On certain darker nights near Linville Gorge here in WNC, an age-old mystery comes out to play. Since the mid-1800s, the Brown Mountain Lights have puzzled locals, visitors, and even scientists.

There's been so much talk of the mysterious, unexplained, reddish orbs of light that dot the treeline that the US Geological Survey even investigated them in both 1913 and 1922, ultimately concluding most sightings were likely misidentified car or train headlights.

But many can't get on board with that theory — there have a myriad of ideas have been tossed around, like that the phenomenon is extraterrestrial, paranormal, a mirage, or simply just a natural occurrence yet to be explained.

The US Geological Survey used this map to plot light sources. | Graphic via USGS

After studying the lights for more than a decade, Appalachian State University Professor of Physics and Astronomy Dr. Dan Caton and Observatory Engineer Lee Hawkins are believed to have caught the lights on video — although they told WCNC, "It was something we really couldn't explain."

Even though chances of seeing the lights are scarce, some say that clear fall nights after a rain are the best chance for viewing. Sounds like current conditions are quite promising.