Mountains are present not only on Earth but also on other planets within our Solar System, their moons, and even on large asteroids. Presented herein are the twelve highest peaks accessible for ascent, should unrestricted travel across these celestial bodies be possible.

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. Source: Wikipedia

The highest mountains

Have you ever aspired to ascend to great heights and observe the world from an elevated vantage point? Mountain climbing provides that opportunity. Additionally, mountains are present on other celestial bodies within the Solar System.

Ultimately, the majority of the highest peaks within the Solar System are not situated on our planet. It is pertinent to acknowledge, however, that the concept of “height” in geographical terms can be interpreted in various manners. A distinction is recognized between the absolute height of a mountain — defined as the difference between its base and its summit — and the relative height, which is measured from a designated zero level established for that particular celestial body.

Let us discuss the twelve most prominent mountains within the Solar System.

1. Olympus Mons

Undoubtedly, Olympus Mons on Mars is the tallest mountain in the Solar System. Its relative height measures 26 kilometers, while its absolute height reaches 21.4 kilometers. This indicates that this monumental peak is nearly three times taller than Mount Everest.

Olympus Mons on Mars. Source: Wikipedia

The volcano is situated on the Tharsis Plateau and appears to have been inactive for an extended period. Its prominence is not limited to its height alone. The diameter of the Olympus crater measures 85 km, with a depth of 3 km. The mountain itself spans a diameter of 300 km. Furthermore, the slope at the upper section is sufficiently gentle to give the impression of standing on a plain. Nonetheless, there are cliffs along the perimeter that ascend to several thousand meters in height.

2. Rheasilvia

Astronomers continue to deliberate whether to categorize Vesta as a dwarf planet or an asteroid. One certainty is that the Rheasilvia crater, named after the mythological mother of the god Jupiter, is truly stunning. With a diameter exceeding 500 km, it is comparable to the overall size of the celestial body. This crater was formed by an ancient collision with a significantly large object.

At the core of Rheasilvia, akin to numerous other comparable formations, lies an impact-origin mountain. Its relative elevation measures approximately 22 km, while its absolute elevation is 9 km, and its diameter extends to roughly 180 km.

Rheasilvia Peak. Source: Wikipedia

3. Equatorial ridge on Iapetus

The third-highest peak in the Solar System is situated on Saturn’s moon Iapetus. However, it cannot be classified as a single mountain; rather, it is an extensive mountain range extending along the equator of this comparatively small celestial body. Its approximate height measures 20 km.

For scientists, the equatorial ridge on Iapetus persists as an enigma, with no consensus on its formation. Presently, at least four hypotheses exist to elucidate its origin. According to the initial hypothesis, Iapetus formed in its early stages and remained in a molten state for a prolonged period. The ridge itself is postulated to comprise solidified deposits of material that ascended from its interior and gradually hardened.

According to the second hypothesis, the equatorial ridge on Iapetus originated from material derived from the ring that previously encircled the moon, subsequently falling onto its surface. The third hypothesis also associates its formation with the ring but proposes that the ring developed after Iapetus had already experienced a collision with a substantial celestial body. The fourth hypothesis attributes the formation of this geological feature to the instability of subsurface layers in the region, which led to the overturning of the crust and its near-vertical orientation.

Equatorial ridge on Iapetus. Source: www.newscientist.com

4. Boösaule Montes

Another prominent mountain is situated on Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io. Its relative elevation measures 18.2 km, while its absolute elevation is 17.5 km. This mountain is part of the Boösaule Montes range, which comprises several large, fractured segments of the crust.

Indeed, Boösaule Montes is the most prominent among them, having solidified at an angle relative to the surrounding surface and forming a colossal peak along with a cliff. The cliff reaches a height of 15 km.

5. Ascraeus Mons

To observe the subsequent peak, a return to Mars is necessary. Ascraeus Mons is another dormant volcano situated in the Tharsis region. It closely resembles a smaller version of Olympus Mons and is positioned southeast of it.

What renders this feature particularly intriguing is that, unlike all preceding instances, its absolute height is less than its relative height. The absolute elevation measures 14.9 km, whereas the relative elevation is 18 km. This phenomenon occurs because the volcano is situated on a substantial plateau, along with two other volcanoes.

Ascraeus Mons. Source: Wikipedia

6. Pavonis Mons

Another Martian volcano, situated on the Tharsis Plateau in close proximity to Ascraeus Mons, is designated as Pavonis Mons. The summit’s elevation above the surface of Mars is precisely 14 kilometers. This mountain is noteworthy for its nearly equatorial position on Mars. This geographical attribute, together with its considerable height, renders it a suitable site for the construction of a space elevator.

7. Ionian Mons

Ionian Mons on Jupiter’s moon Io has an absolute elevation of 12.7 kilometers. It represents another feature resulting from tectonic activity. The formation comprises two warped ridges running parallel to one another.

