Ohio's UFO hotspots, mapped

We're far away from Area 51, but Ohioans reported seeing their fair share of unidentified flying objects in recent years.

Why it matters: Discussion and reports of UFOs — or the more modern term, UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomenon) — have become more mainstream as lawmakers and others push for answers.

Zoom in: Residents in the Columbus metro area reported 751 sightings between 2000 and 2023, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.

• That's 34.7 sightings per 100,000 residents, which is more or less the national rate (34.3).

The intrigue: Sightings are more common in rural, southern Ohio counties.

• These happen to feature less light pollution, but it's also near where the Mothman was first spotted. Just sayin'.
• The UFO capital of Ohio appears to be Guernsey County, with a chart-topping 151 sightings per 100,000 residents.

🤔 Our theory: That county is located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77.

• Maybe it's just aircraft following the highways?

An interactive map of UFO sightings across the U.S.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Guernsey County is at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77, not 70 and 71.