Arizona Lights main debunking points

[jakesteele]

I am having a lively discourse with a friend of mine about the Arizona Lights incident and, as a result of information overload, I am trying to come up with the main debunking points about this sighting. I am looking for something like a 'cliff notes' version so I can then go and look each one up separately for a more in-depth study.

I have heard of Phil Plait as one of the main guys guys that dealt with this and I also had a really great sight bookmarked but somehow lost it. Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.

[Miller]

Phil Plait's website is http://www.badastronomy.com/index.html.

[Oslo Ostragoth]

I saw a show on this (on the History Channel?), which convincingly explained it to me. They superimposed the nighttime video of the lights over a daytime shot from the same spot, and the lights disappeared as they went behind distant hills.

Or are you talking about the triangle sighting?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_lights

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by Oslo Ostragoth

I saw a show on this (on the History Channel?), which convincingly explained it to me. They superimposed the nighttime video of the lights over a daytime shot from the same spot, and the lights disappeared as they went behind distant hills.

I think I saw this show or a similar one years ago. The daytime shot makes it so utterly obvious what happened that I cannot even fathom there is still any controversy about it. It's like hearing there are still people who don't know where the sun goes at night.

[Fubaya]

I saw a similar show years ago. This part with image "expert" Jim Dilleteso had me rolling in the floor. Click the last link on that page for the full treatment of the Phoenix Lights.

[BMax]

Based on my time at Ft. Hood watching the artillery ranges at night, the first time I saw video of the "Arizona Lights" I immediately recognized them as parachute flares.

[Chief Pedant]

The main debunking point is that it's less likely to be alien or supernatural than it is to have a natural explanation.

If your friend does not accept that, you are essentially wasting your time convincing him otherwise. The personalities that accept these sorts of things as likely to be alien or supernatural are the same type of personalities who accept conspiracy theories. You will not change his mind, and every alternate explanation will be seen as part of a conspiracy to cover it up, or a reflection of the weak-minded blindness of the sheeple.

[Oslo Ostragoth]

The "V-shaped object":

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/ufos...ed-object.html

[HorseloverFat]

>The personalities that accept these sorts of things as likely to be alien or supernatural are the same type of personalities who accept conspiracy theories.

THIS.

I think its a form of vanity. These people have this attitude: "You sheeple dont know what I know about insert_crazy_theory_here. insert_crazy_rant_here." They pat themselves on the back on how much they can see through the BS "the man" is giving them.

Its very difficult to teach skepticism and logic to someone this fargone. They live in a world of conspiracies. I'd just let it go and hope that our schools are doing a better job teaching these basic concepts to the younger generation.

[Fubaya]

Originally Posted by Oslo Ostragoth

The "V-shaped object":

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/ufos...ed-object.html

Ah sweet. If you click "Identifying Light Sources," that's the video of what I was talking about earlier.