UFO Sightings in Iowa
1,149 UFO sightings reported in Iowa since 1939, peaking in 2012 (101 reports); most often described as light.
- Total sightings
- 1,149
- Span
- 1939–2022
- Peak year
- 2012 (101 reports)
- Dominant shape
- Light
1939–2022 · peak 2012 (101 reports)
Top cities in Iowa
Des Moines
1968–2021 · peak 2012 (11 reports)
Cedar Rapids
1967–2020 · peak 2012 (11 reports)
Council Bluffs
1974–2022 · peak 2020 (6 reports)
Sioux City
1954–2021 · peak 2004 (4 reports)
Waterloo
1989–2020 · peak 2013 (5 reports)
Iowa City
1975–2022 · peak 1999 (5 reports)
Davenport
1974–2020 · peak 2011 (3 reports)
Ames
1990–2020 · peak 2001 (4 reports)
Dubuque
2002–2020 · peak 2014 (5 reports)
Bettendorf
1998–2021 · peak 1998 (3 reports)
Cedar Falls
2004–2016 · peak 2007 (4 reports)
West Des Moines
2000–2021 · peak 2011 (3 reports)
Muscatine
1998–2019 · peak 2011 (3 reports)
Urbandale
2000–2021 · peak 2014 (3 reports)
Fairfield
1968–2020 · peak 2003 (4 reports)
Marion
1998–2021 · peak 2002 (3 reports)
Ottumwa
1993–2012 · peak 2005 (3 reports)
Ankeny
2000–2020 · peak 2014 (3 reports)
Keokuk
1939–2018 · peak 2007 (2 reports)
Mason City
1982–2014 · peak 2005 (3 reports)
Bettendorf · IA, USA
Distant white "stars" moving across the sky typically S of the big dipper. ((NUFORC Note: Overflight of satellites, we wonder? PD) )
Davenport · IA, USA
Two witness one amber fireball track south over the Quad Cities
Bondurant · IA, USA
Large cigar shaped object with lights in sequence from left to right then right to left traveling at high speed in a straight line
West Des Moines · IA, USA
orange glowing object in clear black sky amazing speed
Eldridge (towards; going North on Utica Ridge Road) · IA, USA
Triangle UFO over farmhouse and trees on Utica Ridge Road, towards Eldridge, Iowa
Iowa City · IA, USA
Hovering fireball north of Iowa City
Cedar Falls · IA, USA
2 yellow red glowing spheres moved against the wind in irregular motion and changing speeds, one dissappeared and the other flew away,
Vinton · IA, USA
Transparent triangular shaped object
Clear Lake · IA, USA
BLUE/GREEN/WHITE Flashing Lights - cone shaped in the Northwestern Sky in Northern Iowa.
Waukee · IA, USA
star-like object, high in the night sky, blinking rapidly between red, white, green and possibly blue. ((NUFORC Note: Vega?? PD))
Des Moines · IA, USA
Came out on my deck and before me in the sky were approximately 8-10 orange orbs moving in a SW to NE arc. This grouping was followed b
Des Moines · IA, USA
While driving east on 80/35 near the Merle hay exit A large cherry red to orange fireball. It moved as though it may land in front of m
Burlington · IA, USA
Two lights seen flying overhead.
Corning · IA, USA
I was outside having a beer, and no I was not drunk. I was looking at the stars and saw three what I would describe as pen shaped objec
Mason City · IA, USA
acorn shaped with flames and a ring of white lights on bottom
Ames · IA, USA
One white with blue light then two more same flight plan over Ames IA.
Dysart · IA, USA
Bright lights in the sky over dysart ia.
Dysart · IA, USA
Lights in the sky over Dysart, Iowa.
Ames · IA, USA
A single fireball or ball of light with a slight tail or trail passed in an arc toward the ground.
Reinbeck · IA, USA
Bright lighjt manuevers over Iowa sky.
Mason City · IA, USA
Observed two steady red lights for about one minute that moved slowly and faded out
Cedar Rapids · IA, USA
My girlfriend and I just happened to be outside at approximately 9:45pm. We witnessed a bright white light move slowly from the NW sky,
Pella · IA, USA
Ultra-sonic disk
Pleasanton · IA, USA
Three of us in our home heard a deep humming sound; two of us went outside to investigate and saw red/orange strobe lights.
Davenport · IA, USA
Oval, hanging vertically above busy intersection in Davenport, IA at mid day.