Twin Towers of Light 9/11/04

[CWN]

On 9/11/04 My friend and I went downtown to see the Twin Towers of light in NYC. When they were lit my friend saw what looked like white “lights” swooping in and out of the twin lights.We walked over to West end Ave to get a closer look and sure enough there were thousands (maybe ten of thousands) of these “objects” soaring between the Twin lights! At first I thought of seagulls or maybe bats? They didnt seem to flap their wings but just seemed to spiral up and down. Besides myself and more than a few other observerers. did any dopers see it? Any clues what we saw?
Strangest thing I have ever seen

[Cillasi]

The lights were meant to represent the lives that were lost in the destruction of the towers.

[Cillasi]

@Cillasi

The lights were meant to represent the lives that were lost in the destruction of the towers.

I mean the little lights you saw floating inside the projected towers, of course

[Revtim]

How were they made?

[CWN]

They had the shape of a bird, a head,wings and a tail. Never saw a wing flap and they were white (in a blue light) so I gave up on the bat idea. Was only 50 feet away of the source of the lights- like I said the strangest thing I ever saw- if it was a laser display I would think it would have been publisized (sp)

[Mehitabel]

I was in Tribeca–walked down from the Christopher Street Pier to Franklin Street 1 station. I noticed them too. But I also saw the lights being set up the night before and they’re just two squares of largish carefully arranged spotlights, nothing else, no lasers or special effects.

Pretty sure they were moths, or some other bug. Couldn’t quite tell, but it wasn’t smoke. It was lovely and moving and absolutely NONE of the pictures I took of them came out.

[Enola_Straight]

Seagulls soaring on the thermals generated by the lights?

[CWN]

@Mehitabel

Pretty sure they were moths, or some other bug. Couldn’t quite tell, but it wasn’t smoke. It was lovely and moving and absolutely NONE of the pictures I took of them came out.

Moths was my first thought also, but when I got to the the base of the lights they were much too large to be bugs-

By the way Mehitabel, we (meaning my friend-Sue- and I met you during the Woodlawn tour last year)

[Mehitabel]

Aha! Sweet, sweet vindication!

OK, it’s no big deal, but it was moths and later, birds, according to yesterday’s Times:

“They were ordinary moths, but somehow the intensity of light seemed to magnify them,” said Frank E. Sanchis III, senior vice president of the Municipal Art Society, which has a five-year grant to operate the Tribute in Light.

The flickering show was unexpected, because the previous two illuminations produced no such display. But this year, Mr. Sanchis said, the moon was not visible to distract birds or moths during the display and the night was very calm. The updraft from the heat of the lights caused the moths to circle upward 15 stories and higher, he said.

I shoulda made a bet with somebody.

Hi again, CWN! Were you the ones with the cute little boy?