Within Short Clips
When the Trail Is in the Video
Video compression can add false smears, halos, wakes, or trails around ordinary objects in low-detail footage.
On this page
- How codecs simplify small moving objects
- Why reuploads make artefacts worse
- The Atmospheric Wake case as a cautionary example
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Introduction
A surprising number of UFO “trails”, glowing auras and apparent wakes are not features of the object in the sky at all. They are features of the video. Modern digital video is heavily compressed so that it can be transmitted, streamed and stored efficiently. When a small bright object occupies only a few pixels against a mostly empty background, the compression system has little information to work with. As a result, ordinary aircraft lights, satellites or distant objects can acquire smears, halos, ghost images or trailing streaks that were never present in the original scene. In UFO investigations, these artefacts matter because they can create the impression of unusual propulsion, atmospheric disturbance or extraordinary motion where none exists. NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense have both cited video-compression effects when discussing well-known UFO footage that appeared to show mysterious wakes behind airborne objects. [NASA Science]science.nasa.govScience Independent Study Team ReportNASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportSeptember 13, 2023 — Footage taken by an MQ-9 of an unidentified object in South Asia with an ap…
When Small Objects Defeat the Codec
Digital video codecs such as H.264 and H.265 reduce file size by predicting what remains unchanged between frames and storing only the differences. This approach works well for large, stable features. It becomes much less reliable when the scene contains a tiny bright target moving across a relatively featureless background. [DeepWater Exploration]dwe.aiDeep Water Exploration What are H.264 Compression Artifacts?DeepWater ExplorationWhat are H.264 Compression Artifacts?June 27, 2024 — 13 Jun 2024 — 264 compression algorithm prioritizes maintaining…
Several common artefacts can emerge:
- Motion smearing: The codec blends information across frames to save bandwidth, making a bright point appear stretched.
- Ghosting: Residual data from previous frames can linger, producing a faint duplicate or trailing image.
- Ringing: Bright objects may acquire halos or outlines caused by the way compression reconstructs sharp edges.
- Blocking and blur: The object can lose its true shape and become surrounded by artificial patterns created by compression blocks. [AVNetwork]avnetwork.comAVNetworkCompression Artifacts: Why Video Looks “Bad”15 Nov 2017 — An increase in resolution makes blocking artifacts smaller in terms of… [3wavelab.at]wavelab.atThis chapter describes and explains common as well as less common distortions in modern video coding, ranging from artifacts appearing in… [3eceweb.uwaterloo.ca]eceweb.uwaterloo.cae of distortion frequently seen in reconstructed video produced by video compression standards, which use…Read more…
In UFO footage, viewers often interpret these distortions as physical effects. A faint streak behind an aircraft may look like a propulsion trail. A halo around a bright light may appear to be an energy field. Because the artefacts move with the object, they can seem convincingly real.
The problem is amplified when the object itself is unresolved. If the viewer cannot clearly identify wings, navigation lights or a fuselage, the artificial trail may become the most visually striking feature in the frame, encouraging exotic interpretations.
How Codecs Simplify Small Moving Objects
Video compression is designed around a trade-off: preserve the overall appearance of a scene while discarding information that seems less important to human viewers. A distant aircraft occupying a handful of pixels is exactly the kind of detail that receives aggressive simplification.
Instead of storing every frame independently, codecs estimate motion and predict where pixels will appear next. When prediction is imperfect, the reconstruction process can leave behind traces of previous positions or create blurred transitions between frames. At low bitrates, fast motion and high contrast make these effects more noticeable. [DeepWater Exploration]dwe.aiDeep Water Exploration What are H.264 Compression Artifacts?DeepWater ExplorationWhat are H.264 Compression Artifacts?June 27, 2024 — 13 Jun 2024 — 264 compression algorithm prioritizes maintaining… [2wavelab.at]wavelab.atThis chapter describes and explains common as well as less common distortions in modern video coding, ranging from artifacts appearing in…
This is especially relevant for UFO clips because many share the same characteristics:
- A dark sky or cloud background with little visual detail.
- A bright point source such as an aircraft light.
- Digital zoom that enlarges a tiny target.
- Social-media compression after upload.
- Cropped or shortened clips lacking the original file.
Under these conditions, the codec may effectively invent visual structure around the object. The resulting trail can appear stable enough that viewers mistake it for a genuine feature of the target.
Why Reuploads Make Artefacts Worse
A common misconception is that a video’s quality is determined only when it is first recorded. In reality, many viral UFO clips have been compressed repeatedly.
A typical chain might involve:
- Recording on a phone.
- Uploading to a social-media platform.
- Downloading and reposting elsewhere.
- Inclusion in compilations or reaction videos.
- Additional compression by streaming services.
Each generation introduces further loss of information. Researchers and video engineers refer to this cumulative degradation as generation loss. Artefacts that were barely visible in the original file can become prominent after several rounds of recompression. [Wikipedia]WikipediaCompression artifactCompression artifact
This helps explain why some UFO videos appear to gain strange visual properties as they spread online. A faint blur can become a conspicuous wake. A barely noticeable edge distortion can grow into an apparent glowing aura. Investigators who work from viral copies rather than original recordings may therefore be analysing artefacts produced by the distribution process rather than by the recorded event itself.
The Atmospheric Wake Case as a Cautionary Example
One of the clearest modern examples comes from the so-called “Atmospheric Wake” videos released through official UAP channels.
The footage, recorded by an MQ-9 drone, appeared to show an airborne object generating a remarkable trailing disturbance or cavitation-like wake. To many viewers, the apparent effect suggested unusual flight characteristics. The imagery became widely discussed within UFO circles and was presented publicly as an unresolved case. [U.S. Department of War]war.govdod working to better understand resolve anomalous phenomenaDepartment of WarDOD Working to Better Understand, Resolve Anomalous…19 Apr 2023 — In a Senate hearing, Sean M. Kirkpatrick, AARO dire…
Subsequent analysis reached a different conclusion. NASA’s Independent UAP Study Team noted that the apparent wake was likely a sensor artefact resulting from video compression. AARO, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, later stated that analysis of the full-motion video, additional footage and flight data indicated the object was likely a conventional commercial aircraft and that the trailing feature was a compression-related sensor artefact rather than a physical wake. [NASA Science]science.nasa.govScience Independent Study Team ReportNASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportSeptember 13, 2023 — Footage taken by an MQ-9 of an unidentified object in South Asia with an ap… [AARO]aaro.milUAP Imagery UAP Video: Atmospheric WakeAAROUAP ImageryUAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #1), An MQ-9 forward… artifact resultant of video compression…
The case is important because it demonstrates how persuasive compression artefacts can be. Even trained observers examining military sensor footage initially saw a feature that resembled a real aerodynamic effect. Only detailed analysis using additional data revealed that the apparent wake existed in the video processing chain rather than in the atmosphere. [AARO]aaro.milAAROCase Resolution of 'Atmospheric Wakes'(U) AARO's Intelligence partners assess with high confidence that the “atmospheric wake” in eac…
How Investigators Separate Real Features from Compression Effects
Compression artefacts leave clues that investigators can test.
A suspected artefact becomes more likely when:
- The trail changes shape abruptly from frame to frame.
- The feature appears only in compressed copies.
- The effect weakens or disappears in higher-quality versions.
- The trail follows pixel structure rather than physical airflow.
- Independent sensor data fail to support the visual appearance. [AARO]aaro.milUAP Imagery UAP Video: Atmospheric WakeAAROUAP ImageryUAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #1), An MQ-9 forward… artifact resultant of video compression…
Investigators therefore place high value on original files, longer recordings and multiple viewpoints. A genuine physical trail should remain consistent across different recordings and analysis methods. A compression artefact often changes dramatically when the source video, bitrate or processing chain changes.
For UFO reports, this distinction is crucial. An apparent aura or wake may look like evidence of extraordinary technology, yet the most likely explanation can be a routine consequence of how digital video systems store moving points of light. Compression does not merely reduce image quality; in some circumstances it can create visual features that never existed in the scene being recorded. [DeepWater Exploration]dwe.aiDeep Water Exploration What are H.264 Compression Artifacts?DeepWater ExplorationWhat are H.264 Compression Artifacts?June 27, 2024 — 13 Jun 2024 — 264 compression algorithm prioritizes maintaining… [2wavelab.at]wavelab.atThis chapter describes and explains common as well as less common distortions in modern video coding, ranging from artifacts appearing in…
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Endnotes
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Source: science.nasa.gov
Title: Science Independent Study Team Report
Link: https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uap-independent-study-team-final-report.pdfSource snippet
NASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportSeptember 13, 2023 — Footage taken by an MQ-9 of an unidentified object in South Asia with an ap...
Published: September 13, 2023
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: UAP Imagery UAP Video: Atmospheric Wake
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/Source snippet
AAROUAP ImageryUAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #1), An MQ-9 forward... artifact resultant of video compression...
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Source: wavelab.at
Link: https://wavelab.at/papers/Unterweger13a.pdfSource snippet
This chapter describes and explains common as well as less common distortions in modern video coding, ranging from artifacts appearing in...
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Source: eceweb.uwaterloo.ca
Link: https://eceweb.uwaterloo.ca/~z70wang/publications/HVEI14.pdfSource snippet
e of distortion frequently seen in reconstructed video produced by video compression standards, which use...Read more...
