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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 in Strasbourg, on November 2, 2010:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2010-11-02-STRASBOURG-1

Summary:

Using a pseudonym, a 36-year-old man who said he is in the "aerial operations" and who is a member of the ufology forum "Les Mystères des OVNIS" reported on November 3, 2010, having seen on October 2, 2010 at 06:20 p.m. a very bright spot above Strasbourg.

He was in a small square in this city at nightfall, and while his daughter was playing, he was looking at the sky. He saw a very bright spot in the Southwest and thought of a plane seen from the front. Continuing to look at it, he saw that it was flying at constant speed and direction, that it had flown at the vertical of his position, to continue always in a straight line to the northeast.

He was surprised that its intense brightness did not dim at any time, while that of an airplane would have decreased until disappearing. He thinks that the brightness of a satellite should have also decreased. He also notes that he should have seen the flashing green and red lights of an airplane and that this was not the case.

According to his feeling, this light was at a fairly high altitude in the atmosphere, and traveled his field of vision of about 100° in 2 to 3 minutes.

Members of the ufology forum found that the ISS was not visible at this time from there.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: November 2, 2010
Time: 06:20 p.m.
Duration: 2 to 3 minutes.
First known report date: November 3, 2010
Reporting delay: 1 day.

Geographical data:

Department: Bas-Rhin
City: Strasbourg
Place: From outside in a square, UFO in the sky.
Latitude: 48.571
Longitude: 7.745
Uncertainty radius: 5 km

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 1
Number of known witnesses: 1
Number of named witnesses: 0
Witness(es) ages: 36
Witness(es) types: Man, air operations.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: Reported to the ufology forum "Les Mystères des OVNIS".
Type of location: Outside from a square in big city, UFO in the sky.
Visibility conditions: Night.
UFO observed: ?
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: Not a plane, not a Chinese lantern.

Classifications:

Hynek: NL
ALSACAT: Possible rocket launch, or space shuttle, or LED balloon.

Sources:

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

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 10:18

Well, when you look up, there are things to see...

I was in Strasbourg in a small square at nightfall, it was 06:20 p.m. on NOV02.

Map [broken link]

My daughter was playing games and I was looking at the sky. I saw a very luminous dot in the Southwest; I thought of a plane from the front, but I kept looking at it. It flew at constant speed and direction and passed my position to continue in a straight line to the northeast.

What surprised me and that makes me post here is that its intense brightness did not dim at any time!

That of an airplane would have decreased until disappearing and I would have seen a flashing green or red one appear. That of a satellite would have decreased also I think...

In my opinion, this light was in the atmosphere at a fairly high altitude, and traveled my field of vision (100°) in 2 to 3 minutes.

FdP
Enthusiast
Male Age: 51
Number of messages: 112
Registered on: 07/26/2009
Localization: Poitiers
Job: Independant
Hobbies: The UFO, the video games, the music.

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 12:38

Hello,

One would have to look precisely for the date of the 2, but ISS overflies us once or twice a day currently.

http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=43.64701&lng=0.72784&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET

Fred of Poitiers

brunehaut
Investigator Analyst
Female Age: 39
Number of messages: 1959
Registered on: 05/16/2009
Localization: Soissons
Job: ****
Hobbiess: ****

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 13:36

Hello indyr, hello FdP,

What you observed does not fit with a passing of the ISS, the latter was visible in your sky at 06:43 p.m.:

Scan.

Table of the passing of artificial satellites at the date of November 2:

http://www.heavens-above.com/allsats.asp?lat=48.583&lng=7.750&alt=140&loc=Strasbourg&TZ=CET&Date=40484.7291666667&Mag=3.5

Regards,

_______________________________________

brunehaut

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 16:11

Indeed Brunehaut, the light really passed at my vertical and it is not the case on this illustration.

Moreover, no entry of the table matches what I saw. So it would not be a satellite... Dis someone else see that light?

Thanks.

Guest

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 19:40

it can be any item initially belonging to the ISS and that detached from it, intentionally or not, some days ago.

if the orbit of this objet is a bit lower than that of the iss, its rotation period will diminish and the object will appear in advance of the iss schedule.

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 22:23

joseph123 a écrit:

it can be any item initially belonging to the ISS and that detached from it, intentionnally or not, some days ago..

if the orbit of this objet is a bit lower than that of the iss, its rotation period will dimimish and the object will appear in advance of the iss schedule.

