What Was That? Watch This Orb Show Off High Above NYC!

A puzzling sight captured by a New York City news helicopter has left viewers scratching their heads. The footage, aired by Fox 5, appears to show a bright orb-like object zipping past the iconic skyline, raising questions about its origin and nature.

The video, shot over the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan, shows the orb making a distinct arcing movement, seemingly headed toward the helicopter. What makes this clip so captivating is how the object’s appearance changes—it starts as a white speck in the distance and takes on a bluish tint as it seemingly approaches the camera.

The orb appears white in the distance and takes on a blue tint as it gets closer to the camera. FOX 5 New York

A Speedy Mystery

The unidentified object appears to outpace boats on the Hudson River, quickly swooping past the news chopper’s lens. Speculations immediately erupted, with viewers debating whether this was a rare aerial phenomenon or a mere visual trick.

However, experts are skeptical. Avi Loeb, a Harvard professor known for his work in theoretical physics and cosmology, shared his perspective:

“This is most likely an optical artifact from the helicopter glass in front of the camera, namely a bright spot from the reflection of sunlight as the camera gradually changes its orientation relative to the sun and the ground,” Loeb said.

In the final seconds of a Fox 5 news report that aired Monday, the orb-shaped object or light can be seen in the crystal clear New York sky, making an arcing pathway in the direction of the news chopper. FOX 5 New York

Adding to this explanation, he noted, “But even if it was a real object, the apparent speed is of an order the speed of sound and not extraordinary.”

Retired Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, who now leads Ocean STL consulting, supported Loeb’s analysis, stating, “For several reasons, looks like an artifact and not an actual UAP.”

Footage Sparks Debate

The team at “Good Day New York,” which aired the footage, confirmed the clip was unaltered. However, they could not specify when it was recorded, only estimating it was within the past year. Despite the mystery, the show’s representatives insist no digital edits were made, adding another layer of intrigue.

The object’s movement has also fueled alternative theories. Some believe it could be a drone, its perceived speed exaggerated by a phenomenon called the “parallax effect,” which happens when the relative motion of objects is distorted due to camera angles and movement.

Interestingly, photo experts told The Post that the opaque appearance of the orb rules out standard lens flares, which usually involve semi-transparent light patterns and distinct aperture markings.

What the Footage Shows

At the start of the video, the object seems to pass a building near Hoboken, New Jersey, casting a brief shadow. It then moves across tree lines, heading into the airspace above the Hudson River before arcing toward Lower Manhattan. In just seconds, it zips past the tip of Manhattan, tracing two distinct curved paths across the camera’s view.

If the object covered the estimated three-mile stretch in roughly four seconds, its speed would calculate at about 2,700 miles per hour—more than twice as fast as an F-18 fighter jet.

The footage caught the attention of “Good Day New York” anchor Dan Bowens, who shared the clip on Instagram. “Anyone else see this on Good Day? What is that? A balloon?” he wrote in an Instagram Story. Bowens was unavailable for comment on the viral moment.

A Familiar Phenomenon?

This isn’t the first time unusual orbs have made headlines. Last year, the Pentagon released radar footage showing a metallic orb darting through a military airspace. According to Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the former head of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the military still cannot identify such objects.

Coincidentally, this sighting comes on the heels of a Congressional hearing that explored allegations of government cover-ups regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). Witnesses spoke of crash retrieval programs, alleged communications with non-human intelligence, and whistleblowers facing intimidation.

The little dot then quickly crosses the tree line, and enters the airspace of the Hudson River, moving away from New Jersey, banking along the Lower Manhattan shoreline. FOX 5 New York

The Verdict: Artifact or Alien?

Whether this orb is a trick of the light, a high-speed drone, or something far more extraordinary, one thing is certain—it has reignited public fascination with the unknown. For now, the mystery remains unsolved, leaving the skies over New York City as enigmatic as ever.