Hah! Just what I thought-- Chinese lanterns. The guy sure went fast from this:
“I just think the universe is so big why would God only make us? I don’t know but that’s my thought. I find it hard to believe we are alone,” Howell said."
To this:
Howell said, on the one hand, he’s relieved to know the source of those lights, but he’s a little disappointed it wasn’t an encounter of another kind. “It’s okay. That’s good. Maybe we are alone,” said Howell.
I agree with him. Being “alone” is a good thing.