UFO sightings in California
There are 528 civilian UFO sighting reports from California in the NUFORC data on this site, dated 1955 to 2013. The busiest year was 2008, with 46 reports. The shapes witnesses reported most were orb (145), sphere (96) and disc (63).
Most reports come from Los Angeles (23), San Jose (19) and San Francisco (16), out of 291 places in the state with at least one report.
UFO sightings by city in California
Places with at least three reports. 246 other places in California have one or two.
- Los Angeles23
- San Jose19
- San Francisco16
- San Diego14
- Hayward10
- Sacramento10
- Oakland9
- Santa Rosa7
- Huntington Beach6
- Modesto6
- Fresno5
- Irvine5
- Pasadena5
- Hemet4
- Santa Barbara4
- Stockton4
- Vacaville4
- Berkeley3
- Davis3
- Escondido3
- Eureka3
- Fairfax3
- Fontana3
- Fremont3
- Garden Grove3
- Glendora3
- Hollister3
- La Jolla3
- Livermore3
- Long Beach3
- Manteca3
- Martinez3
- Milpitas3
- Monterey3
- North Hollywood3
- Orangevale3
- Redondo Beach3
- Riverside3
- Rosamond3
- Roseville3
- Santa Ana3
- Santa Maria3
- Sebastopol3
- Simi Valley3
- Van Nuys3
Recent sighting reports from California
The 100 most recent of 528 reports, newest first. The full set is on the map and in the list view.
6 balls of orange-red lights hovering over Mt. Wilson near San Gabriel Valley.
Show on map- 26 Oct 2013 · 18:50CalabasasOther· 5 min
Aircraft movements and lights were unlike any known conventionally powered aircraft
Show on map White rectangular rolling object that seemed to billow or create clouds as it flew by. Clouds did not dissipate.
Show on map- 25 Oct 2013 · 22:00Playa Del ReyOrb· 2 min
Huge unexplained flashing lights on the sky in Los Angeles near Playa Del Rey
Show on map - 25 Oct 2013 · 02:15Beverly HillsSphere· 1 min
Slow moving bright orange fireball appearing somewhat close. Direction unclear, then suddenly disappears.
Show on map Witnessed two red steady lights moving west to east in a straight line across night sky. Faster than a plane, but not as quick as a sho
Show on map- 24 Oct 2013 · 19:15CedarvilleOrb· 1 h
Small red light followed by orange orbs that appeared, multiplied, and disappeared.
Show on map Mass UFO sighting: Pasadena, CA: 4:35pm on December 24, 2013.
Show on map- 23 Oct 2013 · 19:45CedarvilleOrb· 20 min
Bright glowing,spherical, balls of light that dart around the sky with silence an super speed an gracefulness.
Show on map - 23 Oct 2013 · 19:45Mercey Hot Springs/FirebaughOrb· 1 min
More flashing white lights above Mercey Hot Springs
Show on map - 22 Oct 2013 · 21:39San RafaelFormation· 35 min
Strange horizontal formation of four to five lights with the remarkably bright gold colored orb the furthest to the right.
Show on map - 22 Oct 2013 · 21:00AuburnOther· 1 min
Lighted object flying fast and low overhead with no sound.
Show on map 10/20/13 UFO sighting in Stockton. .?
Show on map- 19 Oct 2013 · 21:30Palm DesertOrb· 5 min
2 flickering orange lights seen in sky that disappeared in 5 minutes.
Show on map Disk shape object with lights in the sky over LA
Show on map- 18 Oct 2013 · 19:15Pinecrest/SonoraOther· 45 min
Smaller blinking red object to my left of the bright white light with a round red ball like object following below.
Show on map - 18 Oct 2013 · 19:00AntelopeCigar· 10 min
On 10/18/13 at 19:00 we (adult and 2 teenagers) noticed a red/orange glowing cylinder object due west from our upstairs bedroom window.
Show on map - 17 Oct 2013 · 23:00VistaDisc· 20 min
I saw unidentified lights in the night sky.
Show on map Object, large in nature, with a bright white light tail entering the atmosphere in California.
Show on map- 17 Oct 2013 · 06:45LakesideSphere· 10 min
Bright lights in early morning sky in eastern San Diego County.
Show on map 2 orb-like craft witnessed over Carmichael area of Sacramento.
Show on mapOrange orb drops flashing orbs over sky in Sacramento then disappears.
Show on map- 15 Oct 2013 · 20:35ResedaSphere
Green laser ball spontaneously appears at elevation of low-flying airplane, then almost zips away into black sky.
Show on map - 15 Oct 2013 · 11:30Beale AfbSphere· 3 min
5 grey spheres directly over military aircraft taking off; daylight sighting.
Show on map Star-like shaped with a glowing red center,slow moving...at a helicopters height in the air.
