Mapping Fictional Spy Balloons

The map above shows the paths of a dozen spy balloons as they travel across the United States. At least that is what the creators of the Spy Balloon Simulator want you to think. They really don't want you to think that the USA is being attacked by a fleet of extra-terrestrial UFOs.

The Spy Balloon Simulator allows you to launch an imagined spy balloon anywhere in the world and view its possible flight path over a 20 day period. The simulated flight path is calculated using atmospheric data from ERA5, produced by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. At the bottom of the map are some time controls which allow you to see the simulated balloon's position along its calculated flight path for any hour during the 20 day period. 

Of course just because the map is called the Spy Balloon Simulator and uses balloon markers doesn't mean that the mapped objects are actual simulated spy balloons. In my mind they are just as likely to be fictional flying saucers.