Private startup Enigma Labs said more than 2,500 users of the alert sighting app submitted reports in December.
SEDONA, Arizona – Mike Osedona stood out as a dark silhouette wearing a snap brim hat against the purple Twilight sky.
“I have the dog star Sirius. I have Rigel, I have Orion. I have a belt,” Osedona said as her fingers moved between the star and the constellations.
On the eve of January 31, he is searching for satellites, drones, spacecraft and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) on a 90-minute crash course in astronomy. led the
The goal was to learn how to identify celestial bodies and artificial objects, navigating through the night sky and examining abnormalities with healthy doses of skepticism.
The tools they used consisted of night vision goggles designed by O’Sedona, which enhances the ambient light by 1000 times.
“There’s a spaceship about 850 miles (above),” he said, peering into the range of his night vision. He recognized the object with its relative speed and path.
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“It’s your weather satellite. I’ll try to find a (communications) satellite right away,” he said.
What was previously invisible to the naked eye can now be observed through the bright, shining green field of the viewfinder.
And there was plenty to see that night under the heavenly dome at Sedona Airport in central Arizona.
“Okay. Do you see this guy here? He throbbed. Let’s see if he throbbed again,” Osedona said. “These people – they’re cruise. They’re spacecraft. Now there’s an airplane.”
“This is open 24/7. Our (our) Space Force’s stuff is pretty heavy.”
O’Sedona, owner of the Arizona UFO Tour since 2018, aims to guide the group on nighttime adventures and find elusive “exotic” objects.
About four years ago, he recalls seeing a distinctive ball at a red light at a low altitude near Thunder Mountain, one of Sedona’s highest peaks.
“It was under Mount Ant’s top so it wouldn’t have been a falling star. There’s no trail. It’s just a red ball,” he said.
It’s been about 13 months since O’Sedona last saw an exotic object. Tonight he and his three clients are hopeful.
A sighting of drone that stretches ramp
As the conversation turned to recent major sightings of drones across the country, Osedona, a retired Department of Defense missile engineer, shared his views.
“Drones are not theory,” he said.
He considers them to be government aircraft used for intelligence reporting meetings. They are looking for something, but it remains a mystery.
“What drones do is something I like to call ‘fishing’,” Osedona said.
In November, widespread reports of drone sightings began to emerge from at least six states, including densely populated areas in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
UFO investigator and tour guide Mike O’Sedona will track the satellite paths on January 31, 2025 during a guided tour in Sedona, Arizona. Alan Stein/Epoch Times
Some individuals reported seeing drones moving in packs.
“Generally speaking, it’s legal to fly a drone in most places if you’re operating under 400 feet, but there are rules that include safety tests, and you’ll see the drone, and you’ll see it, and others. Avoid all aircraft, and avoid all other aircraft, not because of the cause. The FAA told the Epoch Times via email.
By December, the FAA reported that there were over 1 million registered drones in the United States. Of these, 409,408 were registered for commercial purposes and 385,892 were registered for recreational purposes.
The former Biden administration said drones are not of foreign origin and are generally not harmful.
President Donald Trump has previously committed to improving transparency regarding drone sightings after taking office on January 20th.
During the first media briefing on January 28th, White House press director Karoline Leavitt said a mysterious drone discovered along the East Coast had approved the FAA drone.
“After research and research, drones that were flying in large quantities through New Jersey were allowed to fly by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” she said.
“Many of these drones were also enthusiasts, recreational and individuals who enjoyed flying drones.
“In time it got worse because of curiosity. This wasn’t an enemy.”
There is an app for that
Established in 2020, Enigma Labs, a New York City-based company, has launched a new iPhone platform that allows users to track sightings of unidentified airborne phenomena (UAP). The Android version of the app will be released soon.
Currently, private startups have around 200,000 users who use their applications to report sightings in real time.
On December 7th, 2022, a pair of fire gloves cast the sparkle of the other worlds under the near-full moon in Sedona, Arizona. Alan Stein/Epoch Times
The company utilizes the fusion of advanced artificial intelligence and sensors to accurately identify and verify events, as stated on the company’s website.
