Within Lanterns
Why orange UFO lights often flicker and fade
Warm orange colour, flame flicker and uneven fading are often the strongest clues that a mysterious night light was a sky lantern.
On this page
- Why lanterns glow orange instead of white
- Flicker, shimmer and pulsing mistaken for control
- How fuel burnout changes the sighting
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Introduction
Many night-time UFO reports begin with a single orange light that appears steady and solid at first glance. On closer examination, however, the colour and brightness behaviour often provide some of the strongest clues that the object was a sky lantern rather than a structured craft. A lantern is illuminated by an open flame suspended beneath a paper envelope. Because the observer usually sees the glow of that flame rather than a reflective surface or electric light source, the object tends to appear warm orange, amber or red-orange rather than pure white. The same flame also flickers, causing brightness changes that witnesses may interpret as pulsing, signalling or controlled manoeuvring. When the fuel weakens, the light fades unevenly and may seem to vanish mysteriously. These colour and brightness effects are among the most reliable visual signatures of lantern-related UFO reports. [Wikipedia]WikipediaSky lanternSky lantern [National Space Centre]spacecentre.co.ukwhat was that bright light in the skyNational Space CentreWhat was that bright light in the sky?31 Jan 2023 — Sometimes you might notice the flickering light and occasionally…
Why lanterns glow orange instead of white
A sky lantern stays aloft because a small flame heats the air inside a lightweight paper balloon. The visible light reaching an observer comes primarily from that flame and the illuminated paper around it. Unlike aircraft landing lights, satellites or many artificial LEDs, the light source is combustion rather than an electrical lamp. As a result, the glow is usually described as orange, amber, golden or flame-coloured. [Wikipedia]WikipediaSky lanternSky lantern
This colour matters because witnesses often expect distant aircraft lights to be white, red or green. An isolated orange light can therefore seem unusual before its origin is recognised. Reports collected in official UFO files repeatedly describe “orange lights”, “orange orbs” and “flame-like” objects moving silently across the sky. Such descriptions do not automatically prove a lantern explanation, but investigators regard the warm colour as an important diagnostic clue. [GOV.UK]assets.publishing.service.gov.ukufo report 2009Reports 2009 for MoD website-Edited12 Jan 2009 — 14-Nov-09. 23:30. Ellesmere Port. Wirral. Seven to eight bright orange flame lights in t…
The effect becomes stronger with distance. From far away, the paper body of the lantern is invisible, leaving only a glowing point. The eye may interpret that point as a solid luminous sphere rather than a flame suspended inside a paper structure. This is one reason lanterns are frequently reported as glowing “orbs” rather than as identifiable balloons. [National Space Centre]spacecentre.co.ukwhat was that bright light in the skyNational Space CentreWhat was that bright light in the sky?31 Jan 2023 — Sometimes you might notice the flickering light and occasionally…
Flicker, shimmer and pulsing mistaken for control
A common feature of lantern sightings is that the brightness does not remain constant. The flame inside a lantern is affected by air currents, fuel burn rate and the movement of the lantern itself. Flames naturally flicker because of changing airflow and the unstable behaviour of buoyant combustion. Research into diffusion flames shows that flickering is an inherent property of many open flames rather than evidence of mechanical control. [arXiv]arxiv.orgarXiv Flickering of buoyant diffusion flames: a vortex dynamics revisitarXivFlickering of buoyant diffusion flames: a vortex dynamics revisitMarch 28, 2018…
From the ground, this natural flicker can produce several misleading impressions:
- Pulsing: the light appears to brighten and dim rhythmically.
- Shimmering: the object seems to sparkle or change shape.
- Flashing: brief drops in brightness resemble deliberate signals.
- Colour shifts: the glow may alternate between deeper orange and brighter yellow-orange as the flame changes intensity.
