If you are asked about the strangest glows observed in nature, you will surely recall the northern lights, a solar halo and a rainbow. These phenomena have become so commonplace for us (except for the northern lights, which is observed only in certain places on the globe), that we will not specially run out into the street to contemplate them. However, there are such light phenomena that truly amaze and make you "wrinkle your forehead" even by advanced scientists from around the world.
Even today, one can observe many optical glows that defy the explanations of science. Legends and conjectures have been circulating about the causes of many of them for years. Some were explained by scientists, others are still hidden by a mysterious veil.
Such amazing glows will be discussed in our article.
1
Elves, jets, and sprites (oh Lord!)
As a rule, such flashes are easier to observe through a night vision camera. However, sprites (a type of lightning) can be opened to our eyes without additional optical devices. Relativistic jets or jets, as a rule, have a blue tint, and the phenomenon itself is similar to a lightning strike, which is directed not down, but up from the clouds. Flashes of elves (and what did you think?) In shape resemble a scarlet cone, similar to sprites.
This “Holy Trinity” is nothing but a kind of lightning that is difficult to reach for the human eye, due to the discharge in the upper atmosphere. Scientists mostly came across them by chance, for example, observing meteor shower. Thanks to the development of optical technology, researchers can observe more and more previously unknown phenomena in the atmosphere.
2
Hessdalen Valley Lights
Not far from the Norwegian city of Trondheim there is the Hessdalen valley, in which strange glows are observed. The reason for the appearance of optical phenomena is still incomprehensible to scientists. Glows can last a different amount of time, be of different shades and differ in brightness. The phenomena are so strange that many organizations have joined their study, including Norwegian ufologists, who see this as the “hand of the cosmos”.
Unlike most unidentified glows, Hessdalen lights are observed in the lower atmosphere. As a rule, the glows duplicate each other, while their sequence is almost impossible to predict.
A little over 10 years ago, a report was presented that presents the most plausible version of the phenomena. In the course of its preparation, high-precision cameras were used, which made it possible to draw graphs of the sequence of the appearance of lights. This technology made it possible to separate the lights of Hessdalen from the “man-made” lights provoked by human activity. Although the graphs did not provide a large amount of information, however, scientists were able to suggest the "composition" of the lights - they consist of dust and gas. Rising into the lower atmosphere, the dust, in contact with the gas, begins to burn, thereby causing a glow. It stops after the combustion of the entire "cloud" of dust.
3
Martha's Demonic Lights
Despite the general name of the phenomenon, the wandering lights of Martha are singled out in a separate form, named after the place of occurrence. They are observed near the town of Martha, Texas, whose population does not exceed 2000 people. Local residents are so used to the "aliens" that they practically do not pay attention to them, calling them benevolent ghosts. Their appearance does not depend on the time of day, although 15 years ago for tourists outlined a time frame in which the glow occurs most often. According to legend, these lights were noticed by the first settlers who drove herds of animals across the expanses of Texas (apparently, the indigenous population did not even ask about the phenomenon).
It is worth noting that not everyone fell under the spell of the ghostly lights of Martha. Many people claim that this is just a reflection of the night fires or the included headlights of cars driving through the nearby autobahn. A more reasonable version suggests that the glow can be caused by sudden changes in temperature observed in this region. Temperature differences are due to the location of the city on a hill. Facing, warm and cold air currents serve as reflectors of light, causing the lights to "dance".
4
Ozark's scary lights
Oklahoma State should be called the home of this "modest" glow. Looking from the Ozark Plateau, the glow will be especially bright on the east side, which is why it is often called the Hornets intimidating glow, after the name of a town located in the neighboring state of Missouri. The dimensions of the optical phenomenon may vary, but its color is unchanged - orange. The reason for the appearance of the lights is still unclear, although they were mentioned in the songs of the indigenous people walking along the "Tear Trail" (we are talking about the expulsion of the Indians on the reservation).
Several theories of the appearance of this glow largely repeat the version of the lights of Martha. Skeptics offer several options: lightboard light, car headlights, or gas leak. There are also many stories that come down to one direction: several people have been lost and have since wandered around the plateau with torches in their hands. The most beautiful legend tells of a pair of lovers who fled and were persecuted. To hide from their pursuers, they jumped into the Spring River, since then their souls have been wandering in the area.
5
Brown Mountain Wandering Lights
The dancing lights in North Carolina can be seen from many places. At the first attempt to explain the optical phenomenon, people were inclined to think that these were reflections of car headlights. However, this version was smashed by nature itself: after a terrible flood that hit the state, there couldn’t be just cars on the road physically, and no lights to share.
