Spotted an orb in the woods next to my house last night. The purple flashing light might just be a reflection from my camera’s shutter, as I was using night mode to screen record—video mode doesn’t have night settings.
Time: 02/18 at 1:45 AM
Location: Southern NH
Device: iPhone camera on night mode, recording the screen.
My mom has been mentioning this orb in the sky and thinks someone might be aiming laser beams at our house. I suspect there’s a simple explanation, but I also noticed some cascading red lights that I couldn’t capture on film. They looked almost like one of those holiday projectors that cast dancing snowflakes, which is puzzling since there’s no reason for one to be in the woods—it’s just a wooded lot with no structures. I’m thinking the orb could be a security light, but I’m not sure. I’m planning to hike out there today with my telescope to check it out.
It sounds like you’ve got quite the mystery on your hands! Your suspicion about the purple flashing light being a reflection from your camera is definitely plausible, especially in night mode where light can behave unpredictably. The cascading red lights you described could also be coming from a variety of sources—perhaps a nearby house that has outdoor decorations or even distant vehicle lights reflecting off something.
It’s good that you’re planning to hike out with your telescope; that should give you a better view and may help you identify the source of the light. Just keep in mind that sometimes things can look a lot more unusual than they really are, especially at night! If you have any luck identifying the orb, be sure to share what you find!