Witnesses sometimes interpret these changes as signs that an object is accelerating, communicating or altering power output. In reality, the apparent behaviour may come entirely from fluctuations in the flame. Community discussions of unexplained orange lights frequently identify the combination of warm colour and visible pulsing as characteristic of sky lanterns. [Reddit]reddit.comRedditWhat Is This Orange Flashing Light In The Sky?: r/RBIThe flickering/pulsing and orange color makes me think sky lantern, which a n…
Another factor is atmospheric distortion. Small variations in air density between the observer and the lantern can slightly alter the apparent brightness of a distant light. Combined with flame flicker, this can create a surprisingly dynamic appearance even when the lantern is simply drifting with the wind. [Forbes]forbes.comForbesWhat Could Cause The Night Sky To Shimmer And Pulse…17 Aug 2016 — The flickering of the starlight comes from light bending as it…
How fuel burnout changes the sighting
The most dramatic stage of a lantern sighting often occurs near the end. A lantern remains airborne only while its fuel source continues to heat the air inside the envelope. As the fuel burns down, the flame becomes weaker and less stable. The visible glow may fade gradually, brighten briefly, then fade again before disappearing altogether. [Wikipedia]WikipediaSky lanternSky lantern
To an observer who cannot see the lantern structure, this sequence can appear highly unusual. The object may seem to:
- vanish without warning;
- dim and reappear;
- shrink as though moving rapidly away;
- extinguish itself deliberately;
- disappear one by one within a group.
These effects are particularly convincing in multiple-lantern releases. Because individual lanterns burn at slightly different rates, they rarely fade simultaneously. Witnesses may therefore report a formation of lights that disappears sequentially, creating the impression of coordinated behaviour. Official UFO reports contain numerous examples of orange lights that moved silently before fading from view. [GOV.UK]assets.publishing.service.gov.ukufo report 2009Reports 2009 for MoD website-Edited12 Jan 2009 — 14-Nov-09. 23:30. Ellesmere Port. Wirral. Seven to eight bright orange flame lights in t…
A further complication is that the final stages of combustion can be irregular. Small pieces of burning material may occasionally detach or the lantern may tilt slightly, causing sudden changes in brightness. Observers can interpret these brief events as manoeuvres, fragmentation or changes in propulsion. [National Space Centre]spacecentre.co.ukwhat was that bright light in the skyNational Space CentreWhat was that bright light in the sky?31 Jan 2023 — Sometimes you might notice the flickering light and occasionally…
Reading the colour clues correctly
Among the many visual characteristics associated with lantern-related UFO reports, colour and brightness behaviour are often the most revealing. A warm orange glow, a living flame-like flicker, and a gradual uneven fade fit the expected behaviour of a lantern remarkably well. By contrast, electrically lit aircraft, satellites and many other conventional aerial objects usually produce steadier illumination patterns.
For investigators and witnesses alike, the key question is not simply whether an unexplained light was orange. It is whether the light behaved like a flame: fluctuating subtly, shimmering with air currents, and eventually fading as its fuel source was exhausted. When those features occur together, they provide a strong indication that a seemingly mysterious UFO may have been a drifting sky lantern. National Space Centre [Wikipedia]WikipediaSky lanternSky lantern
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sky lantern
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_lantern -
Source: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
Title: ufo report 2009
Link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7582c440f0b6397f35efcb/ufo_report_2009.pdfSource snippet
Reports 2009 for MoD website-Edited12 Jan 2009 — 14-Nov-09. 23:30. Ellesmere Port. Wirral. Seven to eight bright orange flame lights in t...
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Source: arxiv.org
Title: arXiv Flickering of buoyant diffusion flames: a vortex dynamics revisit
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/1803.10400Source snippet
arXivFlickering of buoyant diffusion flames: a vortex dynamics revisitMarch 28, 2018...
Published: March 28, 2018
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Source: arxiv.org
Title: arXiv Flickering Buoyant Diffusion Flames in Weakly Rotatory Flows
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.09278 -
Source: arxiv.org
Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.15789 -
Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/RBI/comments/ngoc6h/what_is_this_orange_flashing_light_in_the_sky/Source snippet
RedditWhat Is This Orange Flashing Light In The Sky?: r/RBIThe flickering/pulsing and orange color makes me think sky lantern, which a n...
