Lake Cote aerial photograph

Record summary

What happened A Costa Rican government mapping aircraft photographed a dark disc-like image over Lake Cote during an automated survey run. The object appeared in a single high-resolution frame, while adjacent frames did not show it. The negative remained in government survey custody before researchers obtained copies. Evidence An original large-format survey negative, known camera, flight line and timing make this stronger than an anonymous photograph. Explanations considered A processing defect, airborne debris or a small object near the camera have been proposed, though analyses differ over whether the image sits in the emulsion like a photographed scene element. What remains uncertain One frame supplies no motion or range, and repeated generations of copies can conceal artefacts needed for definitive analysis. Primary source Lake Cote aerial photograph — Wikipedia