This article is from 2021 and may be outdated. We're working on restoring a newer version.
People ghost hunt at night because it’s traditional. Some choose night investigations for convenience. If you’re busy during the day, evening research is ideal.
Ghost hunting involves a variety of senses. During the day, visual distractions can be an issue. In darkness, you’re able to focus on your other senses.
Some ghosts manifest as orbs of light or other faint, whitish forms. They’re most easily seen after dark, where the contrast makes them more obvious.
For those who think “orbs” are a joke, and just dust or a camera glitch, here’s a 1913 description of one kind of apparition:
“… the ghost or spirit appears as an immense glistening soap bubble, full of all the colors of the rainbow. These colors are constantly changing according to the thoughts and emotions of the man to whom the soul belongs.”
I’m not sure that’s why orb colors change, but the rest of the description is good… and has nothing to do with camera errors.
A few ghost hunters believe that spirits have more power after dark. I’m not sure that’s true… but it might be.
Some ghost hunters have better luck after nine or 10:00 P.M. Others prefer research around midnight.
Many ghost hunters, including me, like to start investigations before dusk. You’ll be able to see more of the physical details around you.
Then, as night falls, you’ll be more comfortable in the setting. You know what’s where. You can focus on any anomalies.
Tip: Outdoors, shadow people can be more obvious around dusk. We rarely see them in full daylight. In total darkness, it’s difficult to see any shadows at all.
If you’re an early riser, try researching at dawn. That’s when a building or landscape can be eerily silent. It’s one of my favorite times for research, but it can be more difficult to find others to ghost hunt at that hour.
No matter when you go ghost hunting — at dusk or dawn, or in between — darkness may be helpful.