Possible Ball Lightning Event Recorded in a Wildlife Preserve - April 30, 2016

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    Ball Lightning
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recorded event that the original poster (OP) suspects may be a case of ball lightning, captured during a storm in a wildlife preserve. Participants are analyzing the characteristics of the light observed in the video, considering various explanations for the phenomenon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The OP suggests that the light captured could be ball lightning, noting the absence of power lines and the timing of the event during a storm.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the identification of the light as ball lightning, proposing it might be an anomalous electrostatic discharge instead, and compares it to an arc from an electrical wire.
  • The OP counters the skepticism by asserting that there are indeed no power lines in the area and provides additional evidence by analyzing the video frame by frame, indicating that the light source does move slightly.
  • The OP shares a slowed-down version of the video to further illustrate the movement of the light source.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the observed phenomenon is ball lightning or another type of electrostatic discharge. The discussion includes competing views and interpretations of the evidence presented.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the definitions and characteristics of ball lightning and other electrostatic phenomena, as well as the potential influence of environmental factors on the observations made.

astroscout
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Hi...I was wondering if you guys can take a look at an event I recorded back on April 30, 2016. The approaching storm with plenty of lightning led me to think this could be a Ball Lightning event. Those mountains are a wildlife preserve and there are no power lines or roads there. It was about 2am when this was taken so I doubt hikers were roaming around with a flashlight but who knows. I monitor the skies for Transient Luminous Events and meteors with my Watec B&W cameras and this is the only time I have ever captured anything like this. Please let me know what you think. Here is the link:
 
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I don't think that is what is normally called "ball lightning", but it could be some other anomalous electrostatic discharge from the storm.

The videos I have seen which purport to show ball lighting show a small spot of light that moves very fast between clouds or from the clouds to the ground. The flash in your video doesn't appear to be moving. In fact it looks a lot like an arc from an electrical wire. Are you sure there are no power lines over there?

This is of course just my own speculative opinion, which is really the best anyone can give for something like this.
 
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Thanx NFuller...There are definitely no power lines there. I played it back frame by frame and the light source does move down the slope a little bit. Here is a stacked version to show the two locations.
compile1.jpg
 

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Here is a new slowed down version to show how the light source moved from one location to another.