Social media users are responding to a photograph released by the UAP Disclosure Fund, although the image has faced criticism for purportedly ‘mislabeling’ the object depicted.
On May 1, former senior intelligence official and special agent Luis ‘Lue’ Elizondo led a panel with the UAP Disclosure Fund. The fund’s purpose is to foster greater awareness of UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) by pushing for transparency from government entities.
During the panel discussion, Elizondo, who was previously involved in a sensitive U.S. Government program investigating UAP activities near military installations and airspace, revealed a ‘new photo.’ This image was reportedly captured by a civilian pilot in 2021 while flying at 21,000 feet near the Four Corners region where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado meet.
The UAP Disclosure Fund shared the image on Twitter, featuring a disc-shaped object appearing to hover above some square patterns. The caption stated: “Captured near Four Corners at FL210 – estimated 600-1,000 ft in diameter, silver-hued, disc-shaped.”
The post further explained: “Released moments ago by @LueElizondo during our ‘Science, National Security & Innovation’ panel. Several speakers confirmed DoD & IC hold hundreds of similar UAP images + sensor files still classified. It’s time for full declassification and open scientific analysis.”
Even though Elizondo mentioned he ‘could not guarantee the authenticity of the photograph, since [he] didn’t take it,’ he noted during the panel that the image was supposedly taken with a standard camera, according to the New York Post.
Social media users quickly offered their opinions, with many doubting the image depicts a UAP and proposing an alternative explanation. One user commented: “This is clearly a crop circle, not a UAP. Mislabeling known terrestrial phenomena erodes public trust and undermines legitimate disclosure efforts. Please correct this mistake — your reputation is on the line.”
Another user provided a detailed photo analysis, suggesting the disc-shaped ‘object’ is stationary and is actually the result of two circular shapes from ‘a pair of centre-pivot irrigation fields on Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) land, southeast of Four Corners Monument.’
‘Centre-pivot irrigation fields’ are a technique for watering crops using rotating systems that can create circular patterns, some appearing disc-like.
To substantiate their claim, the user encouraged others to view ‘any map service’ at the coordinates where the image was said to be taken, showing ‘historical imagery [displaying] the same fallow/vegetated contrast that produced the “saucer+shadow” illusion.’
While the user acknowledged the discs could be mistaken for a saucer, they methodically explained away each UFO-like aspect. The ‘pale disc’ is actually ‘fallow field reflecting more light.’ The ‘dark shadow’? Possibly the ‘adjacent pivot with crops providing a darker tone.’ The ‘shadow rim’? ‘Thicker vegetation on the field’s boundary.’ The diagonal line? ‘A straight NAPI service road on the grid.’
They further explained that the photo’s high-altitude perspective and overexposure ‘flattens depth cues’ and can ‘trigger pareidolia.’ “Flight‐level 210 over the San Juan Basin, camera captures two adjacent centre-pivot fields. One is bare soil, one is green, and the straight service road completes the classic “UFO with shadow” look. Plug in 36.4014 N, –108.1791 W to confirm,” they concluded.
Another user concurred, likening the image to ‘a photo of regular irrigation circles,’ allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions.