Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction

{{Short description|American reality television series}}

{{Distinguish|Alien Encounters (TV series)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

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| runtime = 60 minutes

| creator =

| developer =

| producer =

| executive_producer = Mark Marinaccio, Kevin Bartel, Jeff Garcia

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| country = United States

| company = Best Productions LLC

| location = Roswell, New Mexico

| starring = Mitch Horowitz, Chrissy Newton

| language = English

| network = Discovery Channel

| first_aired = {{Start date|2024|6|19}}

| last_aired = present

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 7

| list_episodes =

| related =

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Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction is a UFO-themed television series on the Discovery Channel that evaluates people's self-reported experiences with UFOs and aliens. It premiered on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT{{cite news |access-date=June 23, 2024 |url=https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/all-new-series-alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction-premieres-june-19-10pm-discovery |title=All-New Series "Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction" Premieres June 19 at 10PM on Discovery Channel |work=Warner Bros. Discovery press release |location=Burbank, CA |date=May 29, 2024 |author=DiMartino, Michelle}} and is hosted by author Mitch Horowitz and podcaster Chrissy Newton,{{cite news |access-date=June 23, 2024 |url=https://comicbook.com/horror/news/alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction-trailer-teaser-discovery-channel |title=Discovery Announces Mysterious New Series Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction (Exclusive) |work=ComicBook.com |location=Nashville, TN |date=May 29, 2024 |author=Cavanaugh, Patrick }} who review scientific data and research to analyze guests' encounters with extraterrestrial activity and determine whether or not they are explained.{{cite news |access-date=June 23, 2024 |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1139582/alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction-chrissy-newton-season-1-discovery |title='Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction' Investigator Chrissy Newton Promises Otherworldly Discoveries |work=TV Insider |location=New York, NY |date=June 19, 2024 |author=Fishman, Scott}} In one episode, geologist Frank Kimbler provides one of 20 small pieces of metal that he recovered from the outskirts of Roswell, New Mexico, one of which was tested and confirmed it to be "100-percent pure aluminum," which experts suggest was "compelling evidence" that prove that aliens crashed in the area decades earlier.{{cite news |access-date=June 23, 2024 |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/geologist-unearths-mystery-metal-at-roswell-ufo-crash-site-in-new-doc/ss-BB1ozz5s?item=personalization_enabled |title=Geologist unearths mystery metal at Roswell UFO crash site in new doc |work=MSN |location=Redmond, WA |date=June 20, 2024 |author=Phelan, Matthew}}

One review stated: "Utilizing scientific data and research, they aim to uncover whether these experiences can be rationally explained [and offer] viewers an intriguing perspective."{{cite news |access-date=August 12, 2024 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/guides/news/1828405-can-you-watch-alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction-online-free |title=Can You Watch Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction Online Free? |work=Coming Soon |location=Los Angeles, CA |date=August 12, 2024 |author=Zafar, Ayesha}} In an interview about the show, Horowitz pointed to addressing the challenge of "overly credulous" tendencies among the UFO community, while giving a fair hearing to the legitimate evidence and experiences of witnesses, examining each account on the merits.{{cite news |access-date=June 24, 2024 |url=https://www.allyourscreens.com/latest-news/146-interviews/1981-q-a-mitch-horowitz-talks-alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction |title=Q&A: Mitch Horowitz Talks 'Alien Encounters: Fact Or Fiction' |work=All Your Screens |location=Minneapolis, MN |date=June 18, 2024 |author=Ellis, Rick}} Prior to Roswell's 2024 annual UFO Festival, Horowitz noted that the guests hailed from all over North America and Latin America, and stated, "I think what is seen in the spotlight that's placed on the experiencers is how canny and capable so many of these people are," as many of them have a background in technology, engineering, and military service.{{cite news |access-date=July 7, 2024 |url=https://www.rdrnews.com/news/local/discovery-channel-show-touches-down-for-ufo-festival/article_63a694f4-3a5a-11ef-b43a-9be13c34f957.html |title=Discovery Channel show touches down for UFO Festival |work=Roswell Daily Record |location=Roswell, NM |date=July 5, 2024 |author=Martinez, Toby}} The seventh episode of the season, "Crash in California," airs on August 7, and consists first of a sighting in Nevada and then of an investigation of a possible UFO crash site in Needles, California.{{cite news |access-date=August 3, 2024 |url=https://tveveryday.com/alien-encounters-fact-or-fiction-season-1-episode-7-crash-in-california-airs-august-7-2024-on-discovery/ |title= Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction Season 1 Episode 7 Crash in California Airs August 7 2024 on Discovery |work=TV Everyday |location=San Jose, CA |date=July 31, 2024 |author=Byrd, Jules}}