Notes on Luminous Orbs

This Kind of Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon May Operate as a Collective

Research into UFOs has evolved significantly over the past decades, with increasing attention being paid to various forms of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). Traditionally, the study of UFOs focused on physical, metallic-looking craft, such as disks or flying saucers, reported primarily from the mid-20th century onward. However, more recent efforts by researchers have shifted to include luminous orbs, a form of UAP that has intrigued many investigators due to its distinct characteristics and frequent sightings worldwide. I, too, admit to being deeply intrigued by these objects.

Luminous orbs are typically described as spherical, glowing objects that vary in size, color, and intensity. They often hover or move at high speeds, sometimes interacting with their surroundings in ways that defy conventional understanding of physics. Unlike traditional UFO reports, which tend to involve structured craft, these orbs are more ethereal and appear to be composed of energy or light, leading researchers to speculate about their nature, origin, and purpose.

We should distinguish luminous orbs from metallic ones, which have also been widely observed, although the latter do not emanate light. While I believe metallic orbs could possibly be sourced from a secret government program, I don’t consider the luminous orbs to be “controlled” by any human intention.

A now-famous image of a metallic (not luminous) orb as captured by a U.S. military drone operating over Mosul, Iraq

Video captured in 2004 by a Mexican Air Force surveillance plane on patrol as it encountered luminous orbs flying in formation.

Because of the evanescent nature of these objects, thoroughness and transparency in their study is crucial, as is making such research credible, perhaps through a regularly updated website, an episodic television program, or an investigative book backed by a major publisher. Fitting this gold standard of rigor, review, and public engagement, four research directions looking at luminous orbs come to mind.

As perhaps the oldest such group, Project Hessdalen has been studying what are known as the Hessdalen Lights, an unexplained phenomenon in Norway. The Project has been the focus of long-term scientific investigation since the 1980s in the Hessdalen Valley, where these luminous orbs appear regularly. Researchers from various disciplines have attempted to study and document the lights using instruments such as radar, cameras, and electromagnetic sensors. Some have suggested that the lights may be related to geological activity, while others propose more exotic explanations, such as plasma-like entities or extraterrestrial phenomena.

Field photograph taken by Project Hessdalen researchers.

Similarly, UFO researcher and scientist Jacques Vallée has written extensively about luminous orbs, especially in the context of his theory that UFO phenomena might not always be extraterrestrial in origin but could instead be linked to other dimensions or forms of consciousness (Vallée’s book DIMENSIONS: A Casebook of Alien Contact advances this theory). Vallée has highlighted the similarities between modern orb sightings and older folklore about lights in the sky, suggesting that these phenomena may be part of a larger, historically persistent phenomenon.

Orbs have also been tracked by numerous U.S. Government initiatives, such as AATIP (Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program), during whose existence, several reports emerged about encounters with glowing orbs, particularly during military exercises. Some of these orbs were seen near nuclear facilities or military installations, raising concerns about their potential threat. An archive of U.S. government reports on UAPs also mentioned such phenomena, further legitimizing their study within official channels. While full transparency may never be granted by the U.S. Government, there are several archives, TV programs, and documentary sources currently investigating this line of inquiry. It is worth noting that other governments have led similar efforts to study orbs and other UAP.

Another important field research team studying luminous orbs is known as the Skinwalker Ranch team, so-called because of its investigations along a large plot of land in Utah that has been a hotspot for paranormal and UAP activity, including numerous reports of glowing orbs observed by both residents and researchers. At Skinwalker Ranch, orbs have been recorded behaving in erratic ways, sometimes even appearing to exhibit intelligent control. The ranch thus has drawn the attention of both independent investigators and scientists, who have used high-tech instruments to try to understand the behavior of these orbs.

Not surprisingly, researchers have proposed a wide variety of hypotheses regarding luminous orbs, ranging from natural phenomena to more speculative theories, three of which seem to me the most alluring. The natural plasma formation theory, favored by many scientists, suggests that the orbs could be naturally occurring plasma balls, similar to ball lightning, caused by atmospheric conditions or electromagnetic anomalies. A second theory that seems plausible to me, based on much (though rarely first-hand) evidence, is that of orbs as a kind of extraterrestrial probe. The various kinds of extraterrestrial implications that emerge from this theory argue that these orbs might be non-human probes, potentially unmanned reconnaissance devices used by extraterrestrial civilizations to observe Earth discreetly. Lastly, in a sort of catch-all grouping lie theories that embrace orbs as related to some interdimensional beings or consciousness. Vallée and other researchers have proposed that luminous orbs might not be physical objects at all but rather manifestations of non-physical entities or interdimensional beings, interacting with our reality in ways that are beyond current scientific understanding. Intuitively, I find this theory perhaps most appealing.

Challenges persist in the study of luminous orbs, since, unlike more structured UAP sightings, luminous orbs are difficult to document and analyze. Their state appears to change, as well, and their elusive nature, inconsistent appearance, and often short-lived manifestations make them a challenging subject for conventional scientific investigation. Naturally, since they don’t exhibit solid, material characteristics, they don’t leave behind physical evidence, complicating efforts to apply traditional investigative methods.

My own belief is a synthesis of some of these beliefs, and my most recent analysis, which I summarize in the short visual essay below, seems to corroborate the possibility that orbs operate in large clusters and are “attached” in a way to some larger ship (or being?) which does not register in the visible light spectrum. If this is true, then their appearance is likely the result of a more organized effort, like a micro-society or large clan.