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ALSACAT:

ALSACAT is my comprehensive catalog of UFO sighting reports in Alsace, the region is the North-East of France, whether they are "explained" or "unexplained".

The ALSACAT catalog is made of case files with a case number, summary, quantitative information (date, location, number of witnesses...), classifications, all sources mentioning the case with their references, a discussion of the case in order to evaluate its causes, and a history of the changes made to the file. A general index and thematic sub-catalogs give access to these Alsatian case files.

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Case of Obernai, on August 12, 2012:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2012-08-12-OBERNAI-1

Summary:

Under the pseudonym "BosondeHiggs67", a 25-year-old law student in Strasbourg, member of the ufology forum "Les Mystères des OVNIS", filed on August 14, 2012, his testimony for his observation of August 12, 2012, at about 10:55 p.m., of "luminous balls" near Obernai.

He says he was returning from holidays with friends, traveling by car on the A35 motorway towards Strasbourg. He was in the back seat behind the driver.

While they were near Obernai, he saw in the sky in the distance, on the left side of the car, a very bright light, coming from the west and moving eastward.

The Big Dipper was clearly visible there. The bright object seemed to fly at high altitude, at a constant speed and in a straight path. It was round and seemed to radiate a fixed white "surprising" light without flashing, constant. In comparison, the light from surrounding stars seemed very dull.

It was impossible to estimate its speed, but the witness thinks that the object was moving faster than a civilian plane. Their car was moving at 140 km/h at that time.

He lost sight of the thing for a few seconds as it was then located just above the car. He saw it again through the rear window on the right.

At that time, he called his friend's attention - the friend was next to the driver - and he confirmed the unusual nature of the observation.

The object continued its trajectory toward the East, its brightness gradually began to decrease until it disappeared completely.

He estimated as about ten seconds the time interval between when the light began to fall and when it disappeared completely.

It seemed strange to him that when the light began to fade, the object did not seem so far away from their position.

The observation lasted between 3 and 4 minutes.

He explains that he is very sure that it was nor a comet neither a "meteorite" because of the lack of a trail or drag. It was not a Chinese lantern in his opinion because the object shone a particularly strong light and its speed was too fast. It was not a civilian plane because of the lack of flashing and the speed.

A forum commenter him that what he described looks like two drops of water to the ISS; then another participant confirmed after verification on a satellite tracking software.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: August 12, 2012
Time: 10:55 p.m.
Duration: 3 to 4 minutes.
First known report date: August 14, 2012
Reporting delay: 2 days.

Geographical data:

Department: Haut-Rhin
City: Obernai
Place: Sitting in car driving on the A35 highway near Obernai, UFO in the sky.
Latitude: 48.444
Longitude: 7.502
Uncertainty radius: 4 km

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 2
Number of known witnesses: 1
Number of named witnesses: 0
Witness(es) ages: 25
Witness(es) types: Law student and a friend.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: By the web to the ufology forum "Les Mystères des OVNIS."
Type of location: Sitting in car driving on highway, UFO in the sky.
Visibility conditions: Night.
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: ?
UFO departure observed: Yes
Entities: No
Photographs: No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es): No.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): No.
Witness(es) feelings: Puzzled.
Witnesses interpretation: ?

Classifications:

Hynek: NL
ALSACAT: International Space Station (ISS).

Sources:

[Ref. myo1:] UFOLOGY FORUM "LES MYSTERES DES OVNIS":

BosondeHiggs67
Forum team
Male Age: 25
Number of messages: 223
Registered on: 02/07/2012
Localization: Strasbourg
Job: Master Droit

Subject: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Tue 14 Aug 2012, 19:23

Firstname or name : BonsondeHiggs67

City: near Obernai in the direction to Strasbourg

Department: 67

Region or Country: Alsace

Date: 08/12/2012

Hour of the beginning of the observation: 10:55 p.m.

Duration of the observation: 3-4 minutes

Weather conditions: clear sky

Number of witnesses: 2

Type of phenomenon: Luminous balls

Official report: No

Complete observation report:

The sighting took place on Sunday, August 12, 2012 at around 10:55 p.m.

I came back from holiday with friends and was going by car on the A35 motorway towards Strasbourg.

I was in the back seat, behind the driver.

While we were near Obernai, I saw in the sky in the distance a particularly bright light.

It came from the west and headed east.

The Big Dipper was clearly visible on the side of the observation (ie the left side of the car).

The bright object appeared to move at high altitude, at a constant speed and in a straight line.

From my position, the object was round and seemed to radiate a surprising fixed white light.

In comparison, the light from surrounding stars seemed very dull.

The light of the object was not flashing, it remained constant.

Although it was impossible to estimate its speed, the object was moving faster than a civilian plane.

Our car, was moving at 140 km / h at that time.

For a few seconds I lost sight of the object as it was located just above the car.

