A video filmed in Alaska showing a strange object apparently floating above a forest has gone viral online, prompting intense debate over what was actually captured on camera.
The footage shows a dark object with long protrusions resembling tentacles, leading some social media users to speculate about unidentified aerial phenomena, while others argue it could be a kite or an optical illusion.
Rainbow photo led to unexpected sighting
According to NDTV, the footage was recorded on June 15, 2026, when Sarah Jane Osborne was travelling with her husband near Anchorage.
Osborne had initially stopped to photograph a rainbow after her husband pulled over the car. While taking pictures, she noticed what she described as a strange object above the treeline.
The object appeared irregular in shape and featured long extensions that seemed to move independently.
Witness describes object
Osborne said she initially assumed the object was an insect flying close to her phone's camera lens.
However, after looking up, she believed it was positioned much farther away.
She described the object as black and silver in colour and said it remained visible for approximately three minutes before disappearing from view.
Military base fuels speculation
Interest in the footage intensified after social media users claimed the object appeared to be moving in the direction of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a US military installation near Anchorage.
The base is used for military aviation operations, prompting further speculation online.
However, there is no confirmed connection between the sighting and the military facility, nor any evidence that the object was an unidentified aircraft.
Competing explanations emerge
Users on X have offered a range of explanations.
Ok I found the person who filmed this ‘Jellyfish UFO’…Sara Osborn… She said: “I was taking pictures of the rainbow. It was the most vibrant rainbow I have ever seen in my WHOLE LIFE. And it was there... and then IT WAS. And we watched a plane fly by afterwards... whatever this thing was it was MASSIVE. I knew it wasn't a kite. Kites have colors. And they fly those at the park strip... I was parked at the old Northway Mall when I filmed it. And we drove over to the park over there off of Muldoon - NOTHING. It was there. And then it wasn't.”
— Jordan Crowder (@digijordan) November 10, 2026
Some suggested the object resembles large novelty kites with long fabric tails that can appear unusual when viewed from a distance.
Others speculated that the footage could have been generated using artificial intelligence, while some linked it to extraterrestrial activity.
Osborne rejects the kite theory, saying she did not observe anyone operating a kite in the area.
Authenticity remains unverified
Despite widespread discussion online, neither the authenticity of the footage nor the nature of the object has been independently verified.