Show on map- 14 Oct 2013 · 20:30Point ArenaTriangle· 15 min
2 very different incidences a week apart, triangler (tonight), and very bright far away organish glow.(10/9/2013)
Show on map Intense, stationary bright light in SF Bay Area sky.
Show on mapswarm of 8 orange orbs stop and dispers in many directions...
Show on map8 Orange Fireballs In sky
Show on map- 2 Oct 2013 · 19:15La HabraSphere· 10 s
Circled shape object vanishes near La Habra, CA.
Show on map Whitish/metallic sphere high in the sky over San Francisco CA.
Show on map- 1 Oct 2013 · 09:42Cobb MountainOrb· 25 min
Bright round orange/red fireball.
Show on map - 1 Oct 2013 · 07:40BakersfieldSphere· 30 s
There was a metal looking star hovering several miles s/w of Bakersfield, Ca. my friend, girlfriend, and i were driving to the park an
Show on map Chevron Craft Seen over Sonoma County 10/27/12 @ 9pm
Show on mapNo sound from greenish/white light shooting very close above tree line over neighbors house in vacaville ca.
Show on map- 26 Oct 2012 · 06:10NapaSphere· 30 s
Two craft side by side, from north to south pulsing red then green circular light, 4 pulses total.
Show on map - 26 Oct 2012 · 00:00El SegundoOrb· 45 min
3 UFOs flying over LAX airport.
Show on map Planes flew by and as I was watching them pass I saw a saucer with another smaller saucer on top. At first I thought it was clouds and
Show on map3 reflective spheres southbound over Riverside CA toward Lake Matthews in formation w/ one breaking off, then loss of contact.
Show on map- 24 Oct 2012 · 10:30South San DiegoOther· 30 min
I saw a UFO with two parallel white lights. It was stationary for 30 min. When a white cloud passed over it, it took on a dark color.
Show on map - 24 Oct 2012 · 10:00Santa Rosa Indian ReservationSphere· 1 min
Large, shiny metallic object hovering over Santa Rosa Indian Reservation.
Show on map Fire ball/object slow moving west to east. ((NUFORC Note: Sighting of the ISS?? PD))
Show on map- 20 Oct 2012 · 00:00Apple ValleySphere· 2 h
CIRCULAR CRAFT TURNING AROUND AND MOVING UP & DOWN SIDE TO SIDE W/ FLASHING LITGHS. ((NUFORC Note: Capella? PD))
Show on map - 19 Oct 2012 · 23:58GlendaleSphere· 2 h
Starlike colorful, red, blue, green, purple UFO that emerged from the other side of the hill.((NUFORC Note: Sighting of Capella? PD))
Show on map Meteor-like object broke up into three pieces then a bright light appeared where it ended it's travel.
Show on mapSmall circle flying low over house in Encinitas, CA with flashing lights
Show on map- 17 Oct 2012 · 20:10North Long BeachOrb· 2 s
Overly birght light diving towards ground, no impact,
Show on map - 17 Oct 2012 · 19:45Union CityOther· 3 s
Very large meteor or something on fire over San Francisco Bay.
Show on map - 17 Oct 2012 · 19:00San RafaelOrb· 10 s
Scanning striped light passes over my car accompanied by three flashes and two beams across the sky.
Show on map - 17 Oct 2012 · 18:50Stockton/LindenOrb· 1 s
Not a shooting star, comet, or flare.
Show on map - 16 Oct 2012 · 20:10Desert Hot SpringsOther· 3 h
Multiple UFO's and 3 different type of craft observed simultaneously over Joshua Tree National Park and the Coachella Valley, CA.
Show on map Intermittent pulsing blue light at high altitude with random movement
Show on map- 14 Oct 2012 · 21:45Canyon LakeOther· 10 min
3 Unknown objects W NW of Canyon Lake, CA
Show on map - 14 Oct 2012 · 21:00El CentroSphere· 30 min
Strange lights over El Centro, CA that do not move
Show on map - 14 Oct 2012 · 19:28Santa Ana/Garden Grove/Irvine/AnaheimFormation· 2 h
Triangle formation of lights over orange county CA.
Show on map My girlfriend and I were at the East Beach in Santa Barbara adjacent to Cabrillo Beach House and Grill. We were both lying face-up and
Show on map- 14 Oct 2012 · 13:37Sierra MadreFormation· 3 min
Cluster sighting of UFO north of Sierra Madre, CA over the San Gabriel mountains.