Well well.... Wouldn't it have burned while entering the atmosphere?

Guest

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 22:33

she is not necessarily kilometers away but at (tens of) revolution its makink quite a difference.

At this address there are reports day by day of the activities in the station : http://spaceref.com/iss/

honestly i did not have the courage to search whether these last weeks something like that happened.

patrick42
Excellent participation
Male Age: 56
Number of messages: 296
Registered on: 07/17/2010
Localization: roanne
Job: electrician
Hobbies: toy cars

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 22:36

good evening indyr

you tell of an intense luminous dot , but not of its color , i guess you are going to tell me it was a very luminous white ?

good evening

SebastienP
Very good participation
Male Age: 35
Number of messages: 187
Registered on: 02/18/2008
Localization: germany
Job: Technician
Hobbies: Photo Astronomy

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Wed 03 Nov 2010, 22:49

Good evening indyr,

Intersting from patrick42. Could you also plot on a map (googlemaps) and thus give us the more possible precise direction (by making a sketch) ?

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 13:53

Yes it is an intense white of about 5mm at arm's length.

I placed a link to a map on my first post, you just have to imagine a line SW-NE going by the arrow that is on that map.

http://triangle-volant.blogspot.com

SebastienP
Very good participation
Male Age: 35
Number of messages: 187
Registered on: 02/18/2008
Localization: germany
Job: Technician
Hobbies: Photo Astronomy

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 20:35

A Chinese lantern is rather yellow-orange.

The ISS was not visible from that square given the height of the building and the lack of distanciation.

One would have to look at launches...

http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/index.php/launch-schedule

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 20:57

Oh yes it is certain that it was not a Chinese lantern! It was going much too fast!!! I would day twice as fast as an airliner that would have crossed the sky in the same manner.

Anyway thanks for the link but we cannot get the trajectory of launch of the Italian satellite that day, nor even the hour it was launched...

Guest

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 21:51

one should compare your memories with the speed of the iss one of the forthcoming evenings.

indyr
Good participation
Male Age: 36
Number of messages: 34
Registered on: 03/19/2010
Localization: Paris
Job: aerial operations
Hobbies: my daughter, meditation, informatics

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 22:17

What is the point since it is not the ISS?

Guest

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Thu 04 Nov 2010, 23:08

if it is a part of the iss, it goes at an apparent speed close to the latter.

FdP
Enthusiast
Male Age: 51
Number of messages: 112
Registered on: 07/26/2009
Localization: Poitiers
Job: Independant
Hobbies: The UFO, the video games, the music.

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Fri 05 Nov 2010, 14:57

Hello,

Given the testimony on the size, it would represent quite a big lost part anyway. However, I have already posted some similar testimonials, in which ISS was for not the cause. The last was a kind of ISS visually, but neither trajectory nor schedule stuck. The largest and brightest part was followed, or preceded I cannot remember, by a very regular white flash (1 flash for 1 to 2s) which to the naked eye, seemed slightly detached from the biggest structure. There must have been 1 or 2 mm with arms outstretched between the two, but my experience in the matter allows me to know that the eye is sometimes deceived, a part connecting the two is not necessarily visible. I had the same case with a ultralight photographed for tests, where the sail was distinct from the cabin, while the structure was visible to the naked eye.

These two lights were either connected or independent, nothing allows us to tell. On launches and passages, only an American military satellite was planned on this sector, but more than 8 minutes apart. However, all my watches are on time (vehicle, PC, GPS, mobile phone ...) In short, everything is not listed, and when we see the mess, not to say the trashcan already up there, by dint of dropping stuff.

About the melting during a re-entry, the object can cross on intermediate orbits before a possible return which will consume what remains of it. It does not necessarily fall as soon as it is detached.

Fred de Poitiers

SebastienP
Very good participation
Male Age: 35
Number of messages: 187
Registered on: 02/18/2008
Localization: germany
Job: Technician
Hobbies: Photo Astronomy

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) Fri 05 Nov 2010, 22:35

Sometimes, as when the shuttle refuels, the ISS is accompanied for several hours, minutes apart.

But this is apparently not the case in this period ...

