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)
Clinton · IA, USA
Star gazing and saw what appeared to be a very large, bright star, that appeared out of nowhere in the eastern sky. The star like light
Hawarden · IA, USA
Glowing reddish orange orb seen.
Lake View · IA, USA
Orange sphere in the sky, changing speed and direction.
West Des Moines · IA, USA
((NUFORC Note: Witness provides no information. PD))
Croton · IA, USA
I have never seen anything like this before
Jewell · IA, USA
We saw a glowing sphere with no blinking lights or sound. It was moving from E to W. And it stopped at one point.
Des Moines · IA, USA
Orange/amber fuzzy sphere moving across sky in Central Iowa, S.E. to N.W..
Manchester · IA, USA
Triangle that matched the color of the night sky. One red light at the face of the triangle and two white lights in the back.
Des Moines · IA, USA
BRIGHT ORANGE BALL TURNS TO DISC LIKE UFO.
Des Moines · IA, USA
Bright red object spotted above north side of Des Moines
Des Moines · IA, USA
Saw 3 orange lights in a triangular formation to the north of south eastern Des Moines. They were stationary but seemed to blink in and
Adel · IA, USA
Gold light resembling a shooting star darts across Eastern sky, instantly veers upwards, then disappears. ((anonymous report))
Carroll · IA, USA
5 silent grayish triangle crafts flying in a "V" formation. This is the second time I've seen them. No trails behind them at
Dubuque · IA, USA
February 1, 2017 was driving west, alone across Julien Dubuque bridge.(Between Iowa and Ill.) When looking up I saw a disk shaped c
Adel · IA, USA
Bright bronze light in low Eastern horizon, slowly moving North; sighted in Adel, IA.
Ames · IA, USA
Three lights in a triangular formation.
West Union · IA, USA
Myself my wife and a friend stepped outside. While out in front of the house no more than a few minutes later we noticed 8 orange glowi
Holstein · IA, USA
Bright light seen in night sky with ring of red lights underneath.
Newton · IA, USA
Viewed 3 white lights in a triangle formation moving south west at a low altitude. I watched it as long as i could from my drive way. I
Dubuque · IA, USA
Dubuque, Ia.-Constant bright white lighted stationary triangle?shaped object in the western sky every night in Feb 2017 approx fr 6-8pm
Elgin · IA, USA
Multiple red lights/balls taking off from ground in Iowa. ((anonymous report))
Casey · IA, USA
Blue/white light flying at an insane rate of speed. Probably ~15,000' high. It flew W, and turned in an abrupt, yet smooth curve.
West Des Moines · IA, USA
Large ball of light falling to earth at a incrediable speed. ((NUFORC Note: Possible meteor?? PD))
Dubuque · IA, USA
Stopped at the light at the intersection of Highway 20 facing north from Cedar Cross Road. An extraordinary fast moving bright white
Cedar Rapids · IA, USA
((HOAX??)) WATCHING THE METEOER SHOWER WHEN WE SAW 3 TRIANGLE SHAPED OBJECTS THAT WERE IN A TRIANGLE FORMATION FLY BY FAST.