When a lot of people saw the same thing
Nobody filed these as events. They surfaced on their own, when strangers in different places wrote down something similar within hours of each other. 263 of them, drawn out of 43,684 accounts. Most happened after dark, though not all: about one account in five with a known time happened in daylight.
Every one is then checked against the public record: fireballs logged by NASA, earthquakes logged by the USGS, where Venus and the moon actually were, and whether it was a day people set off fireworks. Of the 40 below, 21 have at least one ordinary candidate and 19 have none. How that check works
1997-07-04
They described blue light and green light.
possible ordinary cause: venus, date
What we checked
Venus was 56 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-1997-07-04-39-90 · wording independence 0.613 · coherence 7.904 · reported across evening 1, night 20
2004-10-31
They described red lights and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: date
What we checked
This was Halloween. (calendar)
E-2004-10-31-42-88 · wording independence 0.6 · coherence 7.511 · reported across evening 22, night 3
2005-09-30
They described red lights and hovering.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 24 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.0, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2005-09-30-42-88 · wording independence 0.769 · coherence 7.246 · reported across evening 1, night 12
2004-08-21
They described red lights and a triangle shape.
nothing ordinary found for that night
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2004-08-21-42-88 · wording independence 0.688 · coherence 7.064
1997-03-13
They described a triangle shape and moving in formation.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1997-03-13-33-112 · wording independence 0.724 · coherence 6.8 · reported across evening 19, night 3
2005-10-01
They described red lights and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 24 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.1, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2005-10-01-42-88 · wording independence 0.71 · coherence 6.625
2010-07-04
They described an orange orb and red lights.
possible ordinary cause: venus, date
What we checked
Venus was 55 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.0, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-2010-07-04-48-122 · wording independence 0.857 · coherence 6.146
1997-07-04
They described blue light and repeated event.
possible ordinary cause: venus, date
What we checked
Venus was 57 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-1997-07-04-38-90 · wording independence 0.846 · coherence 5.684 · reported across evening 2, night 7
1999-11-16
They described an orange orb and white light.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-42-88 · wording independence 0.789 · coherence 5.128 · reported across afternoon 1, evening 9
1999-11-16
They described an orange orb and moving in formation.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-43-83 · wording independence 0.769 · coherence 5.049 · reported across evening 6, night 1
1998-09-23
They described an orange orb.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 36 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-1998-09-23-48-122 · wording independence 0.829 · coherence 4.642
2011-01-06
They described hovering and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake
What we checked
A magnitude 3.82 earthquake was recorded 95km ESE of Maneadero, B.C., MX at 2011-01-07 21:19 UTC. (USGS)
E-2011-01-06-34-117 · wording independence 0.526 · coherence 4.513 · reported across evening 5, night 4
2010-01-01
They described red lights and hooded.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, moon, date
What we checked
A magnitude 3.24 earthquake was recorded 11km N of Delta, B.C., MX at 2010-01-01 02:33 UTC. (USGS)
A full moon (98% lit) that night (computed)
This was New Year, when sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-2010-01-01-33-117 · wording independence 0.871 · coherence 4.331
2004-12-11
They described a triangle shape and moving in formation.
nothing ordinary found for that night
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2004-12-11-33-97 · wording independence 0.871 · coherence 4.331
2001-01-11
They described moving in formation and hovering.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 38 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.2, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2001-01-11-42-89 · wording independence 0.765 · coherence 4.266
1999-11-16
They described an orange orb and green light.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-41-82 · wording independence 0.69 · coherence 4.237
1999-11-16
They described an orange orb and green light.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-43-88 · wording independence 0.72 · coherence 4.229
1999-11-16
They described moving in formation and a triangle shape.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-43-84 · wording independence 0.792 · coherence 4.161
2012-07-04
They described an orange orb and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, moon, venus, date
What we checked
A magnitude 3.03 earthquake was recorded 14 km WNW of Orcas, Washington at 2012-07-04 04:00 UTC. (USGS)
A full moon (98% lit) that night (computed)
Venus was 30 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.5, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-2012-07-04-47-122 · wording independence 0.852 · coherence 4.081
1999-11-16
They described a triangle shape and an orange orb.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-40-84 · wording independence 0.846 · coherence 4.066
2009-09-19
They described a triangle shape and hovering.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2009-09-19-40-75 · wording independence 0.636 · coherence 4.056 · reported across night 1, evening 7
2005-04-12
They described a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, venus
What we checked
A magnitude 3.21 earthquake was recorded 15 km WNW of Templeton, California at 2005-04-12 13:53 UTC. (USGS)
Venus was 54 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2005-04-12-34-118 · wording independence 0.75 · coherence 4.053 · reported across afternoon 3, night 1
2001-07-15
They described moving in formation and hovering.
