Skip to content

Southern Fried Science

Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS

No, there isn’t a UFO sitting in Antarctica.

Posted on February 2, 2017 By Andrew Thaler
Popular Culture

One of my favorite things to do is browse through google maps looking for weird formations and places of historical curiosity. Apparently I’m not alone, as there are hordes of map hunters searching for the bizarre on this increasingly bizarre world. That’s right! It’s time for yet another installment of “this thing on Google maps is not a sea-monster/alien/UFO/ancient pyramid”.

The Object on Google Earth.

This newest discovery comes from Antarctica, where monster hunters have found what looks like a perfect disc sitting on the ice. Could it be a UFO? The image is surprisingly compelling.

It’s very round for one, and it looks like it’s sitting on top of a glacier, partially covered by rock. The 60-foot-wide object looks remarkably like a classic flying saucer.

SPOILERS: It’s not a UFO.

What we’re looking at is almost certainly a meltwater pond on the slope of a glacier. If you pan the map a little to the south, you can see other meltwater ponds, with that same fringing pattern and impressively round edges. It’s just a trick of the light that makes it look like an object sitting on top rather than a hole. Sorry folks, but there’s no aliens here.

As the Antarctic ice sheets collapse and glaciers melt, we’re likely to keeping finding more weird formations and though they may not be extraterrestrial, there are strange and wonderful organisms living beneath the Antarctic ice that no one has ever seen before.

Previously:

  • Did monster hunters find a 120 meter long giant squid on google maps?
  • No, we didn’t find the Loch Ness Monster with Apple Maps

Hey Team Ocean! Southern Fried Science is entirely supported by contributions from our readers. Head over to Patreon to help keep our servers running and fund new and novel ocean outreach projects. Even a dollar or two a month will go a long way towards keeping our website online and producing the high-quality marine science and conservation content you love.

Share this:

  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon

Related

Tags: Antarctica UFO

Post navigation

❮ Previous Post: Making global conservation conferences accessible in an world of increasingly restrictive travel.
Next Post: Thursday Afternoon Dredging: February 2nd, 2017 ❯

You may also like

Science
Update from Antarctica – What is MISHAP?
May 20, 2010
Uncategorized
Vacation Penguins
December 2, 2010
Science
Cosmic Quandaries with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
July 18, 2010
Science
Beneath the Broken Ice: Megumi Shimizu on the 2012 LARISSA Campaign to the Antarctic Peninsula
March 12, 2012

Popular Posts

What you read on Southern Fried Science in JanuaryWhat you read on Southern Fried Science in JanuaryJanuary 31, 2024Andrew Thaler
You probably don't want to work for me: What you read on Southern Fried Science in AprilYou probably don't want to work for me: What you read on Southern Fried Science in AprilApril 30, 2024Andrew Thaler
Ethical Debate: Should we have freed Willy?Ethical Debate: Should we have freed Willy?April 29, 2010David Shiffman
Welcome stumblers, reddit-ers, and neatorama readersMay 24, 2010Andrew Thaler
Playing God - How the ESA "God Squad" just voted for the extinction of a uniquely American whalePlaying God - How the ESA "God Squad" just voted for the extinction of a uniquely American whaleApril 9, 2026Southern Fried Science
Does Shark Week portrayal of sharks matter?June 29, 2015David Shiffman
Reflections on science and my role in it, ten years since my Ph.D. defenseReflections on science and my role in it, ten years since my Ph.D. defenseApril 1, 2026David Shiffman
What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryWhat Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on "the Shark Whisperer" documentaryJuly 2, 2025David Shiffman
Bad news for whale sharks: The world's largest fish are being killed for bait and billboardsApril 5, 2012David Shiffman
Need a #SharkWeek Alternative? Watch classic Cousteau documentaries with us for #JacquesWeekJuly 6, 2015Andrew Thaler
Subscribe to our RSS Feed for updates whenever new articles are published.

We recommend Feedly for RSS management. It's like Google Reader, except it still exists.

Southern Fried Science

  • Home
  • About SFS
  • Authors
  • Support SFS


If you enjoy Southern Fried Science, consider contributing to our Patreon campaign.

Copyright © 2026 Southern Fried Science.

Theme: Oceanly Premium by ScriptsTown