Recent Pentagon and FBI records reveal a sequence of orb sightings reported in the northeastern United States spanning from October 2024 to June 2025. Among these, witnesses described a glowing red sphere containing what seemed like a basketball-sized “white plasma sun.” These accounts are part of numerous records published through the Trump administration’s Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Encounters, or PURSUE. This initiative aims to declassify UAP-related files.
In October 2024, an eyewitness reported seeing a “plasma-like sphere” hovering above a pond approximately 2,700 feet away. Investigators noted the luminous object changed shape and brightness, at times splitting into smaller points of light. A second luminous point hovered above the water, not resembling a surface reflection. The object was stationary for 45 minutes before disappearing. The U.S. government authenticated the video captured on an iPhone. The FBI assessed the eyewitness as highly credible.
Another incident occurred in July 2025, when a witness noticed an intense bright light hovering below the tree line behind a residence. The witness described it as a red sphere containing a bright white center resembling a basketball-sized “plasma sun.” A second witness reported seeing the same object, estimated to be about 30 yards away and 20 to 30 feet above the ground. Two identical orbs later appeared nearby, moving above the trees and eventually merging into a single object. Both witnesses captured video footage, and the FBI obtained photographs during the investigation.
Law enforcement officials reported multiple sightings from the same general area in the northeastern United States. One significant unresolved case involved a 2023 incident near a sensitive national security site in the western United States, where six federal agents described seeing glowing orange “mother orbs” releasing smaller red objects into the night sky.
An assessment by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office suggested that approximately 40% of reported activity remains unexplained, even after cross-referencing witness accounts with data from commercial and military sources. Analysts considered potential explanations, including military activity and environmental phenomena, but no single explanation accounted for all observations.
The newly released files contain witness narratives, sketches, and a map of related incidents grouped under the “Western U.S. Event,” including “Orbs Launching Orbs,” “Fiery Orb,” “Dark Kite,” and “Translucent Kite.” A notable February 2022 sighting near Colorado Springs, Colorado, involved five U.S. Army personnel witnessing a shimmering object hovering above Cheyenne Mountain.
Witnesses described the object as resembling a large jet, made of irregular panels shifting in shape. A former Army intelligence officer recounted seeing a creamy white, opalescent shape with articulating panels that vanished suddenly.
Pentagon investigators hypothesized the sighting might result from sunlight reflecting off snow-covered terrain, though the assessment was low confidence due to uncertain viewing angles and environmental conditions.
The published records offer a varied view of UAP reports, from potentially explainable incidents to unresolved cases. Transparency advocates welcome these publications, though some researchers criticize the reliance on witness testimony and limited technical data. Former AARO director Sean Kirkpatrick stated that unresolved cases often lack sufficient information for definitive conclusions.
Government officials emphasize that unresolved cases do not indicate evidence of extraterrestrial life. The records document observations and investigations but do not establish extraterrestrial origins.