Show on map Bright red Diamond shaped object and fog ball object
Show on map- 10 Oct 2012 · 23:20Rancho MirageRectangle· 5 s
Flying red object over Rancho Mirage, ca
Show on map POSSIBLE ALIEN/HUMANOID SEEN RUNNING INTO HILLS
Show on mapSingle white light or craft passed over and very close to a commercial jet. ((NUFORC Note: Possibly the ISS? PD))
Show on map- 10 Oct 2012 · 15:00San Francisco AirportTriangle· 5 min
San Francisco International Airport afternoon about 5minutes super clear conditions
Show on map - 2 Oct 2012 · 20:00Chula VistaSphere· 1 s
I glowing light unlike anything I have ever seen moved across the sky a d behind a cloud faster than anything I have ever seen. Not a b
Show on map Ufo flying circles then speeding off with three smaller objects behind it, it was not producing light just reflections from moonlight
Show on map- 2 Oct 2012 · 19:30Yucca ValleySphere· 10 s
Large, bright white orb due east of Yucca Valley
Show on map - 2 Oct 2012 · 13:00CoronaDisc· 10 min
10 oval objects flying over Corona, California in broad daylight.
Show on map Red triangular Lights, With Multicolored Lights Randomly Between them (31sec. Video)
Show on map- 1 Oct 2012 · 20:10CapitolaOrb· 1 min
Bright red torch-like object seen ascending rapidly, making a right angle turn, and disappearing from view in Capitola, CA
Show on map Fireballs in Fontana, CA.
Show on map- 1 Oct 2012 · 17:30Port HuenemeOrb· 30 min
Light, Shape and near two bases
Show on map - 1 Oct 2012 · 08:30Hawthorne/Los AngelesSphere· 7 min
Metallic Stationary Object
Show on map - 27 Oct 2011 · 20:30Penn ValleySphere· 3 h
2-5 small white light ships fly around in a circular pattern every night for hours and hours also forming triangles.
Show on map ((HOAX??)) Triangular craft with two lights on each side.
Show on maphuge, dark, diamond shape craft with lights that formed a triangle
Show on mapWitnessed two very bright lights to the south east of us, that just appeared out of nowhere.
Show on mapWhite balls and drifting mechanism seen in Pacific Heights San Francisco
Show on map- 23 Oct 2011 · 00:00FairfieldBoomerang· 3 s
not sure what this is
Show on map BLACK TRIANGLE CRAFT WITH LIGHT THAT WERE SQUARE
Show on map- 22 Oct 2011 · 14:15Ventura CountyOrb· 10 min
10-30 Red/Blue Lights Covering Half the Sky: VIDEO (caught on video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMz0U0OVzlY
Show on map - 22 Oct 2011 · 14:05OjaiOther· 5 min
Caught (something) on video!!
Show on map Six Craft shiny metal 9:20 am took photo but don't have developed
Show on mapSighted 6 craft silver shiny stationary objects
Show on mapwell i was just outside looking at regular aircraft (live near airport) then i see 5-7 shiny flying spheres about 4000 ft in the air ,
Show on mapReverse wing craft moving very fast down the coast with no lights, noise, or contrail.
Show on map- 21 Oct 2011 · 17:59EmeryvilleFormation· 1 min
In the sunset sky.
Show on map - 21 Oct 2011 · 06:00NorthridgeTriangle· 10 s
V shape dim orange "lights" moving fast and silent then faded into night sky
Show on map - 20 Oct 2011 · 20:30Penn ValleyTriangle· 2 h 30 min
Up to five triangle shape craft with flashing lights seen flying in a circular pattern
Show on map point of light in sky stopped moving and remained stationary for ~2hr
Show on mapdrifting flame colored/shaped light hovering and drifting beneath the overcast sky of SF. disappeared, then reappeared, visible 2 mins.
Show on map- 17 Oct 2011 · 19:45El Dorado HillsAmorphous· 15 min
Amazing craft bright blue & red 2 nights in a row.
Show on map Bright light moving fast in night sky no blinking no sound faster than an airplane slower than a satellite
Show on map- 17 Oct 2011 · 19:25GilroyOrb· 2 min
The light was falling straight down out of eastern sky. The light was extra bright like a planet in summer. This thing moved really
Show on map Early evening glowing object seen in flight over valley
Show on map2nd sighting of Glendora UFO
Show on mapUFO (slow moving yellowish light) report for Saturday, October 15th, 2011@ approximately 21:30 PST in zip code 91740
Show on mapFour oval objects 15"x20" emitting beams with bright orange read glow suspended 100 ft. overhead for 15secs. took off N-east
Show on map- 14 Oct 2011 · 13:30San BernardinoSphere· 1 min
Sphere moving westward through the San Bernardino Valley at a high rate of speed, then it slowed drastically and hovered.
Show on map Wife and I saw lg, round neon green disk moving in SE direction and returned. It hovered, dropped, rose high, and darted to the NE.
Show on map- 1 Oct 2011 · 21:20CarlsbadOrb· 10 s
I was driving south on the 5 Freeway this evening. I was passing Canon Road in Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. I saw 3 bright
Show on map - 1 Oct 2011 · 21:00HamburgOrb· 5 min
Extremely bright twin lights in night sky - moved off in unison.
Show on map
428 older reports are not listed here. Open the list view to read them all.
Where these reports come from
Reports are from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) public database: what members of the public said they saw, in their own words. Nobody has checked them, and most sightings have ordinary explanations.