Within Lens Flare
Why phone photos make green UFO orbs
Green orbs near the Sun or bright lamps often move like internal reflections, not objects in the sky.
On this page
- How sensor reflections create opposite side ghosts
- Simple reproduction tests with bright lights
- When a green orb claim needs more evidence
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Introduction
Many photographs promoted as showing green UFO “orbs” are actually displaying a well-understood camera artefact. When a phone camera is pointed towards the Sun, a bright streetlight, a vehicle headlamp, or another intense light source, some of that light can reflect internally between lens elements, protective cover glass and the image sensor. The result is a coloured ghost image that often appears as a green dot, disc or orb somewhere else in the frame. In UFO reports, these ghosts can seem especially convincing because they appear as isolated luminous objects against a dark sky. However, their position, colour and movement usually follow the geometry of the camera rather than the behaviour of an object in the atmosphere. Modern smartphone optics are particularly prone to this effect because they pack multiple lens elements and highly reflective sensor structures into a very small space. [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic… [Keysight]keysight.comKeysight United StatesStray Light in Smartphones with CODE V, LightTools14 Jun 2023 — In a smartphone camera system, the detector can be…
How sensor reflections create opposite-side ghosts
A smartphone camera is not simply a hole looking at the world. Light passes through several optical elements before reaching the sensor. Some of that light can bounce back from the sensor surface, reflect from lens elements, and then return to the sensor along an unintended path. Optical engineers classify these unwanted secondary images as ghost reflections. Keysight United States [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic…
This geometry creates one of the strongest clues that a supposed UFO is actually an optical artefact: the ghost often appears roughly opposite the bright source relative to the centre of the image. Researchers working on smartphone flare removal describe reflective flare patterns as having a symmetry relationship around the optical centre of the camera, a property that can be used to identify and remove them computationally. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXivNighttime Smartphone Reflective Flare Removal Using Optical Center Symmetry PriorMarch 27, 2023…
The green colour is not mysterious. It commonly arises from the coatings, sensor structure and optical materials involved in the reflection path. Users frequently report green dots when photographing the Sun, bright lamps or illuminated signs, and camera specialists identify these as lens flare or ghost reflections rather than external objects. [Reddit]reddit.comCan someone please tell me what's that green dot there21, 2025 — It's a sun glare, which is caused by light scattering and reflecting inside the lens elements when a strong lig… [Reddit]reddit.comreen dot will be slap bang in the middle of the bright light.Read more…
Several features make these artefacts easy to mistake for UFOs:
- They can appear as clean circular discs against a dark sky.
- They may seem detached from the light source that created them.
- They can change size as the camera angle changes.
- They may remain visible even when the actual light source is partly outside the frame.
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They often have a vivid green or blue-green colour that stands out from the surrounding scene. [Ash Riley]inmysacredspace.comLens flares are a common phenomena and are often mistaken as orbs in photosAsh Riley In My Sacred SpaceYour Definitive Guide to Debunking Orbs: Lens FlaresNovember 7, 2015 — In this guide to debunking orbs, lea…</span></span></span> In My Sacred Space [ZenTalk]zentalk.asus.comZenTalkGreen halo when taking photos11 Aug 2022 — A green half circle/halo appears at the bottom in both the viewfinder and photos. It's…
Why phone cameras produce them so often
Smartphone cameras face optical challenges that larger cameras can sometimes manage more effectively. Their lenses are extremely compact, with many closely packed optical surfaces. The sensor itself can also contribute to ghost formation because reflective structures within the detector can send light back into the optical system. [Keysight United States]keysight.comKeysight United StatesStray Light in Smartphones with CODE V, LightTools14 Jun 2023 — In a smartphone camera system, the detector can be…
Engineers who analyse smartphone stray light specifically note that bright sources within the field of view can undergo multiple reflections between polished lens surfaces, producing lens flare and ghost images on the sensor. These effects are common enough that major optical design software includes dedicated ghost-analysis tools to predict and minimise them during camera development. [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic… [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic…
For UFO photography, the most common trigger conditions are:
- The Sun low on the horizon.
- Bright streetlights at night.
- Vehicle headlights.
- Illuminated signs.
- Aircraft landing lights.
- High-contrast scenes where most of the frame is dark. [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic… [2Ash Riley | In My Sacred Space]inmysacredspace.comLens flares are a common phenomena and are often mistaken as orbs in photosAsh Riley | In My Sacred SpaceYour Definitive Guide to Debunking Orbs: Lens FlaresNovember 7, 2015 — In this guide to debunking orbs, lea…
Under these conditions, a small ghost reflection can look far more prominent than it would in a brighter scene.
Simple reproduction tests with bright lights
One reason investigators are often confident that a green orb is a camera artefact is that the effect is easy to reproduce.
