TOPEKA (KSNT) - There have been 1,217 reported UFO sightings in Kansas since 1995, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.
Kansas was ranked 35th in the nation for the number of sightings. Of those observations, 46 included media in the form of photos or video. California took the top spot with 16,519. Observers have reported an assortment of strange shapes in the sky such as spheres, cylinders, chevrons, diamonds, discs, cigars, teardrops and more.
Topeka had the second highest number of reported UFO sightings with 72 reports made. Wichita had the most reported sightings with 159.
Other sightings in cities around the Sunflower State included:
The Pentagon has recently said that most sightings can be attributed to balloons, drones, and other regular objects. The Pentagon notes that many objects lack a sufficient explanation.
Earlier this month lawmakers in the House of Representatives held a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (aka. UFOs). Much of the testimony rehashed previous claims about secret programs with an emphasis on national security, the need for scientific research without stigma and concerns about why information is being kept from both the public and Congress.
At the hearing, Pentagon insider Luis Elizondo accused a small group of government insiders of keeping the truth about UAPs from the public. Former NASA administrator Michael Gold pushed back against stigma about UAPs, noting that it discourages scientific efforts to determine what is happening.
Those who believe they've seen something otherworldly can report it to the National UFO Reporting Center.
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