At first glance, it does look very strange. A fluorescent blue light beamed above the city of Boston. When briefly looking without any background or explanation, you may have thought that this was the work of aliens, a strange and unexplained weather pattern, or perhaps even Boston’s own Batman. But none of these explanations are correct.

In fact, this was a very powerful spotlight honoring Israeli hostages at the Holocaust memorial. While the event had a relatively small crowd on the ground itself, there is no doubt that thousands of people could see the powerful light across the city.

For those wondering, mounted spotlights are significantly brighter than handheld ones. They can have brightness levels ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 candlepower or more.

These spotlights are designed to reach long distances. The beam distance can range from 1,000 feet (300 meters) to several miles, depending on the specific model. The cost of mounted spotlights can vary widely depending on the brand, features, and brightness. They typically start at a few hundred dollars and can go up to several thousand dollars for high-end models.