8. Elysium

Elysium is another extinct volcano on Mars. However, it is situated in a different hemisphere of the planet compared to the Tharsis Plateau. Its relative height is 12.6 km, and its absolute height is 16 km.

9. Arsia Mons

The third volcano in this Martian region, situated near Ascraeus Mons and Pavonis Mons, is designated as Arsia Mons. Its absolute elevation measures 19 km, with a relative height of 11.7 km.

Euboea Montes on Io. Source: Wikipedia

10. Euboea

Another mountain on Io is Euboea. It has an absolute height of 10.5 km and a diameter of 275 km. The leading theory regarding its formation is that it is the largest landslide in the entire Solar System.

11. Mauna Kea

The sole mountain on Earth to be included in the list is not Everest. It is only considered the tallest when measured from sea level. However, if measuring from the base, the tallest mountain is Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Its height is 10.2 kilometers, although nearly 6 kilometers of that height are submerged underwater.

12. Verona Rupes

Completing the list is Verona Rupes on Uranus’s moon Miranda. This diminutive celestial body appears as an irregular ice sphere. Its surface exhibits numerous landforms that appear disproportionately large relative to the size of the Moon.

Nevertheless, Verona Rupes exceeds all other formations in scale. It stands approximately 10–15 km in height. Coupled with its exceedingly weak gravitational attraction, this renders it the location where an individual could experience the longest fall among all known celestial objects within the Solar System.

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Venus is our closest neighbor in space, located just one step closer to the Sun than Earth. At certain points in its orbit, it approaches us to within only about 40 million kilometers. For modern spacecraft, that is a short journey lasting only a few months. It would seem that humanity has an ideal opportunity to study a world almost identical to our own in size. On paper, Venus and Earth look almost like planetary twins: they formed 4.5 billion years ago in the same region, have nearly the same diameter, and similar gravity. But reality turned out to be radically different. Venus is the true embodiment of hell — a world that does not merely frighten, but physically annihilates any attempt at contact.

A spacesuit for Venus would have to withstand some of the most extreme conditions in the Solar System. It would have to function like a miniature space station, designed so that a human could take the first steps on a planet where even metal melts directly on the surface.

The main nightmare begins during the approach. At an altitude of about 50 km above the surface, visibility drops almost to zero. A spacecraft enters a foggy atmospheric layer cake. This impenetrable veil consists mostly of carbon dioxide and functions like a gigantic greenhouse. Sunlight can barely penetrate this darkness, yet its heat is reliably trapped inside, creating an uncontrolled greenhouse effect. Conditions here change from harsh to deadly within just minutes of descent.

Illustration of the planet Venus. Source: Unsplash

Gloomy Landscapes and Eternal Dawn

Closer to the surface, the atmosphere becomes somewhat clearer, revealing a harsh landscape: a scorched rocky desert covered with vast plains and numerous volcanoes. Most of these volcanoes are still active and constantly reshape the planet’s terrain.

Volcanic eruption on Venus in an artist’s impression. Source: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Peter Rubin

Landing here is a separate challenge: dust and debris kicked up by a spacecraft remain suspended in the dense air for a long time, almost as if underwater. The solar disk cannot be seen from the surface. Barely 10% of sunlight reaches the ground, so the surroundings are filled with a harsh, dim glow resembling an endless gloomy dawn.

Two Hours of Triumph on a Powder Keg

The history of Venus exploration is a chronicle of the rapid deaths of engineering creations. One of humanity’s most impressive achievements was the Soviet Venera 13 mission in 1981. This ultra-durable probe managed to survive on the surface for just over two hours. It transmitted unique color panoramas and soil analysis before the colossal heat and pressure literally crushed and burned out its electronics. Venera 13 still holds the endurance record for this extreme environment.

A Chronicle of Instant Catastrophe

Reconstruction of the landscape at the Venera 13 landing site. Source: Don Mitchell

If an astronaut attempted to land on Venus, any time outside the spacecraft would turn into an instant execution. The surface temperature reaches 475°C, enough to melt lead and zinc. At the same time, atmospheric pressure is 90 times greater than on Earth. This is equivalent to being submerged at a depth of one kilometer in Earth’s ocean.

A special spacesuit would be the only thin boundary between life and death. If even the smallest micro-tear occurred in the protection system, the consequences would be immediate: the violent pressure would crush the body in a second, while the scorching, highly corrosive mixture of gases instead of air would burn the lungs with the first breath. This inhospitable world is not made for humans — it is a true hell for all living things.

Still, scientists have proposed hypotheses that even in such an extreme world, life could exist, though only in the form of microorganisms adapted to living in the planet’s dense atmosphere.

Earlier, we discussed which exoplanets humans should consider traveling to.

• According to MSN 

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A nuclear explosion could serve as the most reliable shield for our planet in the event of a large-scale space threat. Researchers from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology not only endorsed this idea but also developed an optimal strategy for its implementation. The results of their modeling have been published in the scientific journal Space: Science & Technology. 

How can we save Earth from dangerous asteroids? Illustration: Unsplash

A team led by Wang Xiaowei proposes abandoning surface explosions in favor of a clever tactical maneuver: first, “carve out” a cavity in the asteroid, place a nuclear warhead inside it, and only then detonate it. This method would effectively shatter or deflect space objects with a diameter of about 100 m, thereby averting a global catastrophe.

Potential threat

Asteroids are rocky remnants of the Solar System’s building material that have been orbiting our sun for 4.6 billion years. According to NASA, astronomers are currently aware of more than 16,000 objects approaching Earth. Nearly 1,800 of them are classified as “potentially hazardous”—these are bodies with a diameter of more than 140 meters whose orbits pass within 7.5 million kilometers of our planet. 

Being on this list does not mean a collision is certain, but it does prompt scientists to stay alert. For example, the recently discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 caused astronomers some concern due to an initial 3.1 percent probability of a collision in 2032. Subsequent calculations, however, reduced this risk to zero. Nevertheless, this case has once again demonstrated that humanity needs a clear plan of action.

Why doesn’t the ram-body method always work?

In 2022, NASA successfully tested kinetic impactor technology: the DART spacecraft collided with an asteroid and altered its course. However, Chinese experts claim that if the threat is larger than 100 meters and there is little time before impact, a conventional kinetic impact will prove ineffective.

This is where the immense energy of the atom comes into play. The authors of the study considered two scenarios:

1. A direct strike, which creates a small crater upon impact.
2. The use of a special penetration module that drills a deep shaft to cause maximum internal destruction.

Detonation from within

Blowing up an asteroid from the inside. Illustration: NASA

After testing both options on models of real virtual asteroids using charges of varying strengths, the scientists reached a clear conclusion. The method involving an explosion preceded by the creation of a deep crater is the clear favorite.

Thanks to the autonomous selection of the optimal point of impact and the warhead’s deep penetration, the explosive energy is absorbed by the celestial body as completely as possible. This literally tears the threat into tiny pieces from the inside. And although the Earth’s horizon is clear today, astrophysicists are convinced that space weapons must be prepared in advance to avoid finding ourselves in a situation where it’s already too late.

Earlier, we discussed how an asteroid could destroy Moscow.

• According to Gizmodo 

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Pentagon releases new batch of UFO files: "Unlike anything I had seen"

By Stefan Becket

Updated on: July 10, 2026 / 9:54 AM CDT / CBS News

Washington — The Pentagon on Friday released a new batch of files related to UFOs, also known as unidentified anomalous phenomena, including one report from a military aviator who said a mysterious object was "unlike anything I had seen" in 28 years of service.

Friday's release includes a total of 40 files — 14 documents, 19 videos, four audio files and three images. The files come from a variety of agencies: the Pentagon, NASA, CIA, FBI and Energy Department.

The Pentagon posted the new files on its UFO website, which houses the material that has been released under an executive order that President Trump signed earlier this year. 

What's in the new UFO files?

The disclosure is similar to past releases — a mix of mostly unredacted historical documents and videos with other files detailing more recent events. 

One notable file from the Energy Department details an intrusion by an unidentified object into the airspace over a nuclear weapons facility known as Pantex near Amarillo, Texas, in September 2015. The document includes the account of two officers who chased the object as the nuclear facility was placed on lockdown.

"Although they were unable to catch up to the object, they stopped their vehicle and got out. Once outside, they noted that the object did not make any sound. Furthermore, the [officers] stated that they were unable to identify any type of propulsion system on the object while using binoculars to assess the object," the report said. "After viewing it for 1-2 minutes, the object then continued north offsite."

About half the files are dated from 2010 or later, with videos showing infrared footage captured by military cameras. The grainy images show unexplained objects and encounters from around the world, including over the western Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic and the Middle East.

One of those incidents occurred over the Atlantic in 2020. The files include footage of an object that "was a darker, maroonish color, approximately 12-15ft in height," according to an accompanying report by a Navy crew member, which is heavily redacted. 

"Structurally, it appeared as a large, somewhat deformed balloon, but we were unable to verify that as we passed at the merge," the weapons systems officer wrote, followed by two redacted lines. "We then proceeded back to the ship, landing uneventfully."

A screenshot of footage from the U.S. military in 2020 showing a balloon-like object. Department of Defense

The report is known as a "range fouler debrief," which the Pentagon described as "a standardized reporting form the U.S. Navy uses to record the circumstances surrounding an unauthorized intrusion into controlled airspace during active military operations or training."

Another debrief documented an object that an aviator saw in 2019 over the Eastern U.S., along with four other personnel. 

"I noticed an object with flight characteristics unlike anything I had seen in my 28 years of performing for the [Air Force] and Navy," the aviator wrote. "A small object was below us and appeared to be traveling in a straight line opposite our direction at high speed. I tracked it for ~10-15 seconds before we turned on the recorder to provide the attached video. When I zoomed in to try and achieve more resolution, the object's speed took out of my FOV and I was unable to reacquire, even at a lower zoom. Upon analysis after the flight, the object appeared to be rectangular. Others with equal or more experience were also unsure as to what this object might be."

