An unusual image has sparked online intrigue after appearing to show what some viewers describe as a “cloaked UFO” tucked inside a cloud over a Canadian mountain town.
The photograph was reportedly taken above Canmore, Alberta, on August 2, capturing a bright, saucer-like cloud formation hovering over the scenic landscape.
Chary Woods later uploaded the image to Facebook, sharing it in a community group focused on unusual and striking cloud formations.
While many commenters praised Woods for spotting a dramatic cloud display, others said the shape looked less like weather and more like a possible UFO sighting.
The debate has centered on a dark oval visible in the middle of the formation, which UFO researcher Scott C Waring has claimed resembles a classic disc-shaped alien craft hidden within the cloud.
Waring said he adjusted the contrast of the image, which he argued made the alleged object at the heart of the cloud formation stand out more clearly.
According to his interpretation, the supposed UFO may have generated the cloud intentionally as camouflage while moving at a lower altitude.
Waring also made the broader claim that alien spacecraft use clouds as a disguise while covertly monitoring or scanning the thoughts of people on the ground below.
The image was reportedly captured over Canmore, Alberta on August 2 and shows a glowing, saucer-shaped formation suspended above the landscape
The extraordinary image has divided viewers online, with some declaring it evidence of extraterrestrial visitors while others questioned whether it was created using artificial intelligence.
However, no evidence has emerged proving that the shape is a physical craft or that aliens were involved.
‘This is a UFO cloaked within a cloud that it created,’ Waring wrote on his UFO Sightings Daily website.
‘When you add contrast to the photo, the alien classic disk craft becomes visible at its center.’
Waring claimed extraterrestrials had successfully used the supposed camouflage technique for millions of years.
‘UFOs use clouds to fly closer to the ground in order to scan the thoughts of humans below,’ he added.
‘I think UFO researchers worldwide will agree with me on this.’
The photograph shows a glowing formation stretching horizontally across the sky above mountains, trees, homes and a road.
At its center is a dark o val that UFO researcher Scott C Waring claims is a classic disk-shaped alien craft concealed within the cloud
A bright point of light, appearing to be the sun, can be seen shining through the thinner cloud near the dark central area.
The cloud’s smooth edges and oval shape give it the appearance of a traditional flying saucer, while its illuminated rim makes the formation stand out against the blue-gray sky.
The striking scene immediately prompted wildly different interpretations from social media users.
‘Sauron?’ one person asked, apparently comparing the glowing formation to the all-seeing Eye of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings.
Another viewer offered a more otherworldly explanation, writing: ‘The picture looks real by the contrast of the gate in the foreground. The star family is returning home again from the stars.’
A third declared: ‘Yes, I do believe in UFOs!!!’
Others were less convinced that the photograph could be trusted in an era of increasingly sophisticated image-generation technology.
‘With AI tricks we now are stuck wondering if this beauty is real. It’s fascinating!’ one commenter wrote.
Several viewers saw nothing sinister in the formation and instead praised it as a remarkable cloud.
‘Amazing photo! Thanks for sharing,’ one person said, while another called it a ‘fabulous capture.’
One viewer compared the formation to a heart seen from the side, while another believed it resembled a halo.
The image file does not contain original camera metadata that could confirm when, where or with what device it was captured.
A visual examination did not reveal obvious hallmarks commonly associated with AI-generated pictures, such as malformed vehicles, duplicated trees or warped buildings.
The lighting, shadows, haze and surrounding landscape also appear internally consistent.
However, the PNG file appears to have been exported or processed, meaning its authenticity cannot be conclusively established from the available copy.
The shape resembles a naturally occurring lenticular cloud, which can form smooth, lens-like structures over mountainous areas and is frequently mistaken for a flying saucer.
The dark ‘disk’ could therefore be another layer of cloud, a shadow or an opening emphasized by the sunlight behind it.
Increasing the contrast would make differences between the light and dark areas more visible, but would not prove that a solid object was concealed inside.
For now, the apparent UFO remains an unexplained shape within a spectacular cloud rather than confirmed evidence of an alien spacecraft.
