Military training explains bright lights seen north of Gillette
Aviation experts identify the sources of the unusual aerial activity reported by residents in the northern part of the state.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Residents looking north from Gillette, Wyoming, have reported seeing strange lights moving in the night sky. The visual effect involves bright points of light that appear to orbit and chase one another, a display that has left many observers wondering what is overhead.
A review of aeronautical sectional charts explains the phenomenon. These maps designate specific blocks of airspace known as Military Operations Areas, or MOAs. These zones stretch across northern Wyoming, southern Montana, and parts of North Dakota. The Federal Aviation Administration defines these areas as spaces where the military conducts high-energy training activities.
The maneuvers performed within these boundaries include air combat, aerobatics, formation flying, and low-altitude, high-speed tactics. When fighter jets practice these moves at night, their engines and afterburners create intense light. To a ground observer, the rapid movements and bright flares can look like dancing lights or objects chasing each other.
The activity is standard practice for military pilots. They use the designated airspace to rehearse dogfights and other complex aerial evolutions. The visual result is often disorienting for those unfamiliar with military flight profiles. The lights are not mysterious objects but the exhaust and navigation signals of jet aircraft performing drills.
A woman in Gillette recently shared her confusion about the lights she saw to her north. She could not explain the patterns of movement she observed. Her reaction is common among locals who see the displays without knowing the location of the nearby training zones.
The military continues to use the designated airspace for these night exercises. Pilots refer to sectional charts to identify the boundaries of the MOAs. The lights seen by residents in Gillette and surrounding areas are a direct result of these ongoing training missions in the region's airspace.