There are a number of unofficial satellites (source ONERA) and it could be one of them, this UFO of Strasbourg. Except, again, it does not seem possible since the ball had the appearance (and therefore the dimensions!) of the ISS.

There are two solutions to explore:

- A new kind of Chinese lanterns, white?

- A flaw in the forecasts. Are the websites on the ISS passes all equal, and above all, are they always accurate?

FdP
Enthusiast
Male Age: 51
Number of messages: 112
Registered on: 07/26/2009
Localization: Poitiers
Job: Independant
Hobbies: The UFO, the video games, the music.

Subject: 2010: On 10/02 at 06:20 p.m. - Very luminous dot above Strasbourg - (67) sun 07 Nov 2010, 13:08

Hi

It is safe to eliminate the lantern hypothesis. Far too high, well beyond the highest airliners. The regularity and the power of the flash (given the distance) implies a relatively important source of energy, incompatible with the basic lantern. In addition, lanterns are often dropped in groups. It looked like ISS but was not ISS. Personally, I still think of a kind of military or civilian satellite.

I want to remind you that I am very used to looking at the sky, day or night (30 to 35 years, I am 47), and that although I can be as deceived as others, I have a good view and a good estimate of locations, distances, altitudes, speeds ... (with margin of error of course)

Fred

[Ref. rnc1:] "RESEAU NATIONAL CIVIL DE SURVEILLANCE DU CIEL":

11/02/2010 - 06:20 p.m. - Bas-Rhin (67) - Mobile luminous spot

By: Indyr

Source: http://www.forum-ovni-ufologie.com/t11200-2010-le-02-10-a-18h20-point-tres-lumineux-dessus-de-strasbourg-67

Quote:

Indeed, when you look up you see things...

I was in Strasbourg, in a little square at nightfall, it was 06:20 p.m. on 02NOV.

Map

My daughter was playing on the games and I was looking at the sky. I saw a very bright spot in the Southwest; I thought of a plane seen from the front, but I continued to look at it. It was flying at constant speed and direction, and passed vertically of my position to still go on a straight line towards the Northeast.

What surprised me and makes me post this here is that its intense brightness lowered at no time!

That of an aircraft would have decreased to disappear and I would have seen a green or red flashing light appear. That of a satellite would have decreased too I think ...

In my feeling, this light was in the atmosphere at a fairly high altitude, and through my field of view (100°) for 2-3 minutes.

Note: The witness said the apparent size of the object: about 5 millimeters at arm's length.

07/11/2010, a member discusses the following details to try to explain the nature of the observation of the witness:

Quote:

Hi

One can without any risk, discard the lantern hypothesis. Far too high, well beyond the highest airliners line. The regularity and the flash power (given the distance) implies a relatively important source of energy, incompatible with the basic lantern. Furthermore, the lanterns are often released by groups. It looked like but was not ISS. Personally, I still think pf a kind of military or civilian satellite.

I want to remind that I'm really very used to look at the sky, by day or night (30 to 35 years, I am 47), and although I can be as mistaken like others, I have good view and a good estimate of locations, distances, altitudes, speeds ... (with a margin of error of course)

Fred

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

City Date and hour of observation General shape
Identification
General color
Hypothesis
Conclusion
STRASBOURG Tuesday 2 November 2010 18:20 luminous dot
Unidentified
white
None
Unsolved -lack of info

Discussion:

Map.

There is no trail mentioned; which tends to make me eliminate a meteor or a re-entry of space junk.

Chinese lanterns are generally orange in color; even if models with other colors exist, they are rarely used as far as I know.

An unlisted satellite, or the US secret military space shuttle, are not entirely excluded. If the brightness of the thing is similar to that of the ISS, we can exclude the small ordinary satellite, but not necessarily the shuttle.

A rocket launch cannot be excluded either.

There is also a possibility of a "LED ballon", an item that can be bought in shops and on the web made of a small toy balloon that can be filled with helium and fitted with a battery and LED lighting up the balloon from the inside (Below.).

White LED balloon.

The only thing certain is that the strangeness of the report is rather low, and that there is little reason to suspect a flight of some extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Evaluation:

Possible rocket launch, or space shuttle, or LED balloon.

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
Editor: Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version: Create/changed by: Date: Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross March 22, 2018 Creation, [myo1], [rnc1], [spa1].
1.0 Patrick Gross March 22, 2018 First published.

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