“People look at objects every day and report to us. They send us videos, and they send us photos,” Enigma Lab spokesman said. Christine Kim told The Epoch Times.
Starting in mid-November, Enigma Labs said that mysterious, unidentified aircraft were first reported across three state regions. Many sightings occurred near sensitive areas such as military bases, including “swarms of objects” that raised public and official and official concerns.
“The FAA has implemented flight restrictions, local senators call for an emergency, and (Connecticut) authorities are continuing their investigation,” according to Enigma Labs.
“The persistent intrusion and lack of clear communication have driven a wave of public speculation, including the fear of foreign drones and the looseness of nuclear material.”
From November 20th to January 27th, Enigma Labs received and approved a total of 520 reports in the Northeast. Enigma App has sent 12,000 notifications. This allows more Skywatchers to focus on the hotspots.
Enigma Labs categorized a surge in sightings based on their traits, behavior, and group invasions.
Ground report data revealed that 16% of objects are described as “exceptionally large.”
Additionally, 63% of approved reports focused on unusual light patterns, and 14% described common shapes containing triangles.
“40% of the reports actually mention drones and drone-like behavior, and many people reported objects moving in strange patterns,” writes Enigmalab.
“54% of reports described objects as “hovering” or staying in the air.
25% of the reports described objects that move in five or more “swarms.” 13% of Enigma App users reported 10 or more objects.
Engima Labs also said 364 reports are within 25 miles of military facilities, including Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey and Naval Weapons Station Earl.
“There is no consistent pattern, but several witnesses have reported objects to the coast. Some mentioned objects come from the ocean and fly inland,” Enigma Lab said.
In Arizona, users of the Enigma app have reported hundreds of sightings. Tucson recorded 884 sightings, followed by Yuma at 155, Flagstaff at 137, Kingman at 130 and Prescott at 107.
Kim estimates that Enigma Labs has received a total of 32,000 reported sightings through the app, and these sightings continue despite a decline in media coverage. In December, she said about 2,500 sightings were reported via the app.
The sighting continues
“We ask a lot of structured data questions because we believe that in order to scientifically study UAPS, we need the right data,” Kim said.
“The surprising thing is that January is actually one of the highest months except December, and is currently approaching 2,000 sightings. January is the best in two months. It is in line with being one of the submissions.
“We’re mostly neutral about origins. There are a lot of theories out there about what they are.”
The drone flies over Clinton Township, New Jersey on December 5th, 2024, with a stle from the video. Courtesy of Christopher Stadouris via AP/Screenshot via Epoch Times
Adding credibility to reported sightings, Kim said that many users of the Enigma app are scientists, veterans and professional skywatchers, so he’s always “look up.”
“We really admire these submissions. They really have expertise,” she said.
Kim said about 60% of reported sightings deserve further investigation.
“It definitely deserves research. I think there’s a lot of frustration,” Kim said. “What are these drones? Are people doing something about it? How can you find the patterns?”
Kim said that not all of them are unusual. “There are a lot of objects in the air. Satellites and planets that people think are UAPS.”
In 2022, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a team of malfunctions and abnormal phenomena researchers, including a panel of 16 experts tasked with investigating the nature and roots of UAP.
“Red Rock” Community
Every year, around 3 million people visit Sedona, a city with a population of 9,819. It is famous for its unexplained aviation sightings, high magnetic properties of iron-rich rocks, and suspicions of energy vortex caused by various locations of New Age’s spiritual interest.
“What we have is a dark sky community where these goggles can see what you couldn’t see in most places,” Osedona said.
People will walk along the way to cool off in Oak Creek, Sedona, Arizona on July 22, 2022. Mario Tama/Getty Images
He urged the three visitors to remain open-minded about objects flying across the night sky, despite being skeptical.
“I don’t expect to believe every word I say, as the word ‘belie’ uses the word ‘lie’ in the middle,” Osedona said.
“On the other hand, I don’t exaggerate. I’m not using exaggeration.”
Osedona said it’s important to use common sense when talking about unidentified air sightings.
“You have to have common sense. It was common in the 50s. Not so much now,” he said.
