NASA-UAP-VM006, Apollo 17, 1972
According to the U.S. Department of War, this image is part of a UAP case (designation NASA-UAP-VM006) opened under the PURSUE initiative to review historical UAP materials. The subject is a NASA Apollo 17 photograph taken in December 1972 that depicts the lunar surface, astronaut shadows, and — upon magnification — three 'dots' arranged in a triangular formation in the lower right quadrant of the lunar sky. DOW notes the photo has been previously released and discussed by observers, with no consensus about the nature of the anomaly. New preliminary U.S. government analysis is said to suggest the feature may be a physical object in the scene. The government states it has obtained the original Apollo 17 film and that a full NASA and DOW analysis will be released when completed.
Description
A NASA photograph from the Apollo 17 mission, taken December 1972, showing the lunar surface with astronaut shadows and a magnified callout of three dots in a triangular formation in the lower right quadrant of the lunar sky. Released by the U.S. Department of War as part of its PURSUE review of historical UAP materials.
Claims
The image contains three dots in a triangular formation in the lower right quadrant of the lunar sky, visible upon magnification.
60%New preliminary US government analysis suggests the image feature is potentially the result of a physical object in the scene.
40%The government has obtained the original film from the Apollo 17 mission for full NASA and DOW analysis.
65%There is no consensus about the nature of the anomaly.
70%
Events
Nov 30, 1972
Apollo 17 photograph taken
NASA photograph of the lunar surface captured during the Apollo 17 mission, later flagged as containing an anomalous triangular formation of dots.
May 7, 2026
DOW opens UAP case NASA-UAP-VM006
Under the PURSUE review, DOW opened a case to investigate the Apollo 17 image and released it publicly.
Dates mentioned
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Entities
Phenomena
Related files
Connected through the network
SF-2026-000413