An unidentified object caught on news footage
A local Fox 5 news helicopter inadvertently captured a mysterious orb zooming across the Hudson River and Lower Manhattan. The footage, aired during a Good Day New York segment, shows the orb appearing to move at high speeds in an arcing path, seemingly directed, and quickly outpacing boats below.
Experts suggest optical illusion
Ufologists and scientists offered explanations for the phenomenon. Harvard professor Avi Loeb suggested the orb could be an optical artifact caused by sunlight reflecting off the helicopter’s glass. Retired Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet also dismissed it as a possible unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP), attributing it instead to a camera effect.
Theories on speed and movement
Photo experts noted the orb’s opacity, ruling out standard lens flares. However, some theorized that the speed and direction could be a “parallax effect,” where the movement of the camera and helicopter creates an illusion of extraordinary velocity. If the object traveled the visible 3-mile distance in four seconds, its speed would exceed 2,700 miles per hour, over double that of an F-18 jet.
Social media reactions
Good Day New York anchor Dan Bowens posted the footage on Instagram, questioning the object’s nature. While viewers speculated about drones or balloons, others compared it to recent UAP sightings reported globally.
Parallels with Pentagon-released footage
The orb’s appearance echoes radar footage released by the Pentagon showing metallic orbs moving through controlled airspace.
These UAPs remain unexplained, according to Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, former director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.
Growing UAP intrigue
The sighting comes amid heightened interest in unidentified phenomena, with recent congressional hearings delving into crash retrieval programs and allegations of non-human intelligence. Whether the Hudson River orb is an optical illusion, drone, or something more extraordinary, it adds to the growing intrigue surrounding UAPs in the modern era.