It started like something out of a sci-fi thriller: a glowing, pill-shaped object hovering over the skies of upstate New York. 

On August 12, images taken near the Finger Lakes depicted a slow-moving orb enveloped in a luminous mist, leading to a wave of UFO conjecture within a local Facebook group.

Some residents described it as “otherworldly,” as others commented, asking what it was.

“They’re here,” one person joked. 

“Truly an amazing thing to witness!” another said.

“My initial reaction, grounded in my scientific and military background, is to seek a conventional explanation first, such as something meteorological or human-made aerospace, since many sky objects fall into these categories,” said Rear Admiral (ret.) Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., U.S. Navy, to Fox News Digital. “In this instance, it was a combination of both.”

Tanicia Miller captured the pill-shaped object, later identified as a rocket launch, on Aug. 12, 2025. (Tanicia Miller/Facebook)

He highlighted the importance of validating data to differentiate between civilian errors and truly Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

“The key procedures are to verify the visual sighting with additional data: higher-resolution optical or infrared imagery, radar, lidar, and listen for any radio or acoustic signatures. If the object appears to be under intelligent control, engage it using VHF radio. This will enhance the ability to determine the object’s characteristics, like size, speed, altitude, distance, material makeup, and objectives.”

As UAP sightings continue to rise, Gallaudet said that more scientific transparency and investigation could help reduce both stigma and fear.

“Our fear usually stems from the unknown, so increased UAP research can not only lessen the stigma around these phenomena but also change their mysterious nature into an accepted part of science,” he explained.