What’s that blue light in the Phoenix sky? Here’s the answer

A bright blue beam has been lighting up the metro Phoenix night sky, and a lot of Valley residents want to know why.

In recent weeks, a glowing blue column rising roughly 3 miles into the air near Chandler has puzzled residents and sparked online chatter. Photos and videos of the light have spread across Reddit and other social media sites, with locals trading theories and trying to track down its source.

Some joked about UFOs or sci-fi movies. Others simply asked what they were seeing.

The answer is something called the Gila Beam.

The bright blue light is a high-powered LED laser shining into the sky from Gila River Casino and Hotel Wild Horse Pass. Casino officials say the beam is part of a planned promotional installation.

Gila River Resorts & Casinos first ignited the Gila Beam on Jan. 17 as part of a four-month Vegas Residency campaign. The promotion brings Sin City-style events, dining and entertainment to all four of the company’s Valley casino locations.

Dominic Orozco, president and chief marketing officer of Gila River Resorts & Casinos, says the stunt was inspired by Las Vegas landmarks that incorporate bright lights.

“When people think of Vegas, one of those iconic elements is light,” Orozco says. “Like the beam coming off the Luxor Hotel. That was the reference.”

Like its Vegas counterpart, the Gila Beam is designed to be visible from miles away.

The installation uses four LED laser beams powered by a combined 1,800 watts. The light shoots roughly 3 miles into the air and can be seen from 7 to 10 miles away from the side, depending on conditions.

Orozco says the Gila Beam has been cleared by tribal, state and federal regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration. Trained light technicians are on site during operating hours and can shut the beam down immediately if required.

The color was chosen deliberately, Orozco says.

“Blue had the better presentation at longer distances,” he says. “And it just coincidentally lined up with our color scheme.”

The beam runs nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight. On evenings with cloud cover, the light can appear even brighter as it reflects off low-hanging clouds and spreads across the sky.

That visual punch is part of what fueled speculation online.

“The biggest attention we’ve seen is confusion,” Orozco says. “People are wondering what it is and where it’s coming from. Then it becomes this hide-and-seek approach. Once they identify it, they reference it back to the casino.”

The laser was manufactured by California-based Nu-Salt Laser Light Shows International, a company that specializes in large-scale lighting installations for major venues nationwide.

So far, Orozco says there have been no complaints, only curiosity. Some drivers traveling along Interstate 10, particularly those coming from Tucson, have even pulled off the highway after spotting the beam.

As for how long the Gila Beam will remain lit, that is still being determined.

“We want to be very respectful of surrounding communities as we go through this,” Orozco says. “Our determination is going to be based on feedback of what we’re hearing. If people are enjoying it, we might keep it.”