AARO_Effect_of_Forced_Perspective_and_Parallax_View_on_UAP_Observations_2024.pdf

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 
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 An AARO Information Paper
Effect of Forced Perspective and Parallax View on UAP Observations
 
 
May 2024 
Introduction 
While no single explanation or method of analysis can account for all unidentified anomalous 
phenomena (UAP) cases received by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the 
effects of forced perspective and parallax can frequently explain excessively large sizes or high 
speeds described in UAP reports. In many cases, the reporter may be positioned far from the 
object being observed while moving fast relative to it. …

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 
 
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person is between five and six feet tall. In this example, forced perspective distorts the distance 
between the tower and the person, causing both the person to appear larger and the tower to 
appear smaller than their true sizes.  
The example above demonstrates the effects of forced perspective. Recognizing the optical 
illusion in this case is easy because the actual sizes of both objects in the image are known. 
However, judging the sizes of unknown objects in the sky is harder. Observers will often 
compare unknown objects to clouds, tr…

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 
 
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Parallax 
Parallax view, or the parallax effect, is a phenomenon that can distort an object’s actual position 
when viewed against a background from different angles. A simple demonstration of the parallax 
effect is to hold a thumb out at arm’s length and close one eye. Note the location of your thumb 
relative to an object in the background. Now, without moving your thumb, close the first eye and 
open your other eye. Again, note the position of the thumb relative to the background. Though 
your thumb did not move, it appears to have change…

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) 
 
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Figure 3:  Parallax causes the position of an object to be projected at different points 
against a background. As the observer moves, the changes in background projections 
 cause the object to have an apparent motion. 
Summary 
Not all reports of fast-moving UAP are attributable to the effects of forced perspective or 
parallax. However, in some cases, the effects of these phenomena are known to cause inaccurate 
estimations of a UAP’s size, speed, and direction of travel. These phenomena consequently affect 
data derived from a single se…