Wicklow and Kildare Counties’ residents may have had the shock of their lives yesterday once UFO like shapes appeared in the clouds during the day.

Residents snapped photographs of the formations that resembled flying saucers, but Irish Weather Online confirmed they were not UFOs.

The clouds forming above Ireland yesterday are known as lenticular clouds which are motionless lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction.

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Lenticular clouds have been mistaken for UFOs, or "visual cover" for UFOs, in the past because these clouds have smooth saucer-like shapes and share some of the same characteristics that people have described UFOs to have.

The more scientific name for these formations is altocumulus lenticularis and although no aliens are involved, they sure are a sight to see.