Ghost light facts for kids

Ghost lights are mysterious glowing lights that sometimes appear in the air. Scientists don't fully understand them. People have seen these lights in many places around the world. Sometimes they are close to the ground. Other times, they appear high in the sky.

What Are Ghost Lights?

Ghost lights can look very different. Some appear as bright balls of light. Others might look like a small flame. Some even seem like a glowing cloud. Many of these lights move around. They can float slowly or dart quickly.

When ghost lights are near the ground, people often call them "will o' the wisps." These are often seen in swamps or marshy areas. Lights seen high in the sky are sometimes called UFOs.

Why Do People See Them?

For a long time, people have tried to explain ghost lights. Different cultures have different ideas. Some believed they were dragons or spirits. Others thought they were ghosts. Today, some people even think they might be spaceships from other planets.

Scientists have a few ideas about what ghost lights could be.

• Natural Gas: One idea is that they are methane gas. This gas can come from the ground in places like swamps. It might then burn in the air, creating a light.
• Electricity: Another idea is that they are electric events. This could be like a type of ball lightning. Ball lightning is a rare, glowing ball of electricity.
• Living Things: Some animals and fungus can glow in the dark. This is called bioluminescence. It's possible that some ghost lights are actually glowing living things.

Famous Ghost Lights Around the World

Many places around the world have stories about their own special ghost lights. Here are some well-known examples:

• Australia
  • Min Min lights
• Finland
  • Paasselkä devil
• Norway
  • Hessdalen light
• Canada
  • Baie Chaleur Fireship
  • St. Louis Light
• Sweden
  • Martebo lights
• Thailand
  • Mekong lights (Nekha lights)
• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Crossett Light
    • Gurdon Light
  • North Carolina
    • Brown Mountain Lights
    • Maco light
  • Georgia
    • Surrency Spooklight
  • Indiana
    • Moody's Light
  • Michigan Upper Peninsula
    • The Paulding Light
  • Missouri
    • Hornet ghost light
    • Ozark Spooklight
  • Oklahoma
    • Spooklight (same as Hornet ghost light, at the Oklahoma-Missouri line)
  • Texas
    • Bragg Road ghost light ( Light of Saratoga )
    • Marfa lights
  • Utah
    • Skinwalker Ranch
  • Virginia
    • Cohoke light