nothing ordinary found for that night
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2001-07-15-41-74 · wording independence 0.9 · coherence 4.046 · reported across night 5, afternoon 1
1999-11-16
They described an orange orb and white light.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1999-11-16-38-86 · wording independence 0.821 · coherence 4.04
1997-03-13
They described moving in formation and a triangle shape.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-1997-03-13-35-112 · wording independence 0.865 · coherence 4.01 · reported across evening 3, night 1
2001-01-05
They described red lights and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, venus
What we checked
A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was recorded 17km SE of Lone Pine, CA at 2001-01-04 12:23 UTC. (USGS)
Venus was 43 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.2, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2001-01-05-33-117 · wording independence 0.829 · coherence 3.854
2012-10-24
They described moving in formation and hovering.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2012-10-24-34-79 · wording independence 0.778 · coherence 3.807 · reported across evening 5, night 1
1996-03-01
They described red lights and taking off impossibly fast.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, venus
What we checked
A magnitude 3 earthquake was recorded 4 km SE of Bucoda, Washington at 1996-03-01 18:26 UTC. (USGS)
Venus was 51 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.1, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-1996-03-01-48-122 · wording independence 0.778 · coherence 3.776
2014-02-21
They described red lights and an orange orb.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2014-02-21-29-81 · wording independence 0.933 · coherence 3.756 · reported across night 1, evening 2
2012-07-04
They described an orange orb.
possible ordinary cause: moon, date
What we checked
A full moon (98% lit) that night (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-2012-07-04-27-80 · wording independence 0.929 · coherence 3.744
2003-08-30
They described red lights and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 54 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2003-08-30-34-118 · wording independence 0.923 · coherence 3.731
2000-02-16
They described a triangle shape and moving in formation.
nothing ordinary found for that night
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2000-02-16-42-89 · wording independence 0.793 · coherence 3.727
1997-11-14
They described .
possible ordinary cause: moon, venus
What we checked
A full moon (100% lit) that night (computed)
Venus was 14 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.3, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-1997-11-14-48-122 · wording independence 0.794 · coherence 3.718
1999-09-01
They described moving in formation and a triangle shape.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, venus
What we checked
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was recorded 5 km WSW of Cobb, California at 1999-08-31 11:39 UTC. (USGS)
Venus was 35 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.3, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-1999-09-01-39-121 · wording independence 0.839 · coherence 3.692
2009-09-19
They described hooded.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2009-09-19-40-74 · wording independence 0.55 · coherence 3.681 · reported across evening 7, night 1
2009-09-19
They described a beam of light and white light.
nothing ordinary found for that evening
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2009-09-19-41-73 · wording independence 0.526 · coherence 3.664
2000-07-07
They described white light and a beam of light.
possible ordinary cause: venus
What we checked
Venus was 67 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2000-07-07-34-118 · wording independence 0.759 · coherence 3.632
2004-07-04
They described red lights.
possible ordinary cause: venus, date
What we checked
Venus was 28 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -4.5, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
This was Independence Day, when fireworks and sky lanterns are common. (calendar)
E-2004-07-04-33-117 · wording independence 0.714 · coherence 3.616 · reported across evening 1, night 3
2000-02-04
They described moving in formation and a triangle shape.
nothing ordinary found for that night
What we checked
No fireball, no earthquake, no full moon, no unusually bright Venus, and not a fireworks date. That does not make it anything. It means the ordinary answers we can test did not fit.
E-2000-02-04-35-112 · wording independence 0.731 · coherence 3.602 · reported across evening 1, night 2
2000-09-30
They described a triangle shape and red lights.
possible ordinary cause: earthquake, venus
What we checked
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was recorded 12km S of Alberto Oviedo Mota, B.C., MX at 2000-10-01 04:46 UTC. (USGS)
Venus was 41 degrees above the horizon at magnitude -3.8, bright enough to be mistaken for something else (computed)
E-2000-09-30-34-118 · wording independence 0.792 · coherence 3.577
The 40 strongest of 263. How these are found