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By Enigma Labs
A 2020 U.S. Central Command submission to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consists of four infrared videos recorded from U.S. military platforms, ranging in duration from 5 seconds to 4 minutes 53 seconds. In each case, no accompanying narrative explanation or assessment was provided by the original reporter, aside from one submission that included a manual on-screen annotation identifying a “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” AARO states that the material is presented as originally received. Across the recordings, the footage depicts low-contrast thermal or infrared features appearing within the sensor field of view and being tracked for varying durations. The observed features typically enter from the edge of the frame or emerge gradually from the background, after which the sensor pans, zooms, or adjusts contrast settings to maintain the feature within view. In several clips, the object remains generally centered as the sensor tracks it across the scene, while in others it intermittently fades, shifts position relative to the frame, or changes apparent visibility during sensor movement, zoom operations, or modality switches. One 58-second infrared recording submitted by the U.S. Air Force in 2020 shows the sensor initially acquiring and locking onto an area of contrast that becomes progressively more distinct over time. Around the 31-second mark, the system zooms in to improve focus, after which the feature appears larger and clearer through most of the remaining clip. At approximately 57–58 seconds, the object shifts out of the center of view and exits the frame at the lower-right corner. An AARO comment accompanying the footage notes that the apparent increase in size may be partly attributable to the observing platform closing distance to the source, suggesting a possible geometric or range-related effect rather than an intrinsic change in the object itself. The recordings are characterized primarily by sustained sensor tracking behavior, changing infrared contrast signatures, and adjustments in imaging settings over time. The descriptions are limited to observable motion and sensor behavior within the submitted footage and do not provide any identification, interpretation, or conclusion regarding the nature of the observed phenomena
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