The U.S. Department of Defense released a new set of declassified materials related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena UAP, adding to the growing public archive of previously classified investigations. Among the most visually striking entries is a 2013 infrared recording captured by a U.S. military sensor system operating under Central Command in the Middle East.
The file, identified in official documentation as DOW UAP PR38, shows a bright, structured pattern in thermal imagery that analysts describe as resembling an eight pointed star with alternating arm lengths. The object moves steadily across the sensor’s field of view, occasionally producing a faint trailing effect before exiting the frame. No accompanying narrative report provides an explanation beyond the raw sensor data.
The case was later reviewed by the All domain Anomaly Resolution Office AARO and classified as unresolved due to a lack of supporting evidence from additional sensors, radar confirmation, or eyewitness accounts. As a result, no definitive classification was assigned to the phenomenon.
Experts note that infrared systems can sometimes produce star shaped or symmetrical artifacts due to lens effects, diffraction spikes, or intense point heat sources interacting with the optics. However, without additional data, the exact cause of this specific recording remains undetermined.
The eight pointed star pattern has drawn attention due to its symmetry and clarity in the footage, prompting comparisons with known optical phenomena as well as historical accounts of unusual aerial observations reported in military contexts.
This release is part of a broader effort to make historical UAP materials accessible to the public while maintaining review standards for national security. The document adds to decades of military interest in unexplained aerial observations, from early “foo fighter” reports during World War II to modern sensor based encounters recorded by advanced surveillance systems.
The 2013 footage remains one of the more visually distinct entries in the current declassified archive, illustrating both the limitations of available data and the continued importance of systematic analysis in understanding unidentified aerial phenomena.
Here is the 2013 infrared video from the declassified UAP archive:
