Phoenix Lights - The Triangle Formation

The famous Phoenix Lights incident of March 13, 1997 actually consisted of two distinct phenomena. The first, seen earlier in the evening, was a massive V-shaped or boomerang-shaped formation that traveled across Arizona, blocking out stars as it passed silently overhead. This is often considered the more significant of the two events.

The Distinction

Two separate events:

• Formation early evening
• Lights later (flares claimed)
• Both same night
• Different phenomena
• Often confused

The First Event

Between 7:30-8:30 PM:

• V-shaped formation
• Moved from north
• Across Arizona
• To south
• Extended observation

The Route

Object traveled:

• From Paulden area
• Through Prescott
• Over Phoenix
• Toward Tucson
• Hundreds of miles

The Shape

Witnesses described:

• V or boomerang
• Or carpenter’s square
• Massive size
• Multiple lights
• Single solid object

The Size

Estimates varied:

• Football field sized
• Mile wide
• Enormous scale
• Blocked out stars
• Consistent descriptions

The Lights

Along the edge:

• Multiple lights
• Equally spaced
• Amber or white
• Not connected
• Part of craft

The Passage

As it passed:

• Stars disappeared
• Behind solid mass
• Reappeared after
• Solid object proven
• Not separate lights

The Silence

All witnesses noted:

• Complete silence
• No engine sounds
• Slight wind perhaps
• Eerily quiet
• Despite huge size

Speed

The object moved:

• Very slowly
• Observers watched for minutes
• Extended viewing time
• Not aircraft-like
• Deliberate movement

Key Witnesses

Observers included:

• Tim Ley family
• Detailed observation
• Multiple minutes
• From home
• Compelling account

The Prescott Sighting

In Prescott:

• Object passed over
• Multiple witnesses
• Same description
• Before Phoenix
• Trajectory confirmed

Governor’s Sighting

Fife Symington:

• Arizona Governor
• Saw the object
• Initially made joke
• Later admitted sighting
• Called it “otherworldly”

The Governor’s Account

Symington later said:

• Saw massive object
• Not of this world
• Enormous scale
• Witnessed personally
• Regrets mockery

Distinction from Flares

The formation:

• Different from later lights
• Earlier in evening
• Moving formation
• Not stationary
• Different phenomenon

Significance

The V-formation is significant for:

• Mass witness event
• Governor witness
• Star occlusion proof
• Extended trajectory
• Solid object evidence

Legacy

The V-shaped formation that passed over Arizona on March 13, 1997 remains one of the most impressive mass sightings in UFO history. The star occlusion observed by witnesses proves this was a solid object of enormous proportions, not merely lights in the sky.