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Where are the lights, and how far are they from the viewing area?

Asked 28 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

A single observer cannot tell a small light nearby from a bright one far away. Distance decides between explanations: headlights on US 67 and ranch roads lie 8 to 30 km or more away⁠[1]⁠[2], while several witnesses describe lights coming close to them over Mitchell Flat⁠[3].

Answers 3

Evidence: 2 for
Still possible
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 2 against
Still possible

What would settle it

  1. Range a sample of lights, including any reported as close, by two-station triangulation with bearings checked against stars, or by oxygen A-band spectroscopy.

History

  1. Stolyarov et al. puts forward: far away, on US 67 and ranch roads
  2. Stolyarov et al.: a chase car on US 67 south of Marfa, signalling by radio, was seen from the viewing area in the same place as the…For: Far away, on US 67 and ranch roads
  3. Hall puts forward: some are close, low over Mitchell Flat
  4. Hall: two geologists in 1973 reported two cantaloupe-sized lights coming towards them at about 200 mph, one of which hovered…For: Some are close, low over Mitchell Flat
  5. Dunning: at least two television crews posted observers to triangulate the lights; none located them, and the lights were shown…Against: Some are close, low over Mitchell Flat
  6. Borraz Aymerich & Ballester Olmos puts forward: far away, on US 67 and ranch roads
  7. Borraz Aymerich & Ballester Olmos puts forward: some are close, low over Mitchell Flat
  8. Borraz Aymerich & Ballester Olmos: the checkable photographs of "genuine" lights from 2003–2004 match vehicles 8 to 30 km away, the tracks raised above the road by refraction.For: Far away, on US 67 and ranch roads
  9. Borraz Aymerich & Ballester Olmos: the triangulations that placed Bunnell's lights away from roads rest on bearings and times found to be in error.Against: Some are close, low over Mitchell Flat
  10. Session 1: raised the question and proposed two answers
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