Researchers at the Ostfold University College in Norway reportedly captured on camera in September 2007 a UFO that people in the area had been reporting for years.

The researchers captured the mysterious aerial phenomenon, known as the Hessdalen lights, using equipment at the university's Hessdalen Interactive Observatory, reportedly the only "official 24-hour observatory in the world."

According to the Ostfold University College researcher Professor Erling Strand, scientists decided to investigate after locals began reporting frequent sightings of UFO light phenomenon in 1981.

Residents reported sighting colored -- yellow, red, and bright white -- lights floating in the dark over the valley nearby. Duration of sightings varied widely from seconds to hours. Witnesses reported watching the lights hover, move to and fro or at great speed over the valley.

Although there had been reports of sightings of UFO lights in the area since the 1930s, there was a dramatic increase in sightings between December 1981 and the middle of 1984 when daily sightings peaked at 20.

Residents reported seeing the lights in the valley but sometimes the lights approached their homes. The sightings caused local residents concern because they were unable to explain the source.

Concern about the nature of the lights has grown lately because scientists are unable to explain the sightings despite three decades of research.

Researchers have proposed a number of obscure theories, including unexplained combustion processes involving sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen, due probably to deposits of scandium in the area. Others suggested the lights could be due to plasma generated by ionization of atmospheric gasses. Yet other researchers suggested the lights could be due to forms of electricity generated by crystal rocks.

Scientific investigators and students at the Ostfold University College decided to investigate the phenomenon using monitoring equipment at the Hessdalen Interactive Observatory.

"The light phenomena here in Hessdalen in Norway started in late '81 with a lot of sightings, at the most it was 20 sightings a week."

The researchers obtained the first footage of the lights on the fourth night after they set up the equipment.

The YouTube (see below) shows a documentary produced by the award-winning Norwegian filmmaker Terje Toftenes, titled The Day Before Disclosure. It includes footage (48.35-51:37) of the Hessdalen light phenomenon captured by scientists at the Ostfold University College.

The documentary expresses faith that with recent dramatic increase in reports and documentation of UFO sightings around the world, we are approaching full UFO disclosure.

"This is the story of the witnesses that were laughed at, researchers and reporters that weren't believed and the government and military personnel that were sworn to silence. A story that alters the foundation of everything you thought you knew...," the video description says.

According to UFO enthusiasts, the footage, being scientifically "verified," offers proof of the existence of mysterious UFO phenomenon.

"The light phenomena here in Hessdalen in Norway started in late '81 with a lot of sightings, at the most it was 20 sightings a week," Strand said. "The local people here started to see the light down in the valley, sometimes close to their houses and they were wondering what this could be."

Scientists debate nature of Hessdalen lights, but some UFO researchers believe they are of extraterrestrial origin [Image via Shutterstock]According to UFO researchers, while governments pretend to be uninterested in UFO phenomenon, the truth is that behind the scenes, military and intelligence agencies pay close attention to reported cases of UFO sightings, also known as Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP).

Governments maintain top-secret programs to study the phenomenon using ground and airborne military radar facility. Official investigations of reports by credible witnesses are also conducted.

Hundreds of credible witnesses, including civilian and military pilots, have reported sightings. Many UFOs have also been tracked by military radar.

Evidence of government interest in UAPs is revealed in recently declassified UFO files. Some of the documents show that governments are concerned and worried about the implications of UFO sightings to national security.

The Inquisitr reported in February that classified documents released in 2012 by the U.K. Ministry of Defense revealed military officials urging the government to investigate UFOs as a "matter of priority."

"If they do exist we do not know what they are, their purpose or if they pose a threat to the UK," an official wrote. "If the sightings are of devices not of the earth then their purpose needs to be established as a matter of priority."

"Behind the scenes, high ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs," former head of the CIA Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter said in 1960. "But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense."

"The U.S. Air Force has constantly misled the public about UFOs. I urge congressional action to reduce the danger from secrecy," he added.

The widespread use of phone cameras and the emergence of the Internet has led to widespread reports and documentation of sightings. The Internet is making it increasingly difficult for governments to deny the existence of UFOs, enthusiasts say.

[Image via Shutterstock]