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Source: forbes.com
Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillianscudder/2016/08/17/astroquizzical-cause-sky-shimmer/Source snippet
ForbesWhat Could Cause The Night Sky To Shimmer And Pulse...17 Aug 2016 — The flickering of the starlight comes from light bending as it...
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Source: meetings.westoxon.gov.uk
Link: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/Data/Environment%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee/201712071400/Agenda/ECP5MV2b2bZXd0DWhXs2fA3Y680.pdfSource snippet
lanterns and helium balloons: an assessment of...-One major incident (fire was set most probably by a sky lantern on the waste paper sto...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/14za96m/what_were_these_giant_orange_spheres_crossing_the/Source snippet
a wind change, a lantern may cause a building fire or wildfire.Read more...
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Source: hwb.gov.wales
Link: https://hwb.gov.wales/api/storage/6f1582f4-be69-40eb-99bf-99c8a799f47a/Task%2090%20Sky%20lanterns%202.pdfSource snippet
lanterns (2)Light the fuel cell and continue to hold as it fills with hot air. Note that it will not launch immediately;. • After about 1...
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Source: spacecentre.co.uk
Title: what was that bright light in the sky
Link: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/news/space-now-blog/what-was-that-bright-light-in-the-sky/Source snippet
National Space CentreWhat was that bright light in the sky?31 Jan 2023 — Sometimes you might notice the flickering light and occasionally...
Additional References
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Source: instructables.com
Link: https://www.instructables.com/Physic-behind-sky-lanterns/Source snippet
InstructablesPhysic Behind Sky Lanterns: 15 StepsLanterns fly on the principle of lift in the air. By heating the air in the lantern, ai...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSO0I5XiOLy/?hl=enSource snippet
The Surprising Reason Sky Lanterns Fall DownYou may have seen videos of thousands of lanterns released into the sky. But as the fuel burn...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/440663706501448/posts/1963794837521653/ -
Source: nightskylanterns.co.uk
Link: https://www.nightskylanterns.co.uk/Source snippet
We are here to help you add a touch of magic to your events, parties, and any special day or night.Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Did you see the weird orange lights falling out of the sky?
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ThurstonCoScanner/posts/did-you-see-the-weird-orange-lights-falling-out-of-the-sky-we-believe-these-are-/883990996862496/Source snippet
Did anyone see the bright orange thing in the sky tonight..it had 3 rows of flashing lights.then a massive orange burning flame behind i...
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Source: waste4change.com
Title: But do you ever think of the damage they caused?
Link: https://waste4change.com/blog/rethinking-the-celebration-the-not-so-beautiful-aftermath-of-sky-lanterns-and-balloons/Source snippet
Rethinking The Celebration: Aftermath of Sky Lanterns and...7 Dec 2020 — Sky lanterns and balloons might be beautiful to look at when th...
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Source: epicfireworks.com
Link: https://epicfireworks.com/blogs/news/a-journey-through-the-history-and-meaning-of-sky-lanternsSource snippet
The History and Meaning of Sky Lanterns: From Ancient...5 May 2025 — They represent unity, happiness, and a shared moment of wonder bene...
Published: May 2025
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Sky lanterns don’t disappear when they fall
Link: https://www.facebook.com/powwowscom/posts/sky-lanterns-dont-disappear-when-they-fall-they-land-burn-tangle-or-injure-wildl/1427192082111111/Source snippet
They land...The lanterns I buy are made with bamboo and don't use any metal at all and when they land back on the ground there is no bas...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/587276468104826/posts/3159216757577438/Source snippet
n, the other is original. It was moving at a fairly slow speed...
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Source: canadalightshop.ca
Link: https://canadalightshop.ca/blogs/resources/sky-candle-lanterns-guide?srsltid=AfmBOoo3zRwAEReh17avjKoP7GFwtR1IrCfNWSCz3CItFaBPVSYUT9t_Source snippet
Sky Candle Lanterns: Safe Use & Eco-Friendly Alternatives26 Jun 2025 — Once the fuel burns out, the air inside cools down, and the lanter...
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