Late one evening in Portland, my roommate and I were quietly sharing a late dinner when an unusual sight caught our attention through the window. Hovering low above the tree line was a bright orange orb of light. Its glow was steady, surrounded by a faint aura that lent it an almost otherworldly presence. We estimated its distance to be about a mile away, given its position relative to three radio towers.
The orb moved with a smooth, deliberate motion, descending at a steady pace unlike the erratic flicker of a flare. It weaved through the air with a gentle slope as if following a silent melody only it could hear. Then, under the canopy of trees, it vanished, only to reappear minutes later briefly visible amidst the dark outlines of branches before fading again into the night.
There was no sound to accompany this glowing phantom, nor any traditional aircraft lights blinking to assure us of a mundane explanation. Its size appeared too small for any known aircraft flying so low. This wasn’t the first time we’d encountered this enigmatic orange light in the sky; its return only deepened the mystery.
Curious, I sought out videos and reports of similar sightings on the internet and realized this orb mirrored many accounts of orange light phenomena reported by others. Was this strange orb an unknown aerial visitor, a trick of nature, or something yet unexplainable? Whatever it was, it ignited a mix of wonder and eerie fascination that made the ordinary night veil a little less familiar, and a little more extraordinary.