Within Myrtle Beach
Are Myrtle Beach UFOs just coastal lights?
Many Myrtle Beach sightings may come from ordinary coastal lights made strange by distance, haze, flight paths and the ocean horizon.
On this page
- How aircraft approach lights can fool viewers
- Why maritime flares resemble orange orbs
- What boat, drone and horizon cues hide from witnesses
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Introduction
Many Myrtle Beach UFO reports become less mysterious when viewed through the realities of a busy tourist coastline. The Grand Strand combines commercial aviation, military activity, pleasure boats, fishing vessels, drones and wide, dark ocean views. At night, those ingredients can produce lights that appear to hover, split apart, change colour or vanish completely. What looks extraordinary from a hotel balcony may be an aircraft on approach, a maritime flare drifting under a parachute, or a vessel beyond obvious visual reference points.
That does not mean every report can be explained with certainty. Some accounts are too brief, too poorly documented or too ambiguous for a confident conclusion. However, the recurring pattern of orange or red lights over the Atlantic has led many investigators and sceptics to focus first on ordinary coastal light sources before considering more exotic explanations. In Myrtle Beach, the question is often not whether witnesses saw a real light, but whether distance, darkness and the ocean horizon disguised what that light actually was. [MyrtleBeach.com]myrtlebeach.comMyrtle Beach.com UF O Sightings in Myrtle BeachOrange globe appeared in sky over ocean.. split into 4 in a straight line. Then back to 2. Then…Read more…
How aircraft approach lights can fool viewers
One of the most common explanations for strange lights near Myrtle Beach is approaching aircraft. Myrtle Beach International Airport sits close enough to the coast that arriving and departing aircraft can be seen from beaches, hotel balconies and oceanfront roads. At night, a jet flying directly toward an observer can create a surprisingly deceptive visual effect.
Landing lights are extremely bright and are designed to be visible from long distances. The Federal Aviation Administration notes that powerful landing lights can be seen many miles away and are often used below certain altitudes specifically to improve visibility. [Wikipedia]WikipediaLanding lightsLanding lights
The problem is perspective. When an aircraft is flying almost directly toward a witness rather than across their field of view, its sideways movement becomes difficult to perceive. The light appears fixed in one place even though the aircraft is closing the distance rapidly. Witnesses frequently describe such lights as “hovering”, “watching” or remaining motionless for long periods before suddenly moving away. Similar discussions appear in aviation communities and eyewitness forums whenever apparently stationary lights are later identified as aircraft on approach. [Reddit]reddit.comUnusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachI was told they are flares used in off-shore nighttime rescue drills. The way they moved and wen…
The coastal setting amplifies the effect because:
- The ocean provides few visual reference points.
- Night haze can blur navigation lights into a single glowing object.
- The horizon can be difficult to judge accurately.
- Reflections and humidity can make lights appear larger than they are.
FAA guidance on visual illusions warns that isolated lights in darkness can appear to move or behave strangely when stared at for extended periods. Pilots themselves are trained to recognise these effects because they can create false impressions of motion and distance. [Federal Aviation Administration]faa.govFederal Aviation AdministrationAirplane Flying Handbook (3C) Chapter 11In the dark, a stationary light will appear to move about when sta…
This helps explain why many Myrtle Beach reports describe lights that seem stationary, pulse in brightness or suddenly disappear. An aircraft turning away from the observer can cause bright landing lights to vanish almost instantly even though the aircraft remains present.
Why maritime flares resemble orange orbs
Orange “fireballs” and glowing red orbs are among the most common descriptions in Myrtle Beach sighting reports. Those descriptions also closely match the appearance of maritime or military illumination flares.
A flare deployed over water often burns with a warm orange, red or yellow glow. Depending on the type, it may descend slowly under a parachute, creating the impression of a hovering light. Seen from miles away over a dark ocean, the descent can be difficult to detect. Witnesses may instead perceive a bright object hanging in the sky before fading out. [Reddit]reddit.comI saw a plane, stationary in the sky: r/ExperiencersI live by a major airport, see that phenomenon here and there. It is caused by you driving on the highway in one…Read more…
Several characteristics repeatedly reported in Myrtle Beach cases fit known flare behaviour:
- Lights appearing in groups. [couriermail.com.au]couriermail.com.auKaty McCallum, owner of Kilkivan General Store and a former police officer, shared images and described years-long observations of these…
- Objects brightening and dimming.
- Slow downward movement.
- Sudden disappearance when the flare burns out.
- Apparent hovering against a dark background.
The explanation does not automatically fit every report. Witnesses sometimes describe lights changing direction or maintaining position for longer than expected from a flare. Similar disputes have appeared in other coastal UFO hotspots where military authorities attributed sightings to illumination rounds while some observers rejected that interpretation. [The Courier-Mail]couriermail.com.auKaty McCallum, owner of Kilkivan General Store and a former police officer, shared images and described years-long observations of these…
Even so, the flare hypothesis remains important because the Carolinas lie near areas used for military aviation and training activity. A witness observing distant lights over the Atlantic may have little information about exercises, rescue operations or offshore activity occurring beyond the visible horizon.
The key point is that a flare does not need to look exactly like a flare from close range in order to create a UFO report. At several miles’ distance, many of the visual cues that would normally reveal its identity disappear.
What boat, drone and horizon cues hide from witnesses
The ocean removes many of the clues people unconsciously use to judge distance and size. A light over land can often be compared against trees, buildings, roads or terrain. A light over open water frequently cannot.
That absence of context creates several recurring misinterpretations.
Fishing and recreational boats
A vessel beyond the visible horizon may reveal only its lights. Atmospheric conditions can also bend or scatter light, making a boat appear elevated above the water. In some circumstances, individual lights from a vessel merge into a single glowing object.
Investigators studying famous coastal UFO cases elsewhere have repeatedly proposed fishing fleets as explanations for lights that appeared suspended over the sea. The well-known Kaikōura lights case in New Zealand, for example, generated a long-running debate over whether some observed lights were actually fishing vessels whose lamps looked unusual from an aircraft. [Wikipedia]WikipediaSensory illusions in aviationSensory illusions in aviation
The comparison matters because Myrtle Beach witnesses often report distant lights over the Atlantic rather than close encounters with structured objects.
Drones
Consumer drones add another layer of confusion. Modern drones can carry bright LEDs, hover in place and perform coordinated movements. From a beach at night, it may be impossible to estimate whether a light is a small drone a few hundred metres away or something much larger at a greater distance.
Unlike aircraft, drones can stop, reverse direction and maintain a fixed position. Those capabilities allow them to mimic several behaviours that witnesses traditionally associated with UFO reports.
Horizon and atmospheric effects
Humidity, sea haze and temperature layers over water can distort perception. A light near the horizon may appear larger, more colourful or less stable than it really is.
The effect becomes especially strong when observers stare at a single isolated light. Aviation researchers describe autokinesis, an illusion in which a stationary light appears to drift or move against a featureless dark background. The phenomenon has been documented for decades and has contributed to both pilot reports and civilian UFO sightings. [Federal Aviation Administration]faa.govFederal Aviation AdministrationAirplane Flying Handbook (3C) Chapter 11In the dark, a stationary light will appear to move about when sta…
In practical terms, a witness can sincerely report that a light moved, hovered or darted when the underlying source remained largely stationary.
Why some Myrtle Beach reports still feel strange
The ordinary explanations are persuasive because they match the overall pattern better than a single extraordinary cause. Myrtle Beach reports overwhelmingly involve lights rather than detailed craft descriptions. Orange glows, flashing points, grouped lights and objects over the Atlantic are exactly the types of observations most vulnerable to distance and horizon effects. [MyrtleBeach.com]myrtlebeach.comMyrtle Beach.com UF O Sightings in Myrtle BeachOrange globe appeared in sky over ocean.. split into 4 in a straight line. Then back to 2. Then…Read more… Reddit Yet some reports continue to attract attention because witnesses describe combinations of behaviour that seem harder to reconcile with one si [reddit.com]reddit.comUnusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachI was told they are flares used in off-shore nighttime rescue drills. The way they moved and wen… mple source. Accounts sometimes include lights separating and rejoining, remaining visible for long periods, or appearing in organised formations. In online discussions, observers often reject explanations involving flares or aircraft because the lights did not seem to descend, blink in a standard pattern or follow an obvious flight path. [Reddit]reddit.comatlantic beach nc 5212026 955 pmRedditAtlantic beach N.C. 5/21/2026 9:55 pm: r/UFOsMay 22, 2026 — Aircraft like C-130s routinely drop flares there.1142d7 Flares create… [Reddit]reddit.comLights in the sky over the ocean in Myrtle BeachThe only plausible explanation is that it is some type of military flare or something, bu…
The difficulty is that most such reports lack the information needed for a definitive assessment. Without radar data, precise timing, aircraft tracking records, photographs from multiple locations or independent investigation, it is often impossible to determine exactly what was seen.
That uncertainty helps explain why Myrtle Beach remains a South Carolina UFO hotspot. The area consistently produces sightings, but many of the strongest candidate explanations are also the kinds of things that become hardest to identify over a dark ocean. The result is a repeating cycle: genuine lights are observed, witnesses struggle to judge distance and motion, and ordinary coastal activity acquires an appearance that can seem far stranger than it really is.
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Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Are Myrtle Beach UFOs just coastal lights?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects
Contains many examples of difficult-to-interpret night sightings.
The Hynek UFO Report
Relevant to distinguishing unexplained objects from ordinary lights.
