Pheonix lights - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

02/08/2007 02:12:59 PM · #1

For anyone who didn't see the the news recently, the pheonix lights reappeard two nights ago, in the exact same place as in march 1997. For those who still don't know what i'm talking about, it a "UFO" seen in 1997, which was supposedly up to 500 yards long. Last night phone lines were overrun, videotape was roling, and most importantly, cameras were clicking all across the southwest from pheonix to las vegas.

The "official explanation" was that F-16s were doing operational practice above the city in the area and were dropping flares.

So here's the challenge: It was night, and all that is visible in the photos were the glowing fireballs. So to all the photoshop gods on this site...
don't add in what isn't there, but see how much can be extracted from the photos taken (try to make anything else visible)

go to google news and type UFO, or look in google images for pictures.

Maybe they were just flares, or maybe...

danthesquidkid

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

02/08/2007 02:24:46 PM · #2

OH COME ON!!!!

Is there really noone at all who has that spark of curiosity?!?

02/08/2007 02:25:14 PM · #3

Yup saw it both times! Flares maybe but I still like the possibility of Alien UFO's. :-P

Artifacts

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/08/2007 02:57:25 PM · #4

You see lights in the sky over Phoenix all night, every night. The only time its strange is when you don't, like just after 9/11 when all the planes were grounded and all you saw was the occasional F-16 from Luke AFB.

I believe there was a logical explanation for the 1997 sighting to, but once an urban myth takes hold there will be always be those that believe the most outragious explanations regardless of the evidence. That will be the case this time to.

PhantomEWO

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/08/2007 03:49:52 PM · #5

Remember LUke AFB is a fighter aircraft base. Fighters drop flares for several reason: illumination of a target area, illuminate for ground troops, to decoy enemy missiles and mark a specific spot for other to attack. I've dropped hundreds of them when flying the F-4 Phantom, heck we dropped them just for fun too. Just love the UFO crap stories ... oooppps sorry to those who do believe.

02/08/2007 03:54:47 PM · #6

Quote: "The Yuma Marine Base says the amber-colored flares came from training flights on the Goldwater Gunnery Range outside Gila Bend. The base says the amber flares are used as targets. "

Source Fox News

danthesquidkid

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

02/08/2007 04:02:27 PM · #7

but how are they hovering and moving?

02/08/2007 04:03:50 PM · #8

The ones this time were not moving. The last time I didn't see them move but others said they did.

PhantomEWO

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/08/2007 04:17:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by danthesquidkid:

but how are they hovering and moving?

Wind, thermals, being hit as a target. Most people don't realize that wind shifts can have flares floating in different directions and speeds even if they are only a few hundred feet apart or less. These flares are made to very slowly descend or "hover" for extended amounts of times. When they hand under a parachute, they generate heat which can easily cause it to actually rise in altitude. Kinda like flying a hangglider. My longest non-stop flight in a hangglider was over five hours, no power just like a flare.

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/08/2007 06:38:36 PM · #10

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

they used to drop flares when i used to work on f-16s just to mess with people sometimes. I worked in a test squadron in fort walton beach which has tons of reports of ufos i can tell you for a fact that msot of the time is was stuff we were working on which was clasified at the time.

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

02/08/2007 07:52:10 PM · #11

Originally posted by danthesquidkid:

but how are they hovering and moving?

Most military flares have a parachute that permits a very slow descent. They would be moved by whatever breezes exist at their altitude. As such they would appear to move in formation.

Message edited by author 2007-02-08 19:52:52.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

02/08/2007 08:13:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by danthesquidkid:

but how are they hovering and moving?

Have yall never driven across a bridge and seen a bird... in the air... not moving at all? Well more then an inch or two?

Message edited by author 2007-02-08 20:14:01.

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/08/2007 08:55:16 PM · #13

Originally posted by ElGordo:

Originally posted by danthesquidkid:
but how are they hovering and moving?

Most military flares have a parachute that permits a very slow descent. They would be moved by whatever breezes exist at their altitude. As such they would appear to move in formation.

alos if they were releasing chaff at the same time it could look very interesting

LoudDog

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/08/2007 09:41:09 PM · #14

Flare demonstration from a C-17

//youtube.com/watch?v=adc0ziYl8HU

Alicia

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM II

02/08/2007 09:41:16 PM · #15

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

The ones this time were not moving. The last time I didn't see them move but others said they did.

You saw them both times?? You lucky dawg. I never see the stuff that makes the news. However, I've observed some pretty strange activity up here by North Mountain.

And... UFOs outrageous? I think no more so than military flares. It seems more unlikely to me that we should be the only ones here in this galaxy or cluster of galaxies.