A wildlife monitoring camera operated by the Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG) in Chilean Patagonia has documented an extraordinary luminous phenomenon. The incident, which occurred on January 21, 2025, involved the capture of three photographs within a two-second span, showcasing intense, descending lights that appeared to approach the camera in a downward trajectory, ultimately blinding the equipment.
The UMAG camera, part of a project to establish a public baseline for the provinces of Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego, was situated in a remote area with no recorded prior human or animal activity. Biologist Alejandro Kush Schwarzenberg, who leads the project, stated that the phenomenon defied explanation by conventional parameters. Further analysis by researcher Rodrigo Bravo Garrido of GEA-UMAG highlighted the significance of this observation, marking the first instance of such phenomena within a formal scientific endeavor.
The observed lights were recorded moving at an astonishing speed of 947 km/h, equivalent to approximately 0.7 Mach. Expert Freddy Alexis Silva has proposed that the event could represent an anomalous aerial phenomenon, possibly a plasmoid. Plasmoids are understood as coherent structures of plasma and magnetic fields, with laboratory studies indicating they can possess measurable magnetic moments and translational speeds. Historically, plasmoids have been theorized to explain various natural occurrences, including ball lightning and phenomena observed in Earth's magnetosphere and solar atmosphere.
Patagonia has a long-standing anecdotal record of unusual aerial sightings, with indigenous accounts of "luces malas" (bad lights) dating back to the 16th century. This scientific documentation offers a tangible point of reference for understanding such historical reports. Cristián Riffo, Director of the Museo OVNI de La Serena, emphasized the recording's considerable historical and cultural value, noting the rarity of scientifically documented evidence of this nature.
The findings have been shared with the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) and the Museo OVNI de La Serena, underscoring the interdisciplinary approach to understanding this unique event. The University of Magallanes itself is a hub for research, with a significant number of indexed scientific publications and ongoing projects across various disciplines, including natural sciences and engineering.