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Endnotes
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Source: myrtlebeach.com
Title: Myrtle Beach.com UF O Sightings in Myrtle Beach
Link: https://www.myrtlebeach.com/blog/ufo-sightings-in-myrtle-beach/Source snippet
Orange globe appeared in sky over ocean.. split into 4 in a straight line. Then back to 2. Then...Read more...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/MyrtleBeach/comments/8xsv4k/unusual_lights_in_the_sky/Source snippet
Unusual lights in the sky: r/MyrtleBeachI was told they are flares used in off-shore nighttime rescue drills. The way they moved and wen...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Landing lights
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_lights -
Source: faa.gov
Link: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/12_afh_ch11.pdfSource snippet
Federal Aviation AdministrationAirplane Flying Handbook (3C) Chapter 11In the dark, a stationary light will appear to move about when sta...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: I saw a plane, stationary in the sky: r/Experiencers
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Experiencers/comments/16m1u2l/i_saw_a_plane_stationary_in_the_sky/Source snippet
I live by a major airport, see that phenomenon here and there. It is caused by you driving on the highway in one...Read more...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Sensory illusions in aviation
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_illusions_in_aviation -
Source: reddit.com
Title: atlantic beach nc 5212026 955 pm
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1tk693t/atlantic_beach_nc_5212026_955_pm/Source snippet
RedditAtlantic beach N.C. 5/21/2026 9:55 pm: r/UFOsMay 22, 2026 — Aircraft like C-130s routinely drop flares there.1142d7 Flares create...
Published: May 22, 2026
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Kaikōura lights
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaik%C5%8Dura_lights -
Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/MyrtleBeach/comments/254l68/lights_in_the_sky_over_the_ocean_in_myrtle_beach/Source snippet
Lights in the sky over the ocean in Myrtle BeachThe only plausible explanation is that it is some type of military flare or something, bu...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1nj1h3p/strange_lights_just_hovering_and_pulsing_in_the/Source snippet
moving at all - just kinda sat there and would pulse on, then off...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: Spotted last night off the Carolina coast: r/aliens
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/1sya2mf/spotted_last_night_off_the_carolina_coast/Source snippet
They did not move in an organic way. They did not drop like flares. They hovered and would go...Read more...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1qbuvva/mysterious_blinking_light_in_the_night_sky_over/Source snippet
d in the night sky. I've been trying to find a logical explanation...
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Source: couriermail.com.au
Link: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/army-claims-flares-are-behind-strange-gympie-lights-but-witnesses-disagree/news-story/8bf311082f24969ea0597f606a5ad817Source snippet
Katy McCallum, owner of Kilkivan General Store and a former police officer, shared images and described years-long observations of these...
Additional References
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Source: facebook.com
Title: on a warm summer night in 1973 the quiet skies over myrtle beach were about to b
Link: https://www.facebook.com/MyrtleBeachSouthCarolin/posts/on-a-warm-summer-night-in-1973-the-quiet-skies-over-myrtle-beach-were-about-to-b/1187628316746364/Source snippet
Myrtle Beach, SCThe Unexplained 1973 UFO Sighting over Myrtle Beach During the summer of 1973, residents and people visiting the Grand St...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: the unexplained 1973 ufo sighting over myrtle beachduring the summer of 1973 res
Link: https://www.facebook.com/TheLanternNewsandMediaGroup/posts/the-unexplained-1973-ufo-sighting-over-myrtle-beachduring-the-summer-of-1973-res/1308466011278191/Source snippet
The Unexplained 1973 UFO Sighting over Myrtle Beach...At first, it appeared to be just a faint glow—an orange-red light that pulsed gent...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/MikeyMcBryan/posts/the-737-night-crew-early-this-morning-saw-some-strange-lights-ufo-over-the-airpo/1324493835702569/Source snippet
I realized it was too high to be a plane. There were no lights seen associated with aircraft. Then to my astonishment.Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/EdPiotrowskiWPDE/videos/strange-lights-over-myrtle-beach/10155328410587716/Source snippet
Army Golden Knights Parachute Team performing at the Sun Fun Festival. They were to land on the beach near...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ancientwhispers/posts/chilling-piece-of-footage-appears-to-show-an-aircraft-being-surrounded-by-multip/935869349432487/Source snippet
ike anything typically seen in conventional aviation Witnesses and...Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/648677616005071/posts/1929623904577096/Source snippet
over me about 1,000 feet above... at the speed it's...Read more...
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Source: x.com
Link: https://x.com/MCCCANM/status/1867120274430366048Source snippet
to the airplane. It's to help avoid mid-air collisions.Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/physicsisfun109/posts/998401532838691/Source snippet
ctly 37000 feet—every single day** ✈️ Commercial pilots have...
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Source: instagram.com
Title: Here’s what you need to know! Tap the link in bio to learn more
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDtOFssOLxd/?hl=en-gbSource snippet
The FAA on Instagram: "Ever spotted moving lights in the night...The FAA requires all aircraft flying at night, including drones, to hav...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: What could this strange red glow be?
Link: https://www.facebook.com/dohanews/posts/what-could-this-strange-red-glow-be%EF%B8%8F-a-pilot-flying-over-the-pacific-ocean-captu/10159208037458683/Source snippet
👨🏽✈️ A pilot flying...This describes an underwater volcanic eruption. Although it is not happening in a tectonically active region of t...
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