World UFO Day, celebrated on Sunday, July 2, promotes knowledge and awareness of their existence. The date commemorates the alleged UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.

DEEPER DIVE: Arizona ranks No. 2 least likely state to survive an alien invasion

Just in time for the holiday, a new dataset highlights the best cities in the U.S. for alien and UFO sightings in 2023. They analyzed 13 unique data points for 100 major U.S. cities, including alien sightings, light pollution, aviation facilities, and more. 

Tucson ranks as the No. 1 city for alien and UFO encounters in the U.S., with a score of 73 out of a possible 100. The residents of Tucson have a rate of 45.06 UFO reports per 100,000 individuals.

When it comes to the pursuit of UFOs and encounters with aliens, not all cities are created equal. In an effort to determine the prime locations, we meticulously ranked cities based on various factors that increase the likelihood of success. For instance, the presence of nearby farms can contribute to an upsurge in crop circles — a phenomenon often associated with extraterrestrial activity.

Moreover, we took into account key elements such as the level of light pollution, cloud coverage, artificial brightness, and the percentage of the population experiencing vision difficulties. These factors play a crucial role in not only determining the visibility of UFOs but also the level of trust one can place in UFO sightings.

To gauge the interest and dedication of each city’s inhabitants, we delved into the number of reported UFO sightings and analyzed search trends for terms like “UFOs” and “Extraterrestrials.” By doing so, we sought to uncover the enthusiasm with which people in different cities track and investigate the presence of UFOs.

Tucson, Arizona, is the premier city when it comes to your chances of experiencing a UFO sighting, earning a score of 73.1 out of 100. The residents of Tucson have a rate of 45.06 UFO reports per 100,000 individuals.

Tucson experiences low cloud coverage (13.25%) and they also have a high search interest for “UFOs” (74) and “Extraterrestrials” (85).

The last UFO sighting reported on the National UFO database in Tucson describes a disc-shaped hovering UFO that appeared for 15 minutes on May 16, 2023. Spooky.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, secures the second position on our list with a score of 72.8 out of 100.

Albuquerque boasts a rate of 44.43 alien sightings per 100,000 residents — an indicator of the heightened extraterrestrial activity reported by its residents. The city also enjoys relatively low cloud coverage (15.7%), providing clearer skies for celestial observations and the highest search interest nationwide for both “UFOs” and “Extraterrestrials,” with a perfect score of 100 for each term.

While you are out alien hunting, you can stop by the Alien Brew Pub, located in Albuquerque, which serves up playful drinks like the Milky Way Stout, Alien Amber Ale, and Galaxy Lager.

Colorado Springs, Colorado, places third on our list as one of the top cities for UFO sightings with a score of 68.7 out of 100. Colorado Springs boasts 37.76 UFO sightings per 100K residents and very low artificial brightness ratings (2,220). This means the city’s night skies are relatively free from excessive light pollution, providing optimal conditions for those who are hoping to catch a glimpse of a UFO.

Colorado is home to the UFO Watchtower, which allows residents the chance to spot a UFO in the night sky.

Boise, Idaho, places fourth on our list with a score of 67.9 out of 100. Boise features 41.24 UFO and alien sightings per 100K people, a low artificial brightness rating (2,030), and plenty of nearby farms (11.95 per 100K people), making it a hotspot for crop circles.