Social media has been buzzing with intriguing photos showing mysterious glowing rings in the sky. The images have sparked widespread speculation and debate about their origin and authenticity, with various claims circulating online about where these photos were taken and whether they are real.
Social Media Posts
Recently, three photos showing glowing rings and beams of light in the sky have gone viral on social media, claiming the images were captured in Jaffna Junction, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
We also found another recent post of these images, this time claiming they were taken in Vietnam. The post gained significant attention, receiving over 3.4K shares and 1.1K comments.
Fact-Check
We began investigating by tracing the origin of these pictures. Despite their virality, no other photos or videos from different angles have surfaced to corroborate this supposed celestial phenomenon. We found no credible sources confirming this event. Such phenomena in the sky would likely attract attention from multiple observers. The limited photographic evidence available makes it difficult to verify these images.
Our investigation revealed that the pictures have been circulating since February this year, with claims that they were taken in Arizona.
Several major news outlets covered these photos, including the Daily Star, Lupa.bg, and MSN, but none of them verified the images as authentic. While the Daily Star reported on the conspiracy theories surrounding the images, Lupa.bg described them as “extraterrestrial,” and MSN discussed “Project Blue Beam” theories, all publications maintained skepticism and avoided confirming the legitimacy of the photos.
Visual Analysis of the Photos
Observations from the Grayscale Analysis:
Upon examining the photos, several aspects raise concerns about their authenticity: the glowing rings appear unnaturally bright against the dark sky with suspiciously smooth and perfect edges, while the light effects, though seemingly realistic in how they spread through fog, maintain an artificial uniformity in their shapes. Additionally, the desert plants in the foreground show no light reflection from these supposedly intense light sources, and while natural phenomena like halos can create glowing shapes in the sky, these particular images exhibit characteristics more consistent with digital creation than natural atmospheric effects.
Using Error Level Analysis (ELA), we examined the images for signs of digital manipulation:
Compression differences: The glowing arcs and beams showed irregular compression patterns compared to the rest of the image, indicating potential post-processing.
Bright spots: The glowing features displayed unnatural transitions, suggesting digital enhancement.
Foreground consistency: The cacti and vegetation in the foreground show no interaction with the supposed glowing lights, suggesting these lights were added after the photo was taken.Simply put, these images appear to be digitally manipulated rather than authentic captures of natural or unexplained phenomena.
Geographical Claims Are Unsupported
The claim that these photos were taken in Sri Lanka or Vietnam is completely unsubstantiated, as no local news outlets or eyewitnesses from either country have reported such phenomena, and the photos actually first surfaced in February 2024 with references to Arizona, United States, making it highly unlikely that such striking visuals would have gone unreported in the claimed Asian locations.
Conclusion
The viral photos of glowing rings in the sky are most likely digitally edited rather than genuine phenomena. Claims that they were recently taken in Jaffna Junction, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, or in Vietnam are baseless and lack supporting evidence. These images first went viral months ago. While these images have fueled imaginative discussions about UFOs and conspiracy theories, they remain unverified and appear to be a hoax.
Title:Are Viral Sky Ring Photos From Sri Lanka or Vietnam?
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
