The Trindade Island UFO Photographs

On January 16, 1958, photographer Almiro Baraúna captured a series of photographs showing a Saturn-shaped UFO circling Trindade Island while aboard the Brazilian Navy training ship Almirante Saldanha. The incident was witnessed by approximately 48 crew members and remains one of the most thoroughly investigated UFO photography cases.

The Setting

Trindade Island is a remote, rocky island approximately 680 miles off the Brazilian coast, used by the Brazilian Navy for scientific research and training. The Almirante Saldanha was conducting oceanographic surveys as part of International Geophysical Year activities.

Almiro Baraúna was a civilian photographer aboard to document underwater research.

The Sighting

At approximately 12:15 PM on January 16, crew members noticed an unusual object approaching the island. Baraúna grabbed his camera and captured a sequence of photographs as the object circled the rocky peaks.

The object appeared, moved behind the island’s peaks, emerged on the other side, and departed—all within approximately 20 seconds. Baraúna managed to photograph the sequence despite the rapid action.

The Object

Witnesses and photographs described:

• Saturn-shaped craft (disc with central ring or bulge)
• Metallic appearance
• Approximately 120 feet in diameter
• Dark center band, lighter upper and lower sections
• Wobbling motion during flight
• No visible propulsion

Military Witnesses

The sighting was observed by approximately 48 people aboard the naval vessel, including:

• Naval officers
• Enlisted personnel
• Technical staff
• Civilian scientists

Captain José Teobaldo Viegas witnessed the object and confirmed Baraúna’s account.

Photograph Development

Baraúna developed the photographs aboard the ship under supervision of naval personnel. The commander observed the development process, reducing possibilities for fabrication.

The photographs showed a clearly defined, Saturn-shaped object against the sky and island terrain.

Investigation

The Brazilian Navy conducted an extensive investigation:

• Photographs were analyzed by the Navy’s Photo Reconnaissance Laboratory
• Witnesses were interviewed extensively
• The ship’s crew was questioned about the incident
• The negative was examined for tampering

Government Response

In a remarkable move, the Brazilian government released the photographs to the public. President Juscelino Kubitschek personally authorized their publication after being briefed on the investigation.

The Navy’s official statement confirmed the sighting occurred but drew no conclusions about the object’s nature.

Analysis

Various experts examined the photographs:

Supporting authenticity:

• Military witnesses corroborated the sighting
• Development was supervised
• Object appears consistent across sequential images
• Naval investigation found no evidence of fraud

Questioning authenticity:

• Some analysts questioned image quality
• Alternative explanations were proposed (though none satisfactory)
• Baraúna had experience with trick photography

Legacy

The Trindade Island photographs remain among the most significant UFO images due to:

• Multiple military witnesses
• Official investigation
• Government release of photographs
• Supervised development process
• Sequential images showing object movement

The case demonstrates how official acknowledgment and investigation can lend credibility to UFO incidents, contrasting with the dismissive approach common elsewhere.

Brazil’s openness in the Trindade case established a pattern of relative transparency that continues in their UFO investigations today.