Anomalous lights that appear close to the earth, usually in rural or remote areas, and that show movement and reappear in the same location night after night, often for years at a time. Earthlights have been reported around the world and over many centuries. Also called ghost lights or spook lights, they are sometimes associated with ghosts or spirits of the dead. Described by some as “dancing,” and “ball-like,” they frequently appear near power lines, but just as often near hilltops, isolated buildings, and other sites remote from electrical power sources. Reports of their color vary. The lights seem to react to other light sources and to observers trying to approach them. They often can be seen only from particular angles.
Among the best-known earthlights are those near Marfa, in western Texas, appropriately called the Marfa lights. They were first reported in 1883, and they have been reappearing regularly ever since. They dance and chase, and their origin has never been satisfactorily determined. Earthlights are reported in many states and in countries around the world.