TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A mystery over the skies of Texas City has a lot of people talking. Unusual red lights were caught on camera by perplexed residents over the weekend. From flares to UFOs -- everyone has their own explanation.

At the same time this video was taken, we were sailing on Galveston Bay and saw the same lights. They were there 30-45 minutes. We could not figure out what could stay so stationary in the sky like that. These lights were at the same altitude as a plane. We thought they were planes coming in at just the right angle to look stationary. They vanished. We may never know what they were, but they were not flares or balloons.

A field investigator with a national UFO network said he’s opened up an investigation to try and determine what was hovering over the city’s Moses Lake on Saturday and Sunday.

The red hovering lights have been the talk of the town for days and prompted interest from UFO investigator Chuck Stansburge who handles field investigations in this area for the Mutual UFO Network or MUFON.

Stansburge said he is a retired cop who tracks down UFO sightings in a 14 county region along the Texas coast. The organization uses a website to track tips from across the globe, he said.

Stansburge said Texas records the second highest number of reported UFO sightings in the country. The number one state for reported UFO sightings to MUFON is California, he said.

According to the MUFON website database, there have been 50 UFO sightings in the state since Feb. 25, including the sightings during the weekend in Texas City.

Bruce Clawson, the city’s Homeland Security coordinator, said that while he suspects the mysterious objects in the sky were Chinese lanterns, which take flight much like a small hot air balloon, his office has been unable to confirm that theory and no one has called to admit he or she is responsible for the commotion.

“There was no threat to the security or safety of the city,” Clawson said. “And they never got high enough to disrupt air traffic, so no one will likely face any charges, but we would like to know who is responsible.”

"I just went in and grabbed my camera," eyewitness Debbie James said. "It was a straight line, then it went to like a figure 8, and then it made this half moon and kept changing shapes."

Originally posted by gortex

Originally posted by TheFlash
1) How can you 'shoot off' flares that are attached to balloons?
2) What kind of flare burns for over 30 minutes, how large are they and how big of a balloon do you need to lift one?
3) How can 6 balloons remain relatively stationary in the sky for over 30 minutes?

It doesn't make sense to me.

There are no flares nor balloons , just Chinese Lanterns , if you watch the video at full screen you can see the flicker of the flame within them .
Here are some more .

YouTube Link

What is Sky Lantern?

Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground.

Q: How high do the sky lanterns fly?
A: The sky lanterns fly 800-1000 feet in the air.

Q: How long do the sky lanterns stay in the air?
A: The sky lanterns will be in the air for 11-13 minutes.

How long does Sterno® burn?

The 8 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 2 1/2 hours. The 7 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 2 1/4 hours. The 2.6 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 45 minutes. The cooking fuel is extinguishable and can be re-lit without affecting product performance.

The sky lantern was first used by the Chinese in the third century as a signaling balloon in warfare. Throughout the ages, its military application evaporated and it evolved to take important roles in Chinese and Thai cultural rituals. Used in numerous festivals year-round, today sky lanterns often signify good luck or new beginnings. Our favorite Western adaption of this is to write love messages inside them and set them afloat. Yes, if mis-used, they can be a fire hazard. But a Chinese sky lantern is quite easy to make. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be releasing your request of choice to the universe in a flash.

Originally posted by jadedANDcynical
reply to post by TheFlash

---

I know this wasn't directed at me, but:

What is Sky Lantern?

Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground.

Chinese Sky Lanters

Q: How high do the sky lanterns fly?
A: The sky lanterns fly 800-1000 feet in the air.

Q: How long do the sky lanterns stay in the air?
A: The sky lanterns will be in the air for 11-13 minutes.

Just Artifacts

I've seen time estimates up to 20 minutes, which would seem to negate the possibility for this particular incident to be explainable as Sky Lanterns, this is for standard fuel payload however:

How long does Sterno® burn?

The 8 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 2 1/2 hours. The 7 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 2 1/4 hours. The 2.6 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 45 minutes. The cooking fuel is extinguishable and can be re-lit without affecting product performance.

Sterno FAQs

If you are unfamiliar with Sterno, it has a jelly-like consistency and could easily augment a normal sky lantern fuel source. This is especially true considering you can make them yourself quite easily:

The sky lantern was first used by the Chinese in the third century as a signaling balloon in warfare. Throughout the ages, its military application evaporated and it evolved to take important roles in Chinese and Thai cultural rituals. Used in numerous festivals year-round, today sky lanterns often signify good luck or new beginnings. Our favorite Western adaption of this is to write love messages inside them and set them afloat. Yes, if mis-used, they can be a fire hazard. But a Chinese sky lantern is quite easy to make. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be releasing your request of choice to the universe in a flash.

Wired

YouTube Link

Also, do you have the slightest shred of evidence that a can of Sterno could be used in a Chinese lantern? How much does a full can of Sterno weight and how large a baloon would it take to life it.

The 2.6 oz. can burns consistently or in increments equal to 45 minutes.

Weight of a flying lantern 2.7 ounces
Thin bamboo hoop at bottom 45.75″ circumference, 14.56″ diameter
Weight of hoop 0.3 ounces (with a little paper and glue still hanging onto it)

post by TheFlash
At 1:56 in the video the recording woman clearly says "Matt said they been out for about a half-hour he said... at least 30 minutes." I suggest you pay closer attention.

How long do Sky lanterns fly for?

Sky lanterns fly approximately 1 mile high and as far into the distance as the eye can see. The wick burns for 20 – 25 minutes before extinguishing and floating softly back to the ground.
www.flying-lanterns.co.uk...

Originally posted by TheFlash
reply to post by gortex

---

At 1:56 in the video the recording woman clearly says "Matt said they been out for about a half-hour he said... at least 30 minutes." I suggest you pay closer attention.

You claim that they act like lanterns. I reiterate that I have seen no evidence that a Chinese lantern can remain alight and at altitude for that period. Only speculation has been shown. No clear documentation that is HAS or CAN be done for that period. You are making a leap to say that they can do it. A leap that is not supported by facts.

Originally posted by gortex
reply to post by TheFlash

---

post by TheFlash
At 1:56 in the video the recording woman clearly says "Matt said they been out for about a half-hour he said... at least 30 minutes." I suggest you pay closer attention.

As I said "I see no evidence from the video that anything was in the sky for 30 min" and that still stands , the fact that she said Matt said something means nothing .

Apparently they can stay alight for that long .

How long do Sky lanterns fly for?

Sky lanterns fly approximately 1 mile high and as far into the distance as the eye can see. The wick burns for 20 – 25 minutes before extinguishing and floating softly back to the ground.
www.flying-lanterns.co.uk...

Q.E.D

edit on 19-4-2012 by gortex because: (no reason given)

post by TheFlash
Does that seem like a plausible explanation to you as well?

Originally posted by gortex
reply to post by TheFlash

---

post by TheFlash
Does that seem like a plausible explanation to you as well?

No... it just seems like arguing for the sake of arguing