Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

ThoughtCriminal

(14,388 posts)

14. Amateur Astronomer here

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Mon Dec 16, 2024, 08:37 PM

Dec 16

I've seen things you people should believe. Space junk breaking up as it re-entered the atmosphere. high altitude balloons after sunset, Venus, Jupiter, meteors, rocket launches, birds, planes, drones, gyro-copters, military aircraft dropping flares, auroras, over-the-horizon lightning,...

I can say for certain that there are perfectly normal things in the sky that people unfamiliar with the sky will claim are "Impossible". And they can get quite defensive about - DU included.

There are something like 1.6 million registered drones in this country and some of the hundreds of thousands of operators are now getting some jollies "Freaking the mundanes".

We've seen this before. In 1997, there was a long-lasting hysteria in Arizona over the "Phoenix Lights".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Lights in the Sky - Have You Noticed Them? [View all] MineralMan Dec 16 OP

Until somebody provides some evidence to the contrary, Ocelot II Dec 16 #1

Yes. It's nice to be out and looking up at night. MineralMan Dec 16 #2

Used to live near Canadian border, and in the remote west, so, DARK. Spent many nights in the hammock, even in winter Attilatheblond Dec 16 #13

Maga has people so paranoid. louis-t Dec 16 #3

I get the feeling many people are looking up to the sky for the first time in years. Silent Type Dec 16 #4

I think you're right. Most people aren't outdoors at night, really. MineralMan Dec 16 #6

I used to see lots of satellites and aircraft flying at extremely high altitudes when I was far out at sea EYESORE 9001 Dec 16 #5

Lying on my couch in the evening, I look up out the window at the sky Walleye Dec 16 #7

I saw an interesting UFO a few days ago, about an hour before dawn. hunter Dec 16 #8

I love looking up at night. GemDigger Dec 16 #9

Yup, they are aliens still searching for intelligent life on earth. republianmushroom Dec 16 #10

Still no luck yet? Have they indicated that they've given up tryin to finnd any in humans? Ping Tung Dec 16 #12

In my rural Fla. sky -- with no pesky city lights -- I saw a light this a.m. It was allegorical oracle Dec 16 #11

Amateur Astronomer here ThoughtCriminal Dec 16 #14

Haven't seen any in l.a. and quite frankly I'm feeling left out. IcyPeas Dec 16 #15

Absolutely right. Boston Logan jets look like drones mainer Dec 16 #16