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Source: avnetwork.com
Link: https://www.avnetwork.com/avtechnology/compression-artifacts-why-video-looks-badSource snippet
AVNetworkCompression Artifacts: Why Video Looks “Bad”15 Nov 2017 — An increase in resolution makes blocking artifacts smaller in terms of...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Compression artifact
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_artifact -
Source: war.gov
Title: dod working to better understand resolve anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3368109/dod-working-to-better-understand-resolve-anomalous-phenomena/Source snippet
Department of WarDOD Working to Better Understand, Resolve Anomalous...19 Apr 2023 — In a Senate hearing, Sean M. Kirkpatrick, AARO dire...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/case_resolution_reports/Case_Resolution_of_Atmospheric_Wakes_508-02262024.pdfSource snippet
AAROCase Resolution of 'Atmospheric Wakes'(U) AARO's Intelligence partners assess with high confidence that the “atmospheric wake” in eac...
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Source: dwe.ai
Title: Deep Water Exploration What are H.264 Compression Artifacts?
Link: https://dwe.ai/blogs/news/what-are-h-264-compression-artifacts?srsltid=AfmBOoptXeNyGaMCJ1zAzt9fCtaFzah4JnxW7wp7QEbjYW88D16ea7qdSource snippet
DeepWater ExplorationWhat are H.264 Compression Artifacts?June 27, 2024 — 13 Jun 2024 — 264 compression algorithm prioritizes maintaining...
Published: June 27, 2024
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Source: testufo.com
Link: https://testufo.com/ghostingSource snippet
Classic UFO Graphics at 960 pixels/sec - Legacy default...
Additional References
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/HiddenFactsss/videos/ufo-sightings-upscaled-to-4k-show-clearer-shapes-and-details-in-old-footage-maki/1898089294303418/Source snippet
UFO sightings upscaled to 4K show clearer shapes and...UFO, Aliens, Other Plan...... No photo description available. UFOS VIEWS. Media/...
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Source: livenowfox.com
Title: newly declassified ufo videos pentagon tracking 650 potential cases
Link: https://www.livenowfox.com/news/newly-declassified-ufo-videos-pentagon-tracking-650-potential-casesSource snippet
Pentagon shares newly declassified UFO videos, tracking...20 Apr 2023 — The AARO assessed that the object likely was a commercial aircra...
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Source: us.ktcplay.com
Title: Master Sync Track validation, distinguish ghosting from overshoot
Link: https://us.ktcplay.com/blogs/technology-hub/interpreting-ufo-test-results-pursuit-camera?srsltid=AfmBOorgk86r6pPB22e4dMMlYtApitltbQqD2qAdo-W4Kj1g6v4U9KslSource snippet
UFO Test Results: Pursuit Camera Methodology6 days ago — Learn how to interpret UFO Test results using pursuit camera methodology...
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Source: diva-portal.org
Link: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A833137/FULLTEXT01.pdfSource snippet
Diva PortalH.264 VIDEO CODING ARTIFACTSby RA CHODISETTI · 2014 · Cited by 4 — Blocking, ringing and flickering are the main artifacts fou...
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Source: esd.whs.mil
Title: 20230418 AARO Congressional Open Hearing final 2.0
Link: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/UFOsandUAPs/20230418_AARO_Congressional_Open_Hearing_final_2.0.pdfSource snippet
US Department of Defense & the UAP Mission17 Apr 2023 — South Asia UAP observed with apparent wake, likely resolved as commercial airline...
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Source: video.stackexchange.com
Title: (emphasis mine). It may just be corruption in the bitstream.Read more
Link: https://video.stackexchange.com/questions/24725/grime-like-blocking-compression-artifacts-on-the-decompressed-video-h-264Source snippet
stackexchange.comGrime-like blocking compression artifacts on the...27 Aug 2018 — Data errors in the compressed bit-stream, possibly due...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ancientwhispers/posts/image-captured-as-a-still-frame-from-a-video-recording-appears-to-show-an-uniden/863026643383425/Source snippet
ts a genuine UFO or a misidentified object caught at an unusual...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/premiere/comments/1r8scbu/weird_compression_artifacts_no_matter_what_i_do/Source snippet
tter what settings i change, it has weird grey...Read more...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: Aguadilla [Infrared]({{ ‘infrared/’ | relative_url }}) Footage of ‘UFOs’
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/aguadilla-infrared-footage-of-ufos-probably-hot-air-wedding-lanterns.8952/Source snippet
Probably Hot Air...26 Jul 2017 — The alleged UFO was a simple pair of wind-driven hot air lanterns in the shape of hearts, tied together...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ancientwhispers/posts/new-footage-circulating-online-claims-to-show-an-exceptionally-clear-ufo-event-n/838257589193664/Source snippet
orists, who claim this may be one of the best pieces of...
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