A straightforward daytime test is to photograph the Sun with a phone while slowly changing the camera angle. The green orb will typically shift position as the camera moves, often maintaining a relationship to the Sun’s location in the frame rather than to the landscape. Demonstrations of this effect show the orb moving opposite the Sun as the phone is tilted. [Metabunk]metabunk.orggreen orb dresden how to demonstrate an orb is lens flare.13732MetabunkHow to Demonstrate an "Orb" is Lens Flare2 Nov 2024 — Just go out with your friend on a sunny day, and move the camera around wit…
Other useful tests include:
[Cover the light source.]ansys.comexploring facets of stray light simulationExploring the Facets of Stray Light with Simulation9 Jan 2024 — Ghosts are reflections that appear as bright spots in an image when light…
Place a hand or object so that it blocks the Sun or bright lamp while keeping the rest of the scene visible. If the orb disappears when the light source is hidden, that strongly indicates flare rather than a separate object. [Metabunk]metabunk.orggreen orb dresden how to demonstrate an orb is lens flare.13732MetabunkHow to Demonstrate an "Orb" is Lens Flare2 Nov 2024 — Just go out with your friend on a sunny day, and move the camera around wit…
Change the framing.
Move the bright source from the centre towards the edge of the image. Ghost reflections usually migrate in predictable ways as the geometry changes. [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic…
Take multiple photographs.
| A genuine object in the sky should maintain a position relative to the scene. A flare often shifts dramatically with small changes in camera angle. [Ash Riley]inmysacredspace.comLens flares are a common phenomena and are often mistaken as orbs in photosAsh Riley | In My Sacred SpaceYour Definitive Guide to Debunking Orbs: Lens FlaresNovember 7, 2015 — In this guide to debunking orbs, lea…</span></span></span> | In My Sacred Space |
Photograph a streetlight at night.
Many phones will generate green dots, halos or duplicated lights that resemble the same “orb” patterns later reported as anomalies. [ZenTalk]zentalk.asus.comZenTalkGreen halo when taking photos11 Aug 2022 — A green half circle/halo appears at the bottom in both the viewfinder and photos. It's…
The ability to recreate the effect repeatedly under controlled conditions is one of the strongest arguments against interpreting these green orbs as unknown aerial objects.
When a green orb claim needs more evidence
A green orb in a phone photograph is not automatically explained in every case, but it begins with a strong presumption of being an optical artefact because the mechanism is common, predictable and easily reproduced. The burden of evidence therefore shifts to showing why a particular image does not fit the expected behaviour of sensor reflections and lens ghosts.
Claims deserve closer examination when:
- The object is visible to multiple independent observers with the naked eye.
- It appears simultaneously in images from different cameras at different locations.
- Its position remains fixed relative to the environment despite substantial camera movement.
- It is supported by video, radar, astronomical observations or other independent measurements.
- The geometry does not match the expected opposite-side or symmetry patterns typical of flare. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXivNighttime Smartphone Reflective Flare Removal Using Optical Center Symmetry PriorMarch 27, 2023… [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic…
In the absence of such evidence, a lone green orb in a phone image is usually best treated as a camera-generated ghost. Within the broader category of lens flare and optical artefacts, these sensor-reflection orbs are among the most common sources of UFO photographs that appear mysterious at first glance but arise from ordinary imaging physics. Keysight United States [Ansys Optics]optics.ansys.comAnsys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic…
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Understanding Exposure
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Endnotes
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Source: optics.ansys.com
Link: https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/9273272641555-Stray-Light-Analysis-Smartphone-CameraSource snippet
Ansys OpticsStray Light Analysis – Smartphone CameraWithin the camera's FOV, most light sources can undergo multiple reflections at optic...
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Source: keysight.com
Link: https://www.keysight.com/blogs/en/tech/sim-des/a-detailed-workflow-to-analyze-stray-light-in-smartphone-cameras-using-code-v-and-lighttoolsSource snippet
Keysight United StatesStray Light in Smartphones with CODE V, LightTools14 Jun 2023 — In a smartphone camera system, the detector can be...
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Source: ansys.com
Title: exploring facets of stray light simulation
Link: https://www.ansys.com/blog/exploring-facets-of-stray-light-simulationSource snippet
Exploring the Facets of Stray Light with Simulation9 Jan 2024 — Ghosts are reflections that appear as bright spots in an image when light...
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Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.15046Source snippet
arXivNighttime Smartphone Reflective Flare Removal Using Optical Center Symmetry PriorMarch 27, 2023...
Published: March 27, 2023
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Source: reddit.com
Title: Can someone please tell me what’s that green dot there
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/iPhoneography/comments/1nmqwng/can_someone_please_tell_me_whats_that_green_dot/Source snippet
21, 2025 — It's a sun glare, which is caused by light scattering and reflecting inside the lens elements when a strong lig...
