UFO and UAP cases before 1900

6 well-documented UFO/UAP encounters before 1900, 1561 to 1897: 6 explained. Each case has its sources, timeline and the official or best explanation.

6 cases

• Celestial phenomenon over Nuremberg 14 April 1561 · Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire (Germany) EXPLAINED
• Celestial phenomenon over Basel 7 August 1566 · Basel, Swiss Confederacy (Switzerland) EXPLAINED
• Utsuro-bune — the "hollow ship" of Hitachi 22 February 1803 · Haratono-hama, Hitachi Province (Ibaraki), Japan EXPLAINED
• Bonilla observation — objects crossing the Sun 12 August 1883 · Zacatecas Astronomical Observatory, Mexico EXPLAINED
• Mystery airship wave 17 November 1896 · California to the Midwest and Texas, United States EXPLAINED
• Aurora, Texas airship "crash" 17 April 1897 · Aurora, Wise County, Texas EXPLAINED

By decade

• 1950s 48
• 1970s 38
• 2020s 33
• 1960s 31
• 1980s 25
• 2010s 24
• 1990s 21
• 1940s 16
• 2000s 12
• 1910s 5
• 1900s 2