Office of the Secretary of Defense: 016_Parallax_Paper

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)
An AARO Information Paper
Effect of Forced Perspective and Parallax View on UAP Observations
May 2024
Introduction
While no single explanation or method of analysis can account for all unidentified anomalous
phenomena (UAP) cases received by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the
effects of forced perspective and parallax can frequently explain excessively large sizes or high
speeds described in UAP reports. In many cases, the reporter may be positioned far from the
object being observed while moving fast relative to it. Under these conditions, an observer can
misinterpret the apparent size and speed of a UAP due to the two separate but related phenomena
of forced perspective and parallax. This paper provides a basic overview of these phenomena and
their impact on UAP observations.
Forced Perspective and Range Estimation
Figure 1: Example of forced perspective. The person in the foreground is much closer to
the camera than the tower.
Forced perspective is used in photography and filmmaking to give the illusion that an object is
larger or smaller than its true size. Posing for a photograph while holding the Eiffel Tower by the
tip or pushing against the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a classic example of this technique, as
depicted in Figure 1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is approximately 190 feet tall, and an average
Photo Source: Pexels016All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office
Chief of Staff, AARO
Authority: FY24 NDAA, now codified at 44 U.S.C. 2107
Date: 2/6/2025
Released in Full: X
Case Number: 330UAP000016
Page determined to be Unclassified
Reviewed by Chief of Staff, AARO
IAW FY24 NDAA, Section 1841(a)(1)(C)
Date: 2/6/2025