New Mexico Ranks as One of the Top UFO Hotspots in the U.S.

If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky in New Mexico and thought, “Was that a plane... or a visitor from Zeta Reticuli?” you’re not alone. According to a new report from Action Network, the Land of Enchantment is ranked eighth in the nation for UFO sightings per capita. That’s right, your chances of spotting a UFO in New Mexico are statistically better than spotting your neighbor in socks and sandals at the gas station (barely).

UFO Sightings in New Mexico Ranked Among Highest in the U.S.

With 83.3 sightings per 100,000 residents, New Mexicans have a 1 in 1,200 chance of seeing something strange in the sky. That’s better odds than winning most scratch-off tickets, but still worse than spotting your ex at Target. It’s not exactly Roswell Redux, but it’s enough to put the state in the top 10. And if you're wondering how often we’re Googling “UFO caught on camera” or “aliens in New Mexico,” the answer is: a lot. An estimated 1,300 monthly searches come from curious locals, about 62 per 100,000 people.

But let’s be honest. This isn’t exactly a new thing. New Mexico has a legacy when it comes to unidentified flying somethings. If the name “Roswell” rings a bell, you already know we’ve got receipts. In fact, some of the most famous UFO sightings in U.S. history happened right here in our backyard.

Famous UFO Sightings That Made New Mexico an Alien Hotspot

Before you roll your eyes and say, “That was probably just swamp gas,” take a look at the resume:

Roswell Incident (1947)

The Beyoncé of UFO sightings. A rancher finds strange debris. The military says “flying disc,” then panics and changes its story. Conspiracies are born. Roswell becomes the crown jewel of alien lore.

Aztec UFO Crash (1948)

A year later, another alleged crash in Aztec involves a 100-foot saucer and 16 alien bodies. Officially dismissed as a hoax, but the tinfoil hat community is still all in.

Socorro Sighting (1964)

A police officer in Socorro sees a landed egg-shaped craft, complete with beings in white suits. It takes off right in front of him. The FBI looks into it. No swamp gas here.

Dulce Base Theories

Less sighting, more full-blown conspiracy. Allegedly, Dulce is home to a secret underground base where aliens and humans collaborate (or experiment on each other, depending on which Reddit thread you believe).

White Sands Encounters

At this military test site, glowing orbs and physics-defying objects have been reported for decades by both locals and military personnel. Not exactly your average weather balloon.

It’s no wonder New Mexico cracked the top 10. We’ve got a sky full of stars and stories.

Texas UFO Sightings Rank Low Despite High Total Reports

While New Mexico is scanning the skies, Texas is... distracted. Despite racking up over 6,500 UFO reports total, the sheer size of the Lone Star population knocks its per capita rate way down. In fact, Texas ranks near the bottom with only 21.7 sightings per 100,000 people. Turns out everything’s not bigger in Texas, especially not the chances of seeing a flying saucer.

World UFO Day 2024 Brings New Interest in Alien Life

With World UFO Day around the corner, expect more tinfoil hats, shaky phone videos, and people claiming “the government knows more than they’re telling us.” (Spoiler alert: they probably do.) Searches for extraterrestrial life are already up 50% from last year, and the national curiosity shows no signs of slowing.

So this July 2, grab a lawn chair, a telescope, and a healthy sense of skepticism. In New Mexico, the odds of seeing a UFO are better than most. And honestly, with gas prices what they are, an alien escape plan doesn’t sound half bad.