---
analysis-role: guide
analysis-category: guide
confidence-level: medium
confidence-rationale: Raw adjacent frames show a compact black-hot target emerging from 15 to 19 seconds, while noise and changing presentation make morphology and physical-growth claims unreliable.
evidence-status: verified-source
ai-analysis: true
accuracy-disclaimer: AI-assisted frame analysis; source timing and sensor interpretation may contain errors. Verify against the cited video and raw review sheet.
ai-generated: true
companion-eligible: true
topic-slug: pr125-thermal-target
topic-title: PR125 Compact Thermal Target
topic-description: Secondary Release 5 representative sequence testing acquisition, gain, blur, and apparent target growth in PR125.
guide-description: Five-frame raw and fixed-crop analysis of the PR125 Pacific thermal contact.
topic-audience: serious-uap-readers
topic-priority: 8
---

# PR125 Compact Thermal Target

## Source Basis

Source: [DOW PR125 / DOD_111887376](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4). Samples: [15.000s](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4&t=15), [16.000s](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4&t=16), [17.000s](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4&t=17), [18.000s](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4&t=18), and [19.000s](/?open=Release_5%2FDOD_111887376.mp4&t=19).

![PR125 raw source-frame contact sheet](/media/Release_5/Analysis/images/c107-pr125-thermal-target-source-frame-contact-sheet.png)

## Observation

The first two samples are dominated by a noisy low-contrast field. A compact dark return becomes separable near 17 seconds and is larger/darker at 18-19 seconds. This establishes detection continuity across the later samples and captures a transition in apparent image strength.

It does not establish physical growth or approach. Pixel size can change through focus, gain, thresholding, interpolation, tracking, compression, field-of-view change, or slant-range change. The sparse background makes camera motion difficult to separate from object motion.

![PR125 crop geometry review](/media/Release_5/Analysis/images/c107-pr125-thermal-target-geometry-review.png)

The fixed geometry review preserves the acquisition sequence but does not recover a stable edge. The return remains a small unresolved thermal blob.

No enhanced image is used. Any internal hole, lobe, rim, or appendage that is not stable in the raw sheet cannot be assigned to a hull.

## Working Assessment

Medium confidence: PR125 contains a real source-visible contrast return during 17-19 seconds. Its strongest value is as an acquisition and apparent-angular-size case. The clip does not independently resolve body geometry, range, velocity, or origin.