The video of the incident shows what appears to be an object traveling at high speed:

The 2019 object spotted over the Eastern U.S. Pentagon

The most recent events described in the fourth batch of files came in 2025 near China, under the military's Indo-Pacific Command. One video shows a military sensor tracking "an area of contrast resembling a six-pointed star" over the Yellow Sea. Another seems to track an object over the East China Sea for several minutes. 

The "six-pointed star" seen in military footage. Pentagon

The historical records include the transcript of a 1949 conference in Los Alamos, New Mexico, of top physicists and scientists, including those who worked on the Manhattan Project. The conference attendees tried and failed to explain "green fireballs" that had been spotted over the nuclear lab. One theory held that they were meteors entering the atmosphere, but a prominent astronomer noted that "nothing like this … has ever been observed in the case of meteorite drops."

The Pentagon said Friday's release is not the last disclosure under the president's executive order. "The Department of War and our agency partners are actively working on the next release of UAP files," spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

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WATCH: Here are all the UFO videos released today in the Pentagon's fourth batch of UAP files

BREAKING: Star figure spotted near U.S. base revealed in Pentagon's latest UFO FILE drop | RISING

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On July 7, 2026, a crew member aboard UPS Flight 62, a commercial cargo flight operating from Louisville to Anchorage and onward to Hong Kong, captured video footage of three bright, luminous orbs that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. According to the recording, the objects paced the aircraft, changing speed and maintaining what appeared to be a coordinated formation. 

The sighting bears an eerie resemblance to the famous Japan Airlines Flight 1628 UFO incident of November 17, 1986. During that event, the crew of a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft flying over Alaska reported being shadowed for nearly 50 minutes by three glowing objects. Captain Kenju Terauchi, a highly experienced pilot, described two smaller luminous orbs accompanied by a much larger walnut-shaped orb. Civilian and military radar facilities, including Anchorage Air Traffic Control and regional U.S. Air Force stations, reportedly detected anomalous targets at various points during the encounter. 

Given the growing number of AI-generated videos circulating online, it is important to verify the underlying facts whenever possible. Flight records confirm that UPS Flight 62 did indeed operate on July 7, 2026, matching the date associated with the reported footage. 

While this does not verify the nature of the objects seen in the video, it does confirm that the flight itself took place as claimed. 

The larger question remains: What exactly are these luminous spherical objects displaying seemingly intelligent movements, and who or what might be controlling them?

Verified Flight Data:

UPS Flight 62 is a regularly scheduled international cargo service operated by United Parcel Service (UPS). The route typically connects Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Alaska with Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at Chek Lap Kok. 

On July 7, 2026, UPS Flight 62 completed its journey using a Boeing 747-8F cargo aircraft (Registration: N615UP) across two flight segments: 

Leg 1: Louisville (SDF) to Anchorage (ANC) 

Status: Landed Actual Departure: 4:32 AM EDT (Scheduled: 3:39 AM EDT) Actual Arrival: 6:42 AM AKDT (Scheduled: 6:11 AM AKDT) Flight Time: 6 hours 10 minutes 

Leg 2: Anchorage (ANC) to Hong Kong (HKG) 

Status: Landed Actual Departure: 10:10 AM AKDT (Scheduled: 9:53 AM AKDT) Actual Arrival: 12:04 PM HKT (Scheduled: 12:37 PM HKT) Flight Time: 9 hours 54 minutes  

Detailed playback data and flight logs for this specific operation can be reviewed through the FlightRadar24 history records for UPS Flight 62.

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NASA reveals it has captured UFO imagery as space agency chief admits 'there's life everywhere'

• MORE: NASA accused of erasing UFOs from photographs before public release
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By CHRIS MELORE, US DEPUTY SCIENCE EDITOR

NASA's chief administrator confirmed that the space agency has taken images of objects which can only be described as UFOs. 

Jared Isaacman, who took the helm in December, said real imagery captured from space could not be explained away as a comet or other natural phenomenon.

While he stopped short of calling it proof of alien life, he was confident that the ultimate conclusion would be that the universe is full of extraterrestrial life, which humans have not yet discovered.

The NASA administrator told podcast host Jack Gordon: 'We have captured imagery, and this is what President Trump is very forward-leaning about, that based on the data that we have within that imagery, we don't know what it is.'

'I think there's a very real possibility we're going to arrive at a conclusion in our lifetime that perhaps there's life everywhere out there and that it isn't as infrequent as we might think it to possibly be,' he continued.

While Isaacman admitted the space agency was in possession of photos that appear to show unexplainable things near Earth, he added that he has never seen evidence of crashed UFOs or alien bodies recovered by the US government.

NASA has long maintained that it does not possess or maintain evidence of any alien life or bodies, just as the White House and Pentagon have continuously stated that there is no physical proof.

