# Is ball lightning a physical object, distinct from afterimages, hallucinations and misperceived ordinary lightning? · Ball lightning > Four answers have been proposed. A physical phenomenon exists, but a large fraction of reports are perceptual or misidentified. leads, with evidence 1… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:54+00:00 --- **0** # Is ball lightning a physical object, distinct from afterimages, hallucinations and misperceived ordinary lightning? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. A physical phenomenon exists, but a large fraction of reports are perceptual or misidentified. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters For most of its history the phenomenon rested on testimony alone, and one physical proposal holds that many reports are perceptions induced by lightning's magnetic pulses⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XNY4DBC/transcranial-stimulability-of-phosphenes-by-long-lightning). The 2012 recording changed the balance⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of). ## Answers 4 [**A physical phenomenon exists, but a large fraction of reports are perceptual or misidentified.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40A85W4T0P/a-physical-phenomenon-exists-but-a-large-fraction-of-reports) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40A67C1C9Q/ball-lightning-is-a-physical-luminous-object-produced-in-or) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**Most or all reports are phosphenes or afterimages caused by lightning, not objects.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40A76M1VDG/most-or-all-reports-are-phosphenes-or-afterimages-caused-by) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40A8NG5FMC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1966[Rayle: surveys find reports nearly as frequent as nearby cloud-to-ground strokes, with consistent statistical…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XXR05T8/ball-lightning-characteristics-nasa-tn-d-3188)For: Ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms. 1. 1966[Rayle: rayle tentatively separated two categories of report, near-ground after strokes and mid-air.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XXR05T8/ball-lightning-characteristics-nasa-tn-d-3188)For: A physical phenomenon exists, but a large fraction of reports are perceptual or misidentified. 1. 1999[Stenhoff puts forward: ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409ZCM3YVY/ball-lightning-an-unsolved-problem-in-atmospheric-physics) 1. 2010[Peer & Kendl puts forward: most or all reports are phosphenes or afterimages caused by lightning, not objects.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XNY4DBC/transcranial-stimulability-of-phosphenes-by-long-lightning) 1. 2010[Peer & Kendl puts forward: a physical phenomenon exists, but a large fraction of reports are perceptual or misidentified.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XNY4DBC/transcranial-stimulability-of-phosphenes-by-long-lightning) 1. 2010[Peer & Kendl: the authors' correction shows induced fields are more than ten times smaller, reaching thresholds only within…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XNY4DBC/transcranial-stimulability-of-phosphenes-by-long-lightning)Against: Most or all reports are phosphenes or afterimages caused by lightning, not objects. 1. 2010[Peer & Kendl: long repetitive discharges can induce magnetic fields comparable to transcranial stimulation near the strike.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XNY4DBC/transcranial-stimulability-of-phosphenes-by-long-lightning)For: Most or all reports are phosphenes or afterimages caused by lightning, not objects. 1. 2011[Sello et al.: a video of a probable ball was analysed photometrically in Italy.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409ZW86N8B/ball-lightning-observation-an-objective-video-camera)For: Ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms. 1. 2014[Cen et al.: two spectrographs with high-speed cameras recorded a ball for about a second after a ground stroke at 0.9 km.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of)For: Ball lightning is a physical luminous object produced in or near thunderstorms. 1. 2014[Cen et al.: the 2012 ball was recorded by instruments at 0.9 km.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of)Against: Most or all reports are phosphenes or afterimages caused by lightning, not objects. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5846ZE5/is-ball-lightning-a-physical-object-distinct-from%23add-source) Where it fits Ball lightning **Is ball lightning a physical object, distinct from afterimages, hallucinations and misperceived ordinary lightning?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]