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Ghost lights are also known as spook lights, earth lights and will-o'-the-wisps, being
luminous balls of light seen moving about. Typically seen outdoors, ghost lights are
reported around the world (United States, Mexico, Norway, Australia, for example) and are
likely caused by natural phenomena. Ghost lights are not the typical orbs people
photograph with cameras. They are only found outdoors, and are usually at a greater
distance from the viewer.
Also, the ghost light phenomena should not be confused with the ghost light of stage
legend (in theater, a ghost light is a stage light purposely left on for ghosts to perform their
plays after the theater is empty). Due to being rare, ghost lights are difficult to explain.
They have been scientifically recognized as existing in the late 1970's.
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A ghost light can be witnessed in various
colors, shapes and sizes, and are almost
always seen at night. Often, many a ghost
light is described as being orange in hue.
Some locations seem to produce the ghost
light phenomena more than others, and this
has allowed for their study in recent decades.
Legends exist around the globe that ghost
lights are the spirits of the departed, while
others describe them as UFOs due to their
ability to move. Ghost lights, by the way, have
been reported moving at various speeds,
from barely moving to being extremely quick.
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Though there are many theories surrounding
ghost lights, it is likely there are several
explanations. Some ghost lights, such as
Will-o'-the-wisps seen over bogs, act more like
fireballs which are likely phosphene or methane
gas emissions visible at night. Other types of
ghost lights, especially those that are luminous,
are electrical discharges visible as glowing balls
of plasma.
Far right: Photograph of a ghost light from the 1950's.
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Joshua P. Warren of LEMUR was able to reproduce the effect of ghost lights within a
laboratory after investigating the Brown Mountain Lights. He found that electrical charges
were created during rainstorms, as the water ran down quartz and magnetite stone that
formed the mountain. The electrical charges build up and then release as visible clouds
of free electrons...ghost lights!
Another explanation for a major portion of ghost light sightings could be refracted light
made visible by temperature inversions. This idea was also demonstrated in a lab by
Professor Jack Pettigrew of the University of Queensland in 2003. He proved that some
ghost lights are simply a mirage, a trick of light and temperature.
Below are a couple videos showing different forms of ghost lights:
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Top Ghost Light art used
with permission of Flickr,
and Stinkie Pinkie.
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Ghost Light Copyright 2009 Angels & Ghosts, LLC
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