However, Isaacman noted that NASA may already have the proof in its possession, but that evidence is currently stuck on Mars - roughly 200 million miles away right now.

This archival photograph depicts the lunar surface as viewed from the landing site of Apollo 12. This image features a highlighted area of interest slightly to the right of the vertical axis of the frame, above the horizon, in which unidentified phenomena are visible

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said some of the real imagery captured from space could not be explained away as a comet or other natural phenomenon

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman testifies before a U.S. Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing.

(Reuters)

'We got samples on Mars right now. If we bring them back, there is a very high probability that they will point to, at some point, microbial life at least on Mars,' he said during the June 30 interview with Gordon.

NASA had previously announced the discovery of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet last September, but the mission to collect those samples from the Perseverance rover was dropped from NASA's Mars plans over funding issues.

The comments follow President Donald Trump's order to disclose all files related to UFOs.

An FBI photo containing two black dots that appear to be UAPs 

(Federal Bureau of Investigations)

Thousands of pages of NASA records, audio interviews and photos have been released as part of the Pentagon's disclosure rollout this year, but nothing to this point has provided definitive proof of life on other worlds. 

Isaacman was appointed to run NASA just before Congress approved a new budget, supported by President Donald Trump, which focused on sending a manned mission to Mars by the end of the decade.

The NASA administrator, who is a self-made billionaire entrepreneur, accomplished pilot and civilian astronaut who went into orbit with SpaceX, added that UFOs have been a key focus behind NASA's renewed push to explore the solar system.

'I can't hate the subject. In fact, I'm incredibly fascinated about it because that is at the heart of what we're trying to do at NASA - answer the question, are we alone?'

Despite saying that the universe is likely teeming with life, Isaacman pushed back when asked if humans would therefore be 'invading' other worlds by continuing to explore space now and in the distant future.

This archival photograph depicts the lunar surface as viewed from the landing site of Apollo 12. This image features highlighted areas above the horizon in which unidentified phenomena are visible

'These [questions] will be revealed by generations long after we are gone, but, simply put, I do not believe it is our destiny to remain on one planet,' Isaacman declared.

The Daily Mail has reached out to NASA for comment on Administrator Isaacman's revelations.

The space agency has remained silent about multiple claims by former NASA employees, astronauts, and scientists who have all alleged that proof of extraterrestrial life was already found and then covered up by NASA.

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This includes astronaut Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon, who publicly claimed NASA missions saw unidentified craft that displayed speed and abilities far beyond anything humans had created.

In 2001, former NASA contractor Donna Hare alleged that photos containing what appeared to be legitimate UFOs were airbrushed to remove the craft before being released to the public.

The agency has also come under fire over the last year for its images of a mysterious interstellar object, known as 3i/ATLAS, which passed by Earth and several other planets.

Despite having satellites within close range of the object, which Harvard Professor Avi Loeb said showed clear signs of intelligent design, NASA only released a series of blurry images and declared they found no signs of life on the supposed comet. 

Isaacman's interview did not address these decades-old claims, but it did address the conspiracy theory claiming the moon landing was fake.

The NASA boss said he understood why so many people remain skeptical, noting that the footage from 50 years ago looks old and low-quality, and younger generations are used to perfect high-definition video.

To fix this for good, he said the upcoming Artemis lunar missions will have high-definition cameras attached to every landing module and rover, sending back clear proof that humans have left the Earth.

NASA's Hidden UFO Files: Unexplained Anomalies Caught on Camera in Space

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EXCLUSIVE -  Trump's bombshell UFO files expose eerie eight-point object and silent craft that breached US nuclear base

Dozens of newly declassified UFO records have been released by the Trump administration, shedding new light on unexplained sightings investigated by the US military and other government agencies. 

The fourth tranche, published Friday on the Department of War's website, says 'it is time the American people see for themselves' as it adds dozens of documents, videos and photographs to the government's growing public archive.

Among the most striking additions are videos showing a mysterious eight-pointed object hovering over East Asia, a jellyfish-like UFO over the Atlantic Ocean and an unresolved case involving an oddly shaped craft zig-zagging across the western US.

The release also includes a Department of Energy report detailing how security teams at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant in Texas scrambled after radar detected a silent, diamond-shaped object drifting over the highly secured facility in 2015.

Officers said the craft flew just 100 to 200 feet above the ground with no visible means of propulsion before disappearing, prompting surveillance footage to be analyzed by Sandia National Laboratories and all evidence to be turned over to the FBI.

Also included is the influential COMETA Report, a study by retired French generals and defense experts that concludes the extraterrestrial hypothesis is the most plausible explanation for some of the world's most baffling UFO encounters.

The authors warned that the phenomenon should be treated as a national security issue and urged governments to prepare for the possibility that humanity is not alone.

The newly released records span decades of unexplained encounters, from military sightings and radar detections to cases that remain unresolved despite extensive investigations. 

