
• Satellites and Starlink trains
• Kaikoura 1978: the film of the lights
• Thomas Mantell (1914-1948)
• Phosphine on Venus (2020)
• Colour-changing lights
• Autokinetic effect
• The Moon, Jupiter, Sirius: astronomical mix-ups
• Sky-checking tools

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