So anything that may look odd in the sky isn't a UFO. For me I have strict guidelines to follow, before I claim something to be anomalous. They have to match guidelines that follow AATIP's strict list. I don't just, believe random stories, and strange lights are UAP. A lot of images and things, I have seen online, aren't UFOs. Most are trick of the camera, things appearing further or closer than they are, Or even worse...A.I. It's harder to believe newer videos. The video has to come from a very legit source, like scientists with multiple eyes on the object, with multiple instruments measuring the object. Or military evidence with the same principals, like multiple eye witnesses and instruments, measuring the object.

To be classified as an "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon" (UAP) by the Pentagon, an object must do more than just look unfamiliar. According to the criteria established by AATIP and used today by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), an object must exceed known performance envelopes and demonstrate behaviors that defy conventional aerospace physics.

To separate real anomalies from mundane clutter like balloons, birds, or drones, military investigators evaluate objects against a specific technical baseline known as the "Five Observables."
1. Instantaneous AccelerationThe object must show the ability to accelerate or change direction almost instantly. Radar or sensor logs must capture the craft pulling maneuvers that generate hundreds of G-forces. For context, a human pilot passes out at around 9 Gs, and standard military aircraft would structurally disintegrate under the forces these objects display.

2. Hypersonic Velocity Without SignaturesThe object must travel at hypersonic speeds (greater than Mach 5, or roughly 3,800 mph), but do so without leaving traditional physical evidence. When normal aircraft fly that fast, they generate massive sonic booms, vapor cones, and extreme friction heat. Anomalous objects move at these speeds silently, leaving zero thermal exhaust plumes or heat signatures on military Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensors.
3. Positive Lift (Anti-Gravity)The craft must achieve flight and hover motionless without any visible aerodynamic structures. It has no wings, no rudders, no propellers, and no visible exhaust or propulsion systems. It essentially behaves as if it is completely resisting or manipulating Earth's gravity natively.

4. Trans-Medium Travel The object must be observed operating seamlessly across multiple environments without a drop in performance. A truly anomalous object can move through low-Earth orbit (space), fly through the atmosphere, and submerge directly into the ocean without slowing down or breaking apart from the structural impact.

5. Low Observability (Cloaking)Even when military sensors (like radar, infrared, or active tracking) confirm a solid physical object is present, it may remain difficult to track clearly or see with the naked eye. It may purposefully obscure its signature, jam targeting systems, or render itself semi-translucent.

If a military pilot reports a strange object, AARO filters the raw telemetry through these criteria. If the object behaves like a balloon, a commercial drone, or a cloaked stealth aircraft, it is marked as "resolved" and filed away. Only the tiny percentage of cases that actively break these physical laws are labeled as "unresolved anomalies" and prioritized for deep scientific study.