According to another version, two types of lights are visible near Mount Brown, which can be observed from different places. If you climb to the Weisman observation deck, it seems that the glow occurs in the forest. As if people are playing with flashlights more often. This theory is refuted by the Native American legend about wives who, with torches in their hands, are looking for husbands who died on the battlefield. If this tale is trying to explain the lights of Mount Brown, then there can be no talk of any hand-held flashlights, at that time they have not yet been invented.
And finally, the third version. Since the lights do not appear among the trees, but in the sky, people believe that the light comes from a train following the hills along the ridge. In favor of this theory is the regularity of the appearance of lights, which coincides with the train schedule. However, the locomotive is equipped with two lights, and people see only one. By the way, on our site thebiggest.ru there is an interesting article about the longest train trains in the world. In addition, here you can find out about the fastest trains on the planet.
It was possible to get to the truth thanks to old documents that prove that stray lights arose at the same time as the transmission line and the installation of lights. Most likely, the light appears for unknown reasons in the same places, disappearing no less mysteriously.
6
Chaler Bay Fire Ship
According to one legend, the glow near the Canadian Shaler Bay is nothing more than a ghost ship owned by pirates. He was sent to the bottom for the abduction of two girls from an Indian tribe. According to eyewitnesses with particularly developed imagination, from the shore the deck and sailors are clearly visible, tirelessly working on the schooner. Science claims that the glow is caused by underwater evolution of natural gas. The locals, of course, object, saying that there was no glow even before the ghost ship sank.
Despite speculations, scientists cannot accurately explain the nature of the radiance. Many sailors tried to keep up with the ship, but he kept them at the starting distance, no matter how far they went. The most powerful optical devices did not capture the shape of the ship. At the same time, the ghost ship does not miscalculate too much: it either freezes for a long period of time, then it immediately disappears before it has time to appear.
Some scientists sin on the gases emitted by submarines. Others suggested a glow of bioluminescent organisms living underwater. Their theory was refuted by colleagues who noticed that lights appear even in winter, when the water in Chalera freezes.
7
Fata Morgana
Often Fata Morgana appears above the water. These mirages can fool anyone, that's why they are named after the sorceress from English legends. However, an experienced sailor will always distinguish a mirage from a real item. The optical illusion is explained quite simply: objects surrounded by water are often reflected from it, with a temperature difference they are refracted in the lower atmosphere, reflected in the water surface. However, they are significantly distorted, often taking the form of an islet or schooner.
You can watch Fata Morgana on the ground. The principle of operation of such a mirage is similar to "water", only in this case it is not the reflection from water that is refracted, but the sun's rays, but the "screen" on which objects appear is the horizon. According to skeptics, who are largely annoying romantics, the Flying Dutchman tale arose after observing one of these mirages.
8
Green flash
A green flash is visible only twice a day, during sunset or dawn. By its principle, this optical phenomenon is similar to a veil-morgan, the sun is additionally illuminated by a halo of green tint. The best place for such observations is the region with unpolluted air, near which there is a reservoir, over which the outbreak appears. In some cases, it can shine not in green, but in blue.
9
Parhelion
Pargelium, sometimes popularly called "sun dogs", looks like a halo (a halo around the Sun), however, it is not so much a luminous circle as two crescents located on each side of the Sun. Often, these crescents are deployed to the luminary at an angle of 22º. Often this phenomenon may look like three suns shining above the horizon. Despite its mystery, pargium appears as a result of reflection at right angles of the sun's rays by ice crystals located in the atmosphere.
This phenomenon is often observed in very cold weather with high humidity. In Russia, every year on the network you can find photos of this wonderful phenomenon made in Siberia and the Far East.
At one time, pargelium showed another glow, which was caused by the launch of the solar dynamics observatory. At the time of the launch of the SDO, there was pargy, which blocked the flight path of the observatory. The airship disrupted the orderly crystallization of ice. As a result of the collision, they moved at an incredible speed, which caused an outbreak of unusually brightness, which pursued the SDO at some distance until it went beyond the atmosphere. Researchers had to work hard to understand the reason for the new glow.
10
Moon rainbow
As we already know, the appearance of a rainbow or pargelia requires the presence of moisture in the atmosphere. The same condition is necessary for the appearance of the lunar rainbow. At the same time, the Moon must be full, which will allow it to reflect more light produced by the Sun. The following condition is that the moon is located as close to the horizon as possible, which will allow it to illuminate the water in the atmosphere.
By the way, read about the largest planetary moons on our site thebiggest.ru.
The ideal time for observing the moon rainbow is twilight, and the place is waterfalls. By the way, like solar, lunar rainbows can be double. Just imagine what kind of selfie you could get.