# Atmospheric lights question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2001, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774 "2001-02-09T10:26:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774/1 "2001-02-09T10:26:21Z")

</div>

I work near Denver, Co. I was out back having a smoke around 2:30am. When I looked around, every light in the area looked like a search light pointing straight up.

It was about 3 degrees F outside at the time. It had been snowing all day. At the time there was a very, very fine snow still coming down even thought there were no clouds overhead.

I’ve lived my whole live (35yrs) in places where it gets cold/snows in the winter and I’ve NEVER seen anything like that. It looked so cool I dragged the guy I work with outside to check it out. He’d never seen anything like it either.

So, my question is: what caused this? If it was just the fine snowfall, how come I’ve never seen it before?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![10101010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/a88e4f/32.png) [@10101010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/10101010)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774/2 "2001-02-09T12:21:57Z")

</div>

I’ve seen the same thing several times this year. I live in western Wisconsin, and when I saw it on my way to work it really freaked me out. I thought at first that I WAS seeing spotlights. I hope someone answers this question you’ve brought up.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Drew\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/958977/32.png) [@Drew\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Blade)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774/3 "2001-02-09T12:32:50Z")

</div>

I’ve seen that happen a couple times, once just a few weeks ago. But I don’t have the answer. I’ve started carrying a camera with me at all times, hoping to get a picture of the effect.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-lights-question/53774/4 "2001-02-09T14:14:52Z")

</div>

You’re seeing what is always there (poorly aimed/unshielded light that goes into the sky instead of where it belongs on the ground) except that there was something in the air that reflected/scattered the light & made it more visible to you. Kind of like on a foggy day. If it was “search light” like, then I’d say there was more reflecting going on than scattering.