If you’ve ever looked up at the sky and wondered if there’s life on other planets, you’re not alone. Countless people around the world have reported unidentified flying objects (UFOs) over the past few decades; in fact, sightings can be traced back millennia to drawings and references in ancient texts.

While many sightings and encounters of the third kind may be explained through natural phenomena, weather balloons, or scientific experiments, there still remain reports that have not been completely discredited.

Stacker has compiled a list of the authentic, the outrageous, and the out-of-this-world alleged abductions, interactions, and sightings that have shaped popular culture. Getting past the nitty-gritty, the list is based on the number of reports, the authenticity of data and credibility of each story. Read on to see if these stories are believable or total hoaxes.

READ ON: Weird, wild UFO sightings from throughout history