AARO Releases 2013 Star-Shaped UAP Video

The United States government has released 162 declassified files related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), a move mandated by a new transparency initiative. The data dump, which occurred on May 8, 2026, includes a widely circulated infrared video from 2013 showing an eight-pointed, star-shaped object. This specific file, cataloged as DOW-UAP-PR38, has fueled public speculation about its origins.

The release is the first major disclosure under the PURSUE (Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters) directive, a 2026 executive order aimed at increasing public access to historical government records on the subject. While the footage is compelling, scientific analysts caution against extraterrestrial conclusions. The prevailing expert analysis suggests the 2013 star-shaped UFO is likely a sensor artifact known as thermal blooming, caused by a conventional military asset like a parachute illumination flare. This event places the Pentagon's AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office) in the position of managing public expectations while providing sober scientific context for complex sensor data.

The DOW-UAP-PR38 Video

According to the file description from the AARO, the DOW-UAP-PR38 video is 1 minute and 46 seconds in duration. The footage was captured by a US military infrared sensor platform operating over the Middle East on January 1, 2013. The object appears as an eight-pointed star that moves in a manner described by some observers as erratic.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented on the release, stating that the files have "long fueled justified speculation" and that it was time for the public to see the raw data. However, this official push for transparency is coupled with calls for careful interpretation. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson noted that most UAP cases ultimately have mundane explanations, a view that aligns with the leading scientific theory for this specific video.

Scientific Analysis and Sensor Artifacts

The most prominent scientific explanation for the star-shaped object is the phenomenon of thermal blooming. This occurs when an intense heat source, such as a military-grade illumination flare, overwhelms an infrared sensor's detectors. The excess energy spills into adjacent pixels, creating a geometric pattern, like a star, that is an artifact of the sensor's internal structure, not a reflection of the object's actual shape. This interpretation is supported by a growing trend in the defense community to openly discuss the limitations and peculiarities of advanced sensor systems.

This public misinterpretation of sensor data presents a challenge for defense contractors and AARO. It may necessitate clearer public communication about how these advanced systems work and the types of visual artifacts they can produce under specific conditions.

A History of Declassification

This large-scale release is not without precedent. In December 2017, the declassification of three Pentagon videos—known as FLIR1, GIMBAL, and GOFAST—sparked a massive wave of public and congressional interest. That event directly led to the formation of the UAP Task Force, which later evolved into the permanent AARO office. The 2017 and 2026 releases are analogous events where military infrared footage has driven the public conversation and government policy on UAPs.

More recently, in April 2023, AARO released footage of an unresolved UAP captured by a Reaper drone in the Middle East. The 2013 video follows a similar pattern of releasing unresolved military sensor data from the same operational theater, highlighting the region as a frequent location for such encounters.

What Comes Next

The work of analyzing the 162 declassified files has just begun for both the public and official bodies. According to AARO, a more detailed analysis and potential resolution of the DOW-UAP-PR38 video is expected to be published in late 2026. Furthermore, the Department of Defense is expected to authorize additional file releases under the PURSUE directive throughout 2026 and 2027, though specific dates have not been confirmed.

While some UAP disclosure advocates remain skeptical, viewing the release as a limited hangout, the official process of analysis continues. AARO's future reports will be critical in shaping the official narrative around this and other historical UAP cases.

Why This Matters

This declassification event marks a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of government transparency on UAPs. It shifts the public discourse from anecdotal accounts to the analysis of verifiable, albeit ambiguous, sensor data. For the aviation and defense sectors, it underscores the critical importance of understanding sensor technology and its limitations, proving that seeing is not always believing, especially when viewed through the lens of advanced military hardware.