Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Polybius

(22,085 posts)
Sat May 9, 2026, 09:03 AM 7 hrs ago

All jokes and aside, realistically, what can this star-shaped UAP be?

It was released the other day. Let's talk realistic, possibilities. What we do know is that the video is real, it's from the military, and there are clearly redactions all over the screen. Also, any guess as to what the redactions are?

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
All jokes and aside, realistically, what can this star-shaped UAP be? (Original Post) Polybius 7 hrs ago OP
Infrared imagery really is tricky. Kid Berwyn 7 hrs ago #1
It resembles a head-on view of a stealth fighter TBH LearnedHand 7 hrs ago #2
It is always a relief when something is so far afield from my area(s) of expertise... hlthe2b 6 hrs ago #3
obviously tymfinity46 6 hrs ago #4
a distraction mike_c 5 hrs ago #5
It looks like a compass rose, or a target, to me muriel_volestrangler 5 hrs ago #6
It sure aint the Epstein Files. BradBo 5 hrs ago #7
Chris Cuomo on Newsnation is the only "news network" that is hung up doc03 5 hrs ago #8
It looks like *all* the networks are covering this release: sl8 5 hrs ago #9
Cuomo has been pushing the UAP story for weeks on Facebook but doc03 5 hrs ago #10
Ah, I didn't know that about his Facebook coverage.. nt sl8 4 hrs ago #12
Good that they are all covering it now Polybius 4 hrs ago #13
What can it be? Disaffected 4 hrs ago #11
The redactions are the rectangular, black spots on the screen Polybius 4 hrs ago #14
D'oh! Disaffected 3 hrs ago #16
What? Yiz an't never seen a Jewish space laser before? 3Hotdogs 4 hrs ago #15
lol LiberalLovinLug 2 hrs ago #17

Kid Berwyn

(24,958 posts)
1. Infrared imagery really is tricky.
Sat May 9, 2026, 09:08 AM
7 hrs ago

The star is real, but it’s the heat signature of the object creating it.

So the star represents higher heat than its surrounding space.

Perhaps whatever is generating the heat creates a heat form, a silhouette or outline shaped like a star.

Would love for the Pentagon to release the corresponding visual light imagery, too.

LearnedHand

(5,563 posts)
2. It resembles a head-on view of a stealth fighter TBH
Sat May 9, 2026, 09:11 AM
7 hrs ago

Could that star actually be the “bow wave” of air pressure? Also, it’s leaving a contrail so it’s some sort of current flight technology.

hlthe2b

(114,501 posts)
3. It is always a relief when something is so far afield from my area(s) of expertise...
Sat May 9, 2026, 09:14 AM
6 hrs ago

that I can just simply and emphatically say: I HAVE NO IDEA. I will be interested and will read the other comments.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,512 posts)
6. It looks like a compass rose, or a target, to me
Sat May 9, 2026, 10:33 AM
5 hrs ago

Last edited Sat May 9, 2026, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)

It is remarkably symmetrical, all the way through, which, if it were a 3 dimensional object, would imply it's exactly head or tail on, all the time. Also, its axes are always precisely horizontal and vertical, which indicates it's an artifact of the imaging process - either it is a pointer superimposed on it, or it's a distortion of something else, produced by the scanning process.

Important point: it does not "resemble a star". It resembles a compass rose, with outward-pointing arrows.

doc03

(39,154 posts)
8. Chris Cuomo on Newsnation is the only "news network" that is hung up
Sat May 9, 2026, 10:48 AM
5 hrs ago

on this story. My opinion it's just something else the right wing is throwing against the wall
to see if it sticks. It looks like a Christmas ornament to me, got to admit those Martians have a great sense of humor.

doc03

(39,154 posts)
10. Cuomo has been pushing the UAP story for weeks on Facebook but
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:03 AM
5 hrs ago

I have heard very little on other networks until now. So far, all I have seen are a bunch of grainy out of focus
videos. I can't believe the planes we spend $100s of millions per copy on have such low-resolution cameras.
The Christmas Tree ornament is leaving a trail, maybe it is a map of where the "Trump Epstein Files" are hidden.

Polybius

(22,085 posts)
13. Good that they are all covering it now
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:39 AM
4 hrs ago

It's really interesting to a lot of us. I enjoy reading about stuff like this.

Disaffected

(6,537 posts)
11. What can it be?
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:15 AM
4 hrs ago

I'd say a UAP. Also, an imaging artifact (looks like diffraction similar to "star spikes" seem in astronomical images containing bright stars).

And where are the "clearly redactions all over the screen"??

Polybius

(22,085 posts)
14. The redactions are the rectangular, black spots on the screen
Sat May 9, 2026, 11:43 AM
4 hrs ago

I count 13 of them. They were mentioned in another news story. My guess (at least for one of them) is the exact location.

3Hotdogs

(15,500 posts)
15. What? Yiz an't never seen a Jewish space laser before?
Sat May 9, 2026, 12:00 PM
4 hrs ago

Marjorie explained it to ya but ya laughed at her,

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»All jokes and aside, real...