The Canary Islands Sphere

On June 22, 1976, thousands of people across the Canary Islands observed a massive, glowing sphere in the night sky. A doctor on a ship reported seeing two tall figures inside the transparent sphere. The Spanish military conducted an extensive investigation and eventually declassified the case as genuine but unexplained.

Mass Sighting

Beginning around 9:30 PM:

• Residents across multiple islands observed a glowing object
• The sphere was visible for approximately 40 minutes
• Thousands of witnesses across Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and other islands
• Witnesses included military personnel and professionals

The Sphere

Witnesses described:

• A massive, glowing spherical object
• Blue-white luminescence
• Apparently transparent in places
• Hovering and slowly moving
• Much larger than any aircraft
• Silent

Dr. Francisco Julio Padrón

A doctor on a taxi-boat witnessed:

• The sphere at close range
• Two tall figures visible inside
• Beings appeared to be working at a console
• Red coloring on their clothing
• The sphere then departed at tremendous speed

His Description

Dr. Padrón described the beings as:

• Extremely tall (over 2 meters)
• Wearing red clothing
• Operating equipment inside the sphere
• Visible through the transparent sections
• Humanoid but unusual proportions

Military Involvement

The Spanish Air Force:

• Received hundreds of reports
• Launched an official investigation
• Interviewed witnesses extensively
• Collected technical data

The Investigation

Spanish military investigators:

• Documented the case thoroughly
• Could not identify the object
• Ruled out known phenomena
• Classified the file

Declassification

In 1994:

• Spain declassified its UFO files
• The Canary Islands case was included
• Documents showed genuine investigation
• The case remained officially unexplained

Official Conclusion

The Spanish Air Force concluded:

• The phenomenon was real
• Multiple reliable witnesses
• No conventional explanation
• The case should be classified as a genuine unknown

Geographic Spread

Reports came from:

• Gran Canaria
• Tenerife
• La Palma
• Fuerteventura
• Multiple islands saw the same object

Duration and Behavior

The sphere:

• Remained visible for 40 minutes
• Moved slowly between positions
• Changed size (possibly due to distance)
• Eventually departed at high speed

Significance

The Canary Islands sphere is significant for:

• Mass witnesses (thousands)
• Military investigation and documentation
• Official declassification
• Figures seen inside the sphere
• Multiple islands observing same object
• Government acknowledgment of unknown

Legacy

The 1976 Canary Islands case demonstrates what happens when governments investigate UFOs seriously and eventually release their findings. The Spanish military’s conclusion—that the phenomenon was real and unexplained—represents a rare official acknowledgment.