An
unidentified flying object, or
UFO, in its most general definition, is any apparent anomaly in the sky that is not identifiable as a known object or phenomenon. Culturally, UFOs are associated with claims of visitation by
extraterrestrial life or government-related
conspiracy theories, and have become popular subjects in fiction. While UFOs are often later
identified, sometimes identification may not be possible owing to the usually low quality of evidence related to UFO sightings (generally
anecdotal evidence and
eyewitness accounts).