Above is a still from a video taken in 2020 over the Atlantic Ocean. Witnesses described it as 'darker, maroonish color, approximately 12-15 feet in height.' Some have likened it to the jellyfish UFO previously seen in Iraq

The fourth tranche, published Friday on the Department of War's website features a video of an eight-pointed object spotted flying over the Yellow Sea in East Asia in 2025

Pictured is a still from a video deemed an unresolved case involving an oddly shaped craft zig-zagging across the western US

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement: 'The Department of War is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government's understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).

'These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation, and it's time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration's earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency.'

According to the Pentagon, there have been 'unprecedented levels of interest' in the UFO files, and the Department of War's website has received over 1.7 billion hits worldwide since its launch on May 8.

A second release took place two weeks later, followed by a third on June 12.

Footage of the eight-pointed object was submitted by the US Indo-Pacific Command, the military command responsible for operations across the Indo-Pacific region. 

The 18-second video was captured from an infrared sensor aboard a US military platform in 2025.

It shows the mysterious object moving over the Yellow Sea, hovering in place at times. 

'The sensor pans to track an area of contrast resembling a six-pointed star, keeping it generally centered within the center of the screen,' the video description states. 

Pictured is the 'jellyfish' craft reported in Iraq in 2018

The clip, however, includes redactions, which the Department of War said were added to 'protect the identity of eyewitnesses, the location of government facilities, or potentially sensitive information about military sites not related to UFO.'

Another newly released file includes 32 seconds of infrared footage captured by a US military platform in 2020, showing a dark, jellyfish-like object drifting through the sky. 

The sighting has drawn comparisons to the so-called 'jellyfish' UAP filmed over Iraq several years ago, though officials have not suggested the two incidents are connected.

According to a debrief submitted by US Northern Command to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), witnesses described the object as a dark maroon color, measuring roughly 12 to 15 feet tall. 

The report said it appeared to travel with the wind without changing direction or maneuvering and resembled a 'large, somewhat deformed balloon.'

The accompanying video shows the military sensor repeatedly zooming and panning to keep the object centered in frame. 

The release also includes a Department of Energy report detailing how security teams at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant in Texas scrambled after radar detected a silent, diamond-shaped object drifting over the highly secured facility in 2015

Pictured is a page in the Department of Energy report, showing an enhanced view of the object spotted over the nuclear plan

According to the report, security personnel were dispatched after ground surveillance radar detected an unidentified object moving near the highly secured site, prompting officers to track it for several miles

The Department of War cautioned that the footage is being released for informational purposes only and does not represent an official conclusion about the object's identity or significance.

A video from the US Navy Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), created to standardize the collection and reporting of military encounters with 'UFOs' and investigate potential threats to national security, was also included in Friday's tranche.

The two-minute and 57-second clip appears to have been taken by an infrared sensor aboard a US military platform in 1996 over an undisclosed location in the western US. 

The craft, which appeared to be circular with a wing on each side, was soaring over a mountainous terrain as the military jet tracked it from behind. 

The latest release also includes nearly two minutes of infrared footage captured by a US military platform in 2024 after the US Indo-Pacific Command reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon to the AARO

The video initially tracks a single area of contrast before zooming in, revealing what appears to be an elongated object

The video shows a dark, high-contrast object crossing the sensor's field of view between the 14- and 17-second marks, entering from the upper-right corner before exiting toward the lower left. 

The remaining footage consists of repeated playback of the same sequence at normal and slower speeds, followed by a still frame captured from the initial pass.

One of the most detailed files centers on a September 2015 incident at the Pantex Plant in Texas, the nation's primary facility for assembling and dismantling nuclear weapons. 

According to the report, security personnel were dispatched after ground surveillance radar detected an unidentified object moving near the highly secured site, prompting officers to track it for several miles. 

Witnesses described the object as silent, diamond-shaped and lacking any visible means of propulsion before it disappeared beyond the facility's perimeter. 

The report includes radar tracks, surveillance images and enhanced stills produced by Sandia National Laboratories as investigators sought to determine what had crossed the skies above the nuclear complex. 

The latest release also includes nearly two minutes of infrared footage captured by a US military platform in 2024 after the US Indo-Pacific Command reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon to the AARO. 

The video initially tracks a single area of contrast before zooming in, revealing what appears to be an elongated object.

The release also includes 10 seconds of infrared footage recorded by a US military platform in 2023 after US Central Command reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon to the Pentagon's AARO

One newly released document is a transcript from a secret 1949 meeting at Los Alamos, where military officials and some of America's top scientists gathered to investigate a wave of mysterious green fireballs reported over New Mexico

As the sensor magnifies the scene further, the object seems to split into a line of multiple bright points moving diagonally across the frame, with the military sensor continuing to follow the formation for about a minute as it gradually fades into the distance.

The release also includes 10 seconds of infrared footage recorded by a US military platform in 2023 after US Central Command reported an unidentified aerial phenomenon to the Pentagon's AARO.

