Maricopa County ranks 4th on the list when it comes to UFO sightings nationwide, according to Popular Mechanics.

The magazine asked the Center for UFO Studies for help to compile the list. The center has a database of sightings that have been reported from 1947 to 2005.

Here are the rankings:

Major Metro Counties

1. Westmoreland, PA: 396
2. Saguache, CO: 263
3. Santa Rosa, FL: 242
4. Yakima, WA: 227
5. Rockingham, NH: 183

Popular Mechanics also created a map that showed the sighting areas and how they relate to the air traffic control boundaries. Some analysts say those boundaries are important because they can sometimes point out military training zones where some sightings are taking place.

They claim the lights from air tankers and war planes flying closely together at night can sometimes appear as triangles of light which could lead to mistaken reports.

The Mutual UFO Network, known as MUFON, tracks and investigates UFO sightings in Arizona and determines the validity of what people believe they’ve seen.

“Generally the state and namely Phoenix is a hot spot for UFO claims and activity,” said MUFON investigator Stacey Wright.

The Phoenix branch of MUFON allows people to report UFO sightings and remain anonymous.

Source: abc15

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