Billy Meier is a Swiss national who, in the 1970s, claimed he had been in contact with aliens from the Pleiades star cluster—and had photographs to prove it.
The series of images were taken in Switzerland in the spring of 1976. The photographs show blurry metallic blobs hovering or floating above the mountainous Swiss countryside.
Meier claimed he was first contacted by alien figures at the age of five, in 1942, and maintained regular contact throughout his life. He alleged that the beings came from the Pleiades star cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters) in the constellation Taurus.
One of Meier's photographs was used as the background of the iconic "I Want to Believe" UFO poster that featured prominently in the office of FBI special agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny, in the television series The X-Files.
The photograph appeared in publicity material for the science-fiction programme and became one of the most recognizable UFO images in popular culture. The show used the image in seasons 1-3 before they had to stop using it due to an intellectual property lawsuit.
The photographs were first published in a 1979 book by former United States Air Force pilot Wendelle C. Stevens, who maintained that the images had not been doctored.
However, other ufologists and skeptics have been highly critical of the images:
- Photographic Quality: The images are described as inexpertly taken and faded, showing blurry metallic blobs
- Authenticity Questions: Numerous researchers have questioned the authenticity of the photographs
- Hoax Allegations: Many consider the images to be among the most prominent UFO hoaxes
- Sotheby's Auction: In 2019, the photographs were put up for auction at Sotheby's in the US as part of a sale dedicated to space photography
According to Meier, he maintained ongoing contact with extraterrestrial beings who provided him with information about future events, spiritual teachings, and warnings about humanity's path. He founded the Freie Interessengemeinschaft für Grenz- und Geisteswissenschaften und Ufologiestudien (FIGU), a community dedicated to studying ufology and spiritual matters.
Meier's claims have been extensively investigated, with most researchers concluding that his evidence does not withstand scrutiny. Despite this, his photographs remain among the most famous UFO images ever taken.
The Billy Meier photographs remain one of the most controversial cases in UFO history. While Stevens maintained the images were authentic, the broader ufological community has largely dismissed them as likely hoaxes.
The photographs continue to generate interest due to their association with The X-Files and their prominent place in UFO popular culture. However, the quality of the images, the circumstances of their capture, and Meier's overall claims have led most investigators to conclude they do not represent evidence of extraterrestrial visitation.
