Here's where Virginians might be spotting aliens
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Richmond is dominating the UFO spotting game in Virginia.
The big picture: Between 2000 and 2023, the city had the third-most UFO sightings in the state, according to National UFO Reporting Center data.
- And at 61 UFO sightings per 100,000 residents, we're at nearly twice the national average of 34.3, report Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick, Erin Davis and Alice Feng.
Yes, but: Our metro area didn't do so hot at 25 sightings per capita.
- But neither does Richmond when compared to Lincoln County, Nevada — which is home to Area 51 and has the most in the U.S. with 820.9 per 100,000 residents.
Why it matters: Discussion and reports of UFOs — or the more modern term, UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena) — have become more mainstream in recent years amid a push for answers from lawmakers and others.
- And as the dramatic Chinese spy balloon encounter accelerated fears of UFOs as a national security concern last year, a Virginia sighting was at the center of congressional hearings.
Flashback: Virginia's history with flying objects spans decades, with the Times-Dispatch reporting on UFO sightings as early as the 1950s.
- The stories include Richmond police chases, town meetings to decide how to handle them and alien abductions in Mineral.
The bottom line: There's no solid proof yet that aliens are real, and most sightings are likely military activity.
- But keep your eyes peeled, Richmond.
Full story on how sightings correlate with dark sky locations