PVCC Puma Press: April 2006

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	Photo by Dr. Lynne Kitei
	Phoenix residents spotted this unusual constellation of lights in the night sky on March 17, 1997.
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Ten years ago, March 13, 1997, a mile-long formation of lights appeared over Phoenix, moved in unison and disappeared, all in about 20 minutes. This was one of the most widespread UFO sightings in history, seen by approximately 10 percent of Arizonans.

One of the most versed experts in the “Phoenix Lights” phenomenon is Dr. Lynne Kitei, an acclaimed health educator who successfully put aside her medical practice for four years and remained anonymous for seven while investigating the mass sighting.

Kitei took her years of research and compiled the book and documentary film “The Phoenix Lights.” Marking the tenth anniversary of the sighting, Kitei will be visiting PVCC March 28 to do a book signing and a presentation titled “Coincidence or Communication?” Her documentary will be screened on March 11 at Scottsdale’s Harkins Shea Cinema along with a book signing.

Kitei became interested in the topic of UFO’s two years before the Phoenix Lights phenomenon when she witnessed and photographed an unidentified aerial phenomenon from her home in Paradise Valley.

“Without any interest or knowledge in the topic—at all—my first mysterious sighting was on February 6, 1995, when my husband (who is also a physician) and I had a very close encounter of three amber orbs hovering in a pyramid formation about 100 yards from our Paradise Valley home,” she says.

Since then, she has been recording evidence of unexplained lights with photographs and video, as well as conducting interviews with military and air traffic controllers.

“Actually, while March 13, 1997, has become an historic date in the annals of Ufology and unexplained phenomena, for me it was just another night of curiosity and awe, as I had been documenting these strange light formations hovering in the Phoenix skies periodically for two years previously,” Kitei says.

The Phoenix lights have played a large role in increasing public interest in Ufology. Kitei says that since she came forward three years ago, ridicule and criticism concerning this controversial topic have dissipated in the Arizona media and community.

“It’s important to note that I have never said WHAT these are...only THAT they are," says Kitei. "Most things can be explained ... but there is a small percentage that cannot...The main point is that we are being visited by something that is trying to not only wake us up to their presence, but for many, it is an awakening to what we are doing to our planet and to ourselves—before it is too late.”

Dr. Ed Rosenthal, PVCC science faculty, who is hosting Kitei, has worked for NASA for 20 years, where he served as the principal investigator for 44 orbits of Hubble Space Telescope and spent many nights at various observatories. He was also in the radio astronomy group at Harvard for one-and-a-half years and was at Kitt Peak for two years.

“I have never seen a UFO, nor have I discussed UFOs with other astronomers... it’s just not something that ever really came up,” he says.

Still, Rosenthal acknowledges that the topic warrants discussion. He notes that a poll of the American Astronomical Society indicates that 60 percent of the members believe the subject should be studied seriously and scientifically (rather than “classified” studies undertaken by the military).

“Frankly, I don’t know what to make of UFOs,” he says. “...Astronomy seems to be pointing to the idea that there is a lot of life out there, so, who knows? We are supposed to be awestruck at the discoveries of so many planets orbiting other stars, but UFO’s are taboo. Seems incongruent and narcissistic, doesn’t it?”

Kitei will speak at PVCC on Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts.