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Case of Sierentz, on May 23, 2009:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2009-05-23-SIERENTZ-1

Summary:

In their January 2010 newsletter, the SPICA Alsatian ufology association reported that on May 23, 2009, at 11:10 p.m., a large orange luminous ball was seen standing in the sky by a woman who had gone outside to see it better after waking up her husband.

Both observed other smaller balls, which joined the first and placed themselves in a triangle. The balls went towards Kembs in triangular formation. The triangular formation reportedly lasted 2 minutes.

According to the SPICA, the witness made a statement to the gendarmes and they came came to see her the morning of May 24. The gendarmes took the three or four photographs that had been taken by the witness, promising to return them the following day.

In the evening, around 10:10 p.m., the witness called SPICA to inform them that a neighbor had also seen the phenomenon, and that according to this new witness, filaments were hanging after the balls.

SPICA indicates that this case is solved, these were Chinese lanterns released at a wedding party.

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Sources:

[Ref. spa1:] ASSOCIATION UFOLOGIQUE "SPICA":

Sierrentz [sic] (68) May 23, 2009 at 11:10 p.m.

Source: SPICA

The witness observed on the 05/23/2009 from 11:10 p.m. on a luminous orange ball, quite big, which was stationary in the sky. To see better, she came outside after waking her husband up. Both observed other smaller balls, which joined the first and placed themselves in a triangle. The balls went towards Kembs in triangular formation. The triangular formation would have lasted 2mn. The witness made a statement to the gendarmerie who came to see her this morning of the 24th. They took the photographs that were made by the witness (3 or 4), promising to return them to her on Monday the 25th. At around 10:10 p.m., the witness called again to inform us that a neighbor had also seen the phenomenon, according to this new witness, filaments were hanging after the balls. She is ready to testify.

Identification: The case of Sierentz is solved. It was Chinese lanterns of a wedding.

Discussion:

Since 2005, Chinese lanterns constitute the bulk of the "testimonies" of UFOs found on websites devoted to the subject of UFOs and essentially publishing such "web report"; generally the only treatment is the publication, without any information on a possible cause, without any investigation or comment.

In Alsace, such releases are especially popular now since fireworks and firecrackers, long tolerated, are now prohibited for use unless special exemptions; Alsatians therefore largely adopted the lanterns.

As these lanterns are usually released at private or public parties, they are most often seen on Saturday nights, often at wedding dates or official festivities such as the National Day or New Year's Eve, usually between 10 p.m. and midnight. They are then usually released in clusters. But sometimes the purchaser performs a "test flight" a few days before, sometimes with a single lantern.

Above: a Chinese lantern.

Evaluation:

Chinese lanterns

Sources references:

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

• [spa1] * SPICA News, bulletin of the Alsatian ufology association SPICA, France, #15, page 28, January 2010.

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This page was last updated on February 12, 2018.