Although brief, the video captures two mysterious objects streaking across the sensor's field of view in opposite directions. 

A larger object enters from the lower right before disappearing off the top of the frame, while a second, smaller object drops into view from above and exits at the bottom just moments later.

One newly released document is a transcript from a secret 1949 meeting at Los Alamos, where military officials and some of America's top scientists gathered to investigate a wave of mysterious green fireballs reported over New Mexico. 

The sightings, many reported near sensitive nuclear facilities, were unlike ordinary meteors, participants said, appearing to travel in nearly horizontal paths, maintaining a constant speed and producing an intense emerald glow while remaining eerily silent. 

During the meeting, renowned astronomer Lincoln LaPaz argued the so-called 'green fireballs' did not fit the characteristics of conventional meteorites, prompting scientists to debate whether they represented an entirely new phenomenon or even a secret technology. 

At one point, LaPaz revealed he had initially speculated the objects might be part of classified US military defensive operations around atomic bomb installations, only to be told the Air Force knew nothing about them, leaving the mystery unresolved

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EXCLUSIVE - I'm a priest and the Bible gives us proof of what UFOs really are... here's what Jesus told us

• READ MORE: Trump's inner circle has shown me the real UFO disclosure: The president has an imminent speech 'written and ready'... what he'll explain about non-human life will make it all make sense
  

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

The belief that UFOs are demonic has gained traction among some Christians, but one priest argues the Bible tells a very different story.

Father Lee Taylor, who leads three churches in North Wales, told the Daily Mail that several passages of Scripture suggest the mysterious objects in our skies are better understood as non-human intelligence than demonic beings.

He pointed to Genesis' description of humanity as God's supreme creation on Earth, Ezekiel's vision of the 'wheel within a wheel,' and Jesus' statement in John 14:2 that 'in my Father's house are many rooms.'

Taylor said the Church should begin examining those passages now, arguing that Christians need to prepare theologically for the possibility of non-human intelligence before any official confirmation sparks confusion or fear.

He believes the discovery of intelligent life beyond Earth would not undermine Christianity, but instead expand humanity's understanding of God's creation.

'A bigger universe, or the discovery of a bigger universe, doesn't make God smaller,' Taylor, who has been ordained for 15 years, said. 'It just makes creation bigger.'

'I don't think it's a challenge to faith. I think it's a challenge to the limits of our theological imagination,' he added. 'I think a larger universe demands a larger theology.'

He also urged fellow Christians to reconsider the belief that UFOs are demonic, warning that it encourages people to respond with fear rather than to approach the phenomenon with an open mind.

Father Lee Taylor, who leads three churches in North Wales, told the Daily Mail that several passages of Scripture suggest the mysterious objects in our skies are better understood as non-human intelligence than demonic beings

While Taylor is sure the Bible holds clues to the truth about UFOs and extraterrestrial beings, the Pentagon and White House have maintained that there is no evidence that they have visited Earth. 

The Vatican does not have a definitive doctrine on aliens, but officially embraces the scientific possibility of extraterrestrial life. 

The idea that UFOs are demonic has also been promoted by Vice President JD Vance and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, both of whom have publicly discussed the phenomenon through a Christian lens.

'I believe we're approaching the time when humanity really must learn to think of itself not merely as citizens of the Earth, but as participants in a much larger creation,' Taylor said.

Vance discussed the UFO phenomenon, saying he firmly believed that there were phenomena that humans simply cannot explain, but he was more open to other possibilities, such as a divine presence.

However, the vice president added that what he might view as an angel or demon might be interpreted as an extraterrestrial by others.

While speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2024, Carlson said: 'They're from here, and they've been here for thousands of years, whatever they are.'

'And it's pretty clear to me that they're "spiritual entities,"' he continued, 'whatever that means.'

Taylor said the Church should begin examining Bible passages now to prepare theologically for the possibility of non-human intelligence before any official confirmation sparks confusion or fear. Pictured is a still from a UFO video released by the White House 

Taylor said: 'I don't think it's the most helpful framework for discussing an unknown phenomenon. It can encourage people to project fear or certainty onto something we don't yet understand.'

He argued that, if intelligent life exists beyond Earth, 'there's no reason to assume that every other form of intelligence would fit neatly into categories of absolute good or absolute evil.' Instead, he believes such beings would likely reflect the same diversity already found among humanity.

The priest discussed Steven Spielberg's latest film, Disclosure Day, which explores global disclosure of extraterrestrial intelligence.

One of the film's central characters, a former nun named Jane, fears that confirmation of extraterrestrial life could shatter the foundations of her faith.

She worries that disclosure could force believers to question everything they know about God, Jesus and the Bible.

However, another nun highlights a verse in Genesis that Taylor said could point to the existence of extraterrestrials.

Taylor said the movie points to Genesis' narrative that humanity is God's supreme creation on Earth.

