Misplaced Pages

Ghost light (disambiguation): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 17:40, 7 December 2007 editජපස (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers60,484 edits Undid revision 176244831 by JWGreen (talk) WP:AGF← Previous edit Revision as of 00:26, 9 December 2007 edit undoMartinphi (talk | contribs)12,452 edits Rv disruptive and nonconsensus redirect by ScienceApologist. Misplaced Pages works by consensus, and you do not have consensus for this mergerNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Paranormalterms
#Redirect ]
|Image_Name = Tulilautta3.jpg
|Image_Caption = Artists Rendering
|Usage = Terminology
|Name = Ghost Light
|Origin =
|Short =
|Additional_Names =
|Definition = Light of non-human from an unknown/unidentified source
|Characteristics = Usually soft/flickering and viewed only from a distance, often reported as recurring in a single location over a sustained period of time. No apparent human origins. Sometimes associated with ]
|Extra_Title =
|Extra_column =
|See_Also = ],<br>]
}}{{otheruses|Ghost light (disambiguation)}}

A '''ghost light''' is any one of many unusual visual phenomena that appear in specific areas around the world. This describes the appearance of lights where one presumes there should be none. The lack of definitive explanations or sources has led them to be associated with the ].

==Explanations==

There is no single explanation for what causes ghost lights, but possible causes are ]s, refracted light from automobile headlights, ], ], ], ] of some sort, ] or the ] from underground quartz crystals (]s).<ref name=unknown>, '']'', October 30, 2007</ref>

===Phosphorus===

One possible explanation, for some ghost lights, is ]. On its own ] cannot spontaneously ignite but during the decay of organic material in waterlogged ground ] (phosphorus trihydride) is formed (along with other compounds like phosphorous tetrahydride) which can cause the methane to burn on contact with air. <ref>John Emsley, ''The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus'', 2000, ISBN 0471394556</ref> This can occur with buried dead bodies and may also explain related phenomena like ], corpse lights or corpse fire.

==In popular culture ==

It is also the name of an ethereal being that haunts the area in and around ] in the animated film '']'', and plays a central role in the associated short film '']''. It is rumored to be a floating orb of blue light that preys upon unsuspecting vehicles, leaving only their ]s behind.

==Examples==

Examples of this phenomena can be found across the world:

* ]
** ]s
*]
**]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
*** ]
*** ]
** ]
*** ]
*** ]
** ]
*** ]
** ]
*** ]
** ] ]
*** ]
** ]
*** ]
*** ]
*** ]/Senath Ghost Light
** ]
*** ] (same as Hornet ghost light, at the Oklahoma-Missouri line)
** ]
*** ] ( ] )
*** ]s
** ]
*** ]
** ]
*** ]

==References==

{{refs}}

==External links==

* by ], from '']'' #218, 2007

]
]
]

]
]


{{para-psych-stub}}

Revision as of 00:26, 9 December 2007

Template:Infobox Paranormalterms

For other uses, see Ghost light (disambiguation).

A ghost light is any one of many unusual visual phenomena that appear in specific areas around the world. This describes the appearance of lights where one presumes there should be none. The lack of definitive explanations or sources has led them to be associated with the paranormal.

Explanations

There is no single explanation for what causes ghost lights, but possible causes are mirages, refracted light from automobile headlights, swamp gas, ball lightning, St. Elmo's fire, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena of some sort, Will o' the wisp or the piezoelectric effect from underground quartz crystals (earthquake lights).

Phosphorus

One possible explanation, for some ghost lights, is phosphorus. On its own swamp gas cannot spontaneously ignite but during the decay of organic material in waterlogged ground phosphine (phosphorus trihydride) is formed (along with other compounds like phosphorous tetrahydride) which can cause the methane to burn on contact with air. This can occur with buried dead bodies and may also explain related phenomena like corpse candles, corpse lights or corpse fire.

In popular culture

It is also the name of an ethereal being that haunts the area in and around Radiator Springs in the animated film Cars, and plays a central role in the associated short film Mater and the Ghostlight. It is rumored to be a floating orb of blue light that preys upon unsuspecting vehicles, leaving only their license plates behind.

Examples

Examples of this phenomena can be found across the world:

References

  1. Spooklights' source is still unknown, Tulsa World, October 30, 2007
  2. John Emsley, The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus, 2000, ISBN 0471394556

External links


Stub icon

This parapsychology-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: