Artificial sources of light

A central task of fieldwork in Hessdalen is the identification of artificial sources of light. During past expeditions, alleged Hessdalen lights could be explained as follows:

- Snow scooters near mountain tops (illegal)
- Nocturnal ice fishers
- Cabin lights in allegedly unsettled areas
- Tumbling satellites (flashes near the horizon)
- Fire ball (bright meteor, partly behind clouds)
- Cosmic rays on image sensor

Nocturnal light in Hessdalen; a telephoto is revealing a flash- or headlight (click to enlarge)

Fieldwork

Expeditions to Hessdalen are expeditions to the frontiers of the known world. The observed properties of the Hessdalen Phenomenon are questioning traditional concepts of reality and could lead to groundbreaking knowledge.

However, researchers travelling to Hessdalen should be prepared for extreme weather conditions. From November to April conditions can be arctic with temperatures below -30° Celsius and a snow depth of more than one meter. From May until July the nights are not dark and observations are difficult. The best time to travel is from mid August until mid October. But also in this persiod conditions might become difficult, because the best observing spots are situated on the stormy mountain tops. During fieldwork the researchers have been using tents, which are usually used for Himalaya expeditions. And even those tents have been breaking free two times and were blown away several kilometers.

Video diary from April 2012 (in German language); please activate fullscreen to watch in high quality