In a exceptional incident from Might 1952, Brazilian journalist Joel Martins and his photographer Ed Keel captured what’s now thought-about one of the vital compelling items of proof for extraterrestrial life. Whereas on task close to Rio de Janeiro, the 2 males noticed an object within the sky that originally seemed to be an airplane. Nonetheless, as the thing accelerated at an astonishing pace, Martins shortly realized it was one thing solely completely different. Urging Keel to take pictures, the duo managed to doc a saucer-shaped craft hovering silently above them.

The photographs, which showcase the thing’s blue-gray hue and distinct options, reveal a flat disc surrounded by a raised rim, topped with a small bump on the heart. Keel additionally managed to {photograph} the underside of the craft, which appeared flat, save for a raised ring. Their encounter lasted roughly 60 seconds earlier than the alien ship vanished from sight, leaving the pair in awe.

Upon publication of the images within the Brazilian Weekly Journal “uero,” they ignited a nationwide UFO frenzy. The pictures shortly gained traction, drawing the eye of the Brazilian army, which initiated an investigation into the sighting. The Brazilian Air Pressure later confirmed the authenticity of the photographs, with one investigator describing them as “probably the most sensational sequence of photographs of extraterrestrial life ever seen.”

Because the story of Martins and Keel’s encounter continues to resonate, these historic pictures stay a cornerstone of UFO lore in Brazil, ceaselessly cited as credible proof of otherworldly visitation. The incident not solely marked a pivotal second within the historical past of UFO sightings but in addition sparked a broader fascination with the potential for life past Earth.