Mysterious lights over Arizona and Florida

April 23, 2008 By 26 Comments

Strange lights flew in formation over Phoenix, Arizona, and St. Augustine, Florida. (Something similar happened in Phoenix in 1997.) These were widely seen and photographed. Here is a story about the Arizona sightings: Unexplained lights spotted above Valley; what were they? Here is a story on the Florida sightings. (The anchors say the lights may be wedding lights, I guess something like balloons.)

Here is a video of what people were seeing in Arizona, so you can see them for yourself:

What do you make of these? (I welcome opinions both serious and humorous.)

UPDATE: We have a confession.

Filed Under: Science, technology 26 Comments
About Gene Veith

Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College, the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, a columnist for World Magazine and TableTalk, and the author of 18 books on different facets of Christianity & Culture.

  • Chris H.

    Perhaps it was the rapture and no one was found in America worth taking, and of course we Lutherans were left behind. Seriously, it was probably some military test aircraft. Similiar things were seen during development of the Stealth fighter and bomber.

  • Chris H.

    Perhaps it was the rapture and no one was found in America worth taking, and of course we Lutherans were left behind. Seriously, it was probably some military test aircraft. Similiar things were seen during development of the Stealth fighter and bomber.

  • Chilibean

    I agree with Chris H.

    My wife said she saw the news story and said the lights were in the out line of a Stealth Fighter as well.

  • Chilibean

    I agree with Chris H.

    My wife said she saw the news story and said the lights were in the out line of a Stealth Fighter as well.

  • Susan aka organshoes

    I’m no expert on flares or aeronautics, but I doubt flares would maintain a formation.
    I used to live in coastal North Carolina, and we’d see lots of strange things flying, mostly at night, that were probably associated with all the military airbases around, and not with adventurous ET’s checking us out.
    My husband and I jumped into the car one night to follow a strange formation of lights overhead that appeared to outline either a very large, low-flying aircraft, or a massive formation at high altitude. We didn’t detect any sound, and the craft changed direction easily. I think we learned later that it was one of the forms of the Harrier aircraft. Anyways, it was impressive, but it never entered our minds that we were seeing naything from beyond.

  • Susan aka organshoes

    I’m no expert on flares or aeronautics, but I doubt flares would maintain a formation.
    I used to live in coastal North Carolina, and we’d see lots of strange things flying, mostly at night, that were probably associated with all the military airbases around, and not with adventurous ET’s checking us out.
    My husband and I jumped into the car one night to follow a strange formation of lights overhead that appeared to outline either a very large, low-flying aircraft, or a massive formation at high altitude. We didn’t detect any sound, and the craft changed direction easily. I think we learned later that it was one of the forms of the Harrier aircraft. Anyways, it was impressive, but it never entered our minds that we were seeing naything from beyond.

  • S Bauer

    There was a documentary/program on the Phoenix 1997 sightings that aired on Discovery or TLC just a day or two ago. Most likely flares.

  • S Bauer

    There was a documentary/program on the Phoenix 1997 sightings that aired on Discovery or TLC just a day or two ago. Most likely flares.

  • Bart

    I bet it’s an elaborate setup from the Hormel company. They’re trying to make America think the Earth is being invaded by aliens. Everyone will go into underground bunkers and, therefore, stockpile lots and lots of Spam.

    THE EVILS OF CORPORATE AMERICA AT WORK!

  • Bart

    I bet it’s an elaborate setup from the Hormel company. They’re trying to make America think the Earth is being invaded by aliens. Everyone will go into underground bunkers and, therefore, stockpile lots and lots of Spam.

    THE EVILS OF CORPORATE AMERICA AT WORK!

  • CRB

    This can probably be solved simply by asking Rep. Dennis Kucinich! Duh! :)

  • CRB

    This can probably be solved simply by asking Rep. Dennis Kucinich! Duh! :)

  • http://www.bikebubba.blogspot.com Bike Bubba

    It’s Larry Boy. Duh.

  • http://www.bikebubba.blogspot.com Bike Bubba

    It’s Larry Boy. Duh.

  • Brian

    I actually heard that it was the beginning of covert air raids being launched by conservative/fundamentalist Presbyterians in their rejuvenated campaign to “reclaim America for Christ”. Analysts predict that these radio controlled balloons with drop double-sided tracts featuring the “What Are the 5 Points of Calvinism?” and “Predestination: Living the Chosen Life”.

  • Brian

    I actually heard that it was the beginning of covert air raids being launched by conservative/fundamentalist Presbyterians in their rejuvenated campaign to “reclaim America for Christ”. Analysts predict that these radio controlled balloons with drop double-sided tracts featuring the “What Are the 5 Points of Calvinism?” and “Predestination: Living the Chosen Life”.

  • CRB

    #7 Who is “Larry Boy”?

  • CRB

    #7 Who is “Larry Boy”?

  • WebMonk

    I’ve thought of doing some “flying saucer” hoaxes a few times, but I’ve never gone through with it mainly because of cost problems. Kudos to this guy for coming up with a cheap hoax! That was brilliantly simple!

    Dr. Veith, if you happen to see some UFOs floating around PHC, you’ll know who to blame!

  • WebMonk

    I’ve thought of doing some “flying saucer” hoaxes a few times, but I’ve never gone through with it mainly because of cost problems. Kudos to this guy for coming up with a cheap hoax! That was brilliantly simple!

    Dr. Veith, if you happen to see some UFOs floating around PHC, you’ll know who to blame!

  • WebMonk

    CRB #9 – who is Larry Boy?

    Veggietales!!! Purple and green!! Plungers for ears! He’s my hero!

  • WebMonk

    CRB #9 – who is Larry Boy?

    Veggietales!!! Purple and green!! Plungers for ears! He’s my hero!

  • Anon

    My initial thought was that they just retired the “F”-117, and that they might therefore be getting ready to unveil something new.

    However it appears to have been helium balloons and flares. Cool! :-)

  • Anon

    My initial thought was that they just retired the “F”-117, and that they might therefore be getting ready to unveil something new.

    However it appears to have been helium balloons and flares. Cool! :-)

  • Anon

    Susan,
    We probably do have very interesting v-shaped airships that can reach very high altitude, even technical ‘space;, are very stealthy, and are likely used to insert special forces. A number of sightings conform to utlization of this sort of technology.

    Then there is the long-term reports of “Aurora” which may itself have been a deception campaign, and very likely tests in the 80s and 90s of a pulse-detonation engine aerospace vehicle.

    We’ve been told that ‘we’ve already done all that Star Wars and Star Trek stuff’ by a retiring leader at the Skunkworks, and consider that the SR-71 hypersonic stealth platform was built in the 60s from a late 50s design. And it is 2008 now. . .

  • Anon

    Susan,
    We probably do have very interesting v-shaped airships that can reach very high altitude, even technical ‘space;, are very stealthy, and are likely used to insert special forces. A number of sightings conform to utlization of this sort of technology.

    Then there is the long-term reports of “Aurora” which may itself have been a deception campaign, and very likely tests in the 80s and 90s of a pulse-detonation engine aerospace vehicle.

    We’ve been told that ‘we’ve already done all that Star Wars and Star Trek stuff’ by a retiring leader at the Skunkworks, and consider that the SR-71 hypersonic stealth platform was built in the 60s from a late 50s design. And it is 2008 now. . .