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Lubbock Lights
Three Texas Tech professors sat in a backyard when a V-shaped formation of blue-green lights flew overhead. They saw it again 20 times that month. A student photographed it. Project Blue Book investigated. The official explanation—plovers reflecting city lights—convinced no one.
1951
Lubbock, Texas, USA
100+ witnesses
The Lubbock Lights were witnessed by scientists.
The Witnesses
August 25, 1951:
- Three Texas Tech professors
- Dr. W.I. Robinson (geology)
- Dr. A.G. Oberg (chemical engineering)
- Dr. W.L. Ducker (petroleum engineering)
- Sitting in backyard
The Sighting
What they saw:
- V-shaped formation
- 15-30 blue-green lights
- Moving rapidly north
- Silent passage
- 20+ sightings that month
The Photographs
Carl Hart Jr.:
- Texas Tech freshman
- Photographed formation
- Five images captured
- Analyzed extensively
- Never debunked
Project Blue Book
Investigation:
- Case investigated
- Experts sent
- Photographs analyzed
- No manipulation found
- Listed as “explained”
The Explanation
Official conclusion:
- Plovers (birds)
- Reflecting city lights
- Professors disagreed
- Too fast for birds
- Explanation rejected
Legacy
Impact:
- High-credibility witnesses
- Photographic evidence
- Scientists as observers
- Blue Book highlighted
- Classic UFO case