The priest also pointed to the Book of Ezekiel, in which the prophet describes a mysterious vision of 'a wheel within a wheel' descending from the sky

So then that asks a profound question: Why would God create such a vast universe if it was intended only for us?' he added.

He argued that the repeated emphasis on Earth leaves open the possibility that God may have created intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, meaning humans could be God's supreme creation without being His only intelligent creation.

Taylor said that interpretation should encourage Christians to think more broadly about creation rather than view the possibility of extraterrestrial life as a threat to their faith.

The priest also pointed to the Book of Ezekiel, in which the prophet describes a mysterious vision of 'a wheel within a wheel' descending from the sky.

While mainstream biblical scholars interpret the passage as a symbolic vision of God's glory, Taylor said some people believe it could instead describe an encounter with advanced non-human technology that ancient writers lacked the language to explain.

Finally, Taylor cited John 14:2, in which Jesus tells his disciples, 'In my Father's house are many rooms,' or 'many mansions' in some translations.

While the verse is traditionally understood as referring to heaven, Taylor believes it could also hint at a far larger and more complex creation than humanity has yet discovered, one that may include other forms of intelligent life.

'When Jesus talks about "many rooms" or "many mansions," using language that people at the time would have understood, I wonder if this is some sort of hint? Could we view it that way?' the priest questioned

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Pentagon releases 4th group of UFO files with 40 more videos and documents

By Stefan Becket

A screenshot of footage from the U.S. military in 2020 showing a balloon-like object.

© Department of Defense

Washington — The U.S. military on Friday released a new batch of files related to UFOs, also known as unidentified anomalous phenomena, the fourth group of documents unveiled in recent months.

Friday's release includes a total of 40 files — 14 documents, 19 videos, four audio files and three images. The files come from a variety of agencies: the Pentagon, NASA, the CIA, the FBI and the Energy Department.

The Pentagon posted the new files on its UFO website.

• This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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NASA chief confirms capture of UFO imagery, says ‘We don’t know what it is’

By Mamta Raut 

 

(Feature Image Credit: Instagram/@nasaadmin, Microsoft Copilot)

The truth might not just be out there; it might already be in NASA’s hands. In a shocking revelation, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman has confirmed that the agency has captured imagery of mysterious objects in space that defy explanation. And while he stopped short of calling them alien spacecraft, his message was clear that the universe may be teeming with life.

‘We don’t know what it is’

Speaking on a podcast with Jack Gordan, Isaacman dropped a bombshell that is already sparking global curiosity. “We have captured imagery, and this is what President Trump is very forward-leaning about, that based on the data that we have within that imagery, we don't know what it is,” he said. The admission marks one of the most direct acknowledgments yet from NASA that it possesses visuals of unidentified objects that cannot be easily dismissed as comets or natural phenomena.

The comments arrive amid a broader push for transparency, driven in part by Donald Trump’s directive to release UFO-related files. Thousands of documents and images have since surfaced, but none have definitively proven alien life.

‘There’s life everywhere’

While Isaacman avoided declaring the imagery as alien proof, his outlook on the cosmos is far from cautious. “I think there's a very real possibility we're going to arrive at a conclusion in our lifetime that perhaps there's life everywhere out there and that it isn't as infrequent as we might think it to possibly be,” he said.

The Mars clue that could change everything

Ironically, NASA’s strongest evidence may not be orbiting Earth at all, but sitting on Mars. “We got samples on Mars right now. If we bring them back, there is a very high probability that they will point to, at some point, microbial life at least on Mars,” Isaacman revealed. Those samples were collected by the Perseverance rover, though budget constraints have stalled plans to bring them back to Earth. If retrieved, they could provide the first concrete evidence of extraterrestrial life, albeit microscopic.

Despite the intrigue, Isaacman firmly dismissed one of the most persistent conspiracy theories, that governments are hiding crashed UFOs or alien remains. NASA, like the Pentagon and the White House, maintains there is no such evidence. Still, whispers refuse to die, late astronaut Edgar Mitchell once claimed encounters with advanced unidentified craft, while former contractor Donna Hare alleged that UFOs were edited out of official images. Adding fuel to the fire, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has argued that certain interstellar objects may show signs of intelligent design, a claim NASA has consistently downplayed.

Are we alone?

For Isaacman, the fascination with UFOs isn’t fringe, it is fundamental: “I can't hate the subject. In fact, I'm incredibly fascinated by it because that is at the heart of what we're trying to do at NASA - answer the question, are we alone?” That mission is set to intensify with upcoming lunar expeditions under the Artemis program, which promise high-definition footage to counter skepticism, even about the original moon landing.

Isaacman also pushed back against fears that humanity is “invading” space, insisting exploration is part of our destiny. “I do not believe it is our destiny to remain on one planet,” he declared. For now, NASA has not issued further official clarification, leaving the public to grapple with the tantalizing possibility that the answers we’ve been chasing for decades may already exist, just waiting to be understood.

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