Published: September 21, 2025
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghosts/comments/m73k03/green_orb_showing_up_in_different_locations_when/Source snippet
reen dot will be slap bang in the middle of the bright light.Read more...
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Source: inmysacredspace.com
Title: [Lens flares]({{ ‘lens-flare/’ | relative_url }}) are a common phenomena and are often mistaken as orbs in photos
Link: https://inmysacredspace.com/your-definitive-guide-to-debunking-orbs-lens-flares/Source snippet
Ash Riley | In My Sacred SpaceYour Definitive Guide to Debunking Orbs: Lens FlaresNovember 7, 2015 — In this guide to debunking orbs, lea...
Published: November 7, 2015
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Source: optics.ansys.com
Link: https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/43071067483795-Stray-Light-Analysis-with-Ghost-Focus-GeneratorSource snippet
Ansys OpticsStray Light Analysis with Ghost Focus GeneratorThe Ghost Focus Generator simplifies the modeling of ghost reflections by conv...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: green orb dresden how to demonstrate an orb is lens flare.13732
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/green-orb-dresden-how-to-demonstrate-an-orb-is-lens-flare.13732/Source snippet
MetabunkHow to Demonstrate an "Orb" is Lens Flare2 Nov 2024 — Just go out with your friend on a sunny day, and move the camera around wit...
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Source: optics.ansys.com
Title: 49215383363859 Stray Light Analysis Automation Scripts
Link: https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/49215383363859-Stray-Light-Analysis-Automation-ScriptsSource snippet
In the second stage, the filtered.OptSequence file can be used with the Physical Camera Sensor on GPU to visualize...Read more...
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Source: optics.ansys.com
Link: https://optics.ansys.com/hc/en-us/articles/42047529058963-Automating-system-level-stray-light-analysis-and-optical-noise-reduction-with-Ansys-OpticsSource snippet
system-level stray light analysis and optical...This article introduces an automated interoperability workflow using Ansys Zemax OpticSt...
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Source: zentalk.asus.com
Link: https://zentalk.asus.com/t5/zenfone-9/green-halo-when-taking-photos/td-p/167161Source snippet
ZenTalkGreen halo when taking photos11 Aug 2022 — A green half circle/halo appears at the bottom in both the viewfinder and photos. It's...
Additional References
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/STLPRS/videos/the-cell-phone-orb/2306910973119765/Source snippet
FacebookGhost Hinting Tip: Cell Phone Orbs With modern cell phones...The movement of the orb is due to the shifting angle between the ca...
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Source: infinite.nl
Link: https://www.infinite.nl/en/overcoming-optical-system-challenges-with-ansys-spSource snippet
Overcoming Optical System Challenges with Ansys SpeosUnwanted reflections, ghost images, and straylight effects whether from optical surf...
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Source: wp.optics.arizona.edu
Link: https://wp.optics.arizona.edu/alumni/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/2023/06/jordan-jur-msreport.pdfSource snippet
Wyant College of Optical SciencesStray Light Analysis of a Mobile Phone Cameraby J Jur · Cited by 3 — To analyze the ghost images of this...
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Source: thesun.co.uk
Title: The Sun Eerie photo captures green ‘grid of dots’ floating in sky
Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/27520322/green-dots-grid-iphone-flash-bright-light-reflected-lens/Source snippet
The image, posted on Reddit, sparked extensive discussion, with users sharing similar experiences. A Reddit user explained that the green...
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Source: semiengineering.com
Title: exploring the facets of stray light with simulation
Link: https://semiengineering.com/exploring-the-facets-of-stray-light-with-simulation/Source snippet
11 Jan 2024 — Ghosts are reflections that appear as bright spots in an image when light from a source in and close to the edge of the cam...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/hauntedwalk/videos/green-orbs-captured-at-jail/10155496193952150/Source snippet
bounce back to the viewer off of something like a dust particle...
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Source: dpreview.com
Title: strange green orbs what are they.4281555
Link: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/strange-green-orbs-what-are-they.4281555/Source snippet
Strange green orbs what are they?9 May 2018 — It's lens flare (internal reflections caused by shooting straight into the sun). suggests...
Published: May 2018
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Source: edrmedeso.com
Link: https://edrmedeso.com/article/lens-design-and-straylight-analysis-for-cameras-in-zemax-and-speos-workflow-overview/Source snippet
In Zemax, ghost analysis helps engineers: Identify unwanted reflections between...Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1537901939628715/posts/24018440671148188/Source snippet
ddle and how do we prevent it next time?...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: i Phone Camera Flare Issue
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJXXZMoeoeESource snippet
iPhone Camera Flare Issue - Why Hasn't Apple Fixed This...In this video we discuss this flare issue that has been around since the iPhon...
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