I was able to regain visual contact through the rear window that was on the right side.

At that time, I drew the attention of my friend who was next to the driver, who confirmed the unusual nature of the observation.

As the object continued its trajectory toward the east, its brightness gradually began to decrease until disappearing completely.

I estimated the interval between when the light began to fall and when it disappeared completely to about ten seconds.

What seemed strange is that when the light began to decrease, the object did not seem so far from our position.

The sighting lasted a total 3 to 4 minutes.

What I am pretty sure of:

- It was not a comet or a meteorite because of the lack of tail or drag.

- It was not a Chinese lantern as the object radiated and the light was particularly strong. moreover its speed was too high.

- It was not a civilian plane because of the absence of blinking and the speed.

Precise description:

Size of the phenomenon:

Behavior:

Tranjectory [sic]: non - specified

Specific noise: No

Direction of the objet relative to the wind: not specified

Presence of installations: not specified

Similar photo: D2

Table: not specified

I hereby certify the accuracy of information and the authenticity of the documents supplied. I do not know of to identify this phenomenon thank you in advance for your answers.

Regards BonsondeHiggs67

Robert04
Forum team
Male Age: 55
Number of messages: 1568
Registered on: 16/02/2011
Localization: PACA
Job: +++++
Hobbies: +++++

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Tue 14 Aug 2012, 19:44

Good evening BosondeHiggs67

It seems that your observation resembles totally to the ISS.

Rgds

Robert

Verveine
Ufologue/enquêteur
Male Age: 56
Number of messages: 2146
Registered on: 01/07/2011
Localization: Bouches du Rhône
Job: Craftsman
Hobbies: diving

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Tue 14 Aug 2012, 19:59

Good evening Boson,

It is unfortunately impossible to measure a speed (even angular) when you are in a vehicle that travels... moreover when it moves at 140km/h. So it is unrealistic to compare this rate with that of anything.

It would however interresting [sic] that you position yourself on a road map or the specific segment you were on... (straight or turning)

But I see that Robert was faster than me... Here is the Heavens Above data for the ISS that perfectly match.

ISS -2.4 10:50:53 p.m. 10 ° N 47 ° W 10:54:03 p.m. 10:56:08 p.m. 19 ° ENE

With this magnitude of -2.4 and its passage right on the GO it was hard not to see the ISS that night.

See you soon

BosondeHiggs67
Forum team
Male Age: 25
Number of messages: 223
Registered on: 02/07/2012
Localization: Strasbourg
Job: Law degree

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Tue 14 Aug 2012, 20:17

Good evening,

Unfortunately it is impossible to me to precisely locate the motorway segment on which I was then, all I remember is that the sighting occurred near Obernai at about 15 minutes from Strasbourg.

I had indeed thought of a satellite or a space station.

What had surprised me at the time is its strong luminosity and the gradual decrease in brightness at the end of the observation.

Besides, I forgot to specify that last night around 11:30 p.m. I saw the same phenomenon in Strasbourg, on my street in the Petite France. So it would credit the hypothesis of the ISS?

Robert04
Forum team
Male Age: 55
Number of messages: 1568
Registered on: 16/02/2011
Localization: PACA
Job: +++++
Hobbies: +++++

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Tue 14 Aug 2012, 21:51

Good evening

Indeed, it was the same again.

Rgds

Robert

BosondeHiggs67
Forum team
Male Age: 25
Number of messages: 223
Registered on: 02/07/2012
Localization: Strasbourg
Job: Law degree

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Mer 15 Aug 2012, 00:24

Thanks a lot for shedding your lights (no joke intended) on this phenomenon.

At least I was able to take a look at the ISS and it was very beautiful and also puzzling :)

Stanalpha1
Forum team
Male Age: 63
Number of messages: 631
Registered on: 09/03/2011
Localization: ALSACE
Job: Retired
Hobbies: Astronomy anthropology , music, travel, nature, news

Subject: Re: 2012: on 08/12 at 10:55 p.m. - Luminous balls - near 'Obernai in direction to Strasbourg (67) Mer 15 Aug 2012, 14:09

Hello HIGGS BOSON,

Yes indeed, when the ISS passes through our local sky, it is visible: it is 110m long, 74m wide and 30m tall ... It wanders at some 27 700 KM/H at an altitude ranging from 330 KM to 410 KM .... Its permanent crew is of 6 people, who remain "up there" for a stay of 3 to 6 months ..... Regards STANALPHA

Ps: its dimensions are roughly equivalent to those of a soccer field...

Discussion:

Map.

"Case closed!"

Evaluation:

International Space Station (ISS).

Sources references:

* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.

File history:

Authoring:

Main author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editeur: Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version: Create/changed by: Date: Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross September 8, 2015 Creation, [myo1].
1.0 Patrick Gross September 8, 2015 First published.

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This page was last updated on September 8, 2015.