Marfa lights

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The Marfa lights are a recurring optical phenomenon seen near Marfa, Texas. They’re most often viewed from a nearby public viewing area set up to attract visitors.

What people see
- Distant bright spots that can move in unusual ways.
- Colors are usually yellow-orange, but can also appear green, blue, or red.
- They often appear above desert vegetation and below the surrounding mesas.

Best viewing spot
- A widened shoulder on Highway 90 about nine miles east of Marfa is considered the best place to watch.

History and sightings
- The first reported sighting was in 1883 by a cowhand named Robert Reed Ellison.
- Other early reports followed, and the first published account appeared in 1957.
- James Bunnell notes many sightings from 1945 to 2008, and monitoring stations have been in place since 2003.

What scientists think
- Some skeptics say the lights are car headlights reflected by sharp temperature differences in the desert air.
- Marfa sits at about 4,688 feet in elevation, with large daily temperature swings that can create mirages.

What studies have found
- In 2004, UT Dallas researchers concluded the lights sw Southwest of the viewing area could be explained by automobile headlights on Highway 67 between Marfa and Presidio.
- In 2008, Texas State University researchers used spectroscopy and found many lights could be explained by car headlights or small fires; genuine unexplained lights are rare and more study is needed.

In culture
- The lights have appeared in media, music, and fiction, inspiring books and songs.