Dozens have suggested theories from aliens to governmental weather modification as being behind the strange 'orb'.

For the first sweep, a radar will adjust the beam to transmit out 0.5° above the horizon. Then, for every successive sweep the radar will be sent out at a slightly higher tilt.

As the radar's beam shoots outward from the antenna, it also shoots upward. Hearst Owned. At a distance of 20 miles, the lowest the radar can see is about 1,000 feet off the ground.

When a temperature inversion bends a radar beam towards the ground, a phenomenon called ducting occurs. This can allow for interesting things to be shown on radar, such as moving traffic in this case.

Unlike the mechanical WSR-88D radars, phased array radars are fully digital and “steer” the radar beam electronically. The new radars can scan the skies in roughly 1 minute.

By the time a radar beam is 60 miles out from the radar the bulk of the beam is 4,500 feet high. When the radar beam is 120 miles from the radar the beam is over 12,000 feet up in the atmosphere.

“Radar actually picks up on lots of things in the atmosphere, like bugs, sharp temperature changes, and even birds,” KARE Meteorologist Ben Dery said.

The radar beam can detect more than raindrops and snowflakes. When the beam gets sent out, anything from bugs and birds to military chaff can be detected within about 100 miles.

Tilting a 100-kw. high-frequency radar transmitter 71° into the night sky near Washington, D.C. last April 22, Gallet aimed a radar beam at what he believed to be a pipe that would carry the ...

“Radar actually picks up on lots of things in the atmosphere, like bugs, sharp temperature changes, and even birds,” KARE Meteorologist Ben Dery said.

“Radar actually picks up on lots of things in the atmosphere, like bugs, sharp temperature changes, and even birds,” KARE Meteorologist Ben Dery said.

“Radar actually picks up on lots of things in the atmosphere, like bugs, sharp temperature changes, and even birds,” KARE Meteorologist Ben Dery said.