ALSACAT -> Home 

Cette page en françaisCliquez!

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.

Previous case Next case >

Case of Munster, on October 22, 2013:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2013-10-22-MUNSTER-1

Summary:

A male resident of Munster filled the testimony form of GEIPAN, the official group in France in charge of dealing with the issue of UFO reports.

He reported that this very day October 22, 2013, at 10:40 p.m., he saw in the clear sky the passage from the South to the North of a dark silent object in the shape of half-dome with excrescences hanging below.

The observation of less than 10 seconds did not give him time to take a photograph.

The thing passed in front of the moon in the east, approximately at the vertical of hills located east of the city of Colmar. It was slightly larger than the apparent width of the crescent moon.

The witness had first thought of a cloud, but its shape was not that of a cloud: the object was rounded on the upper part, flat in its lower part, with parts directed downwards, "a little like huge insect legs hanging under its body." The witness provided a sketch of this thing - visible further down in this file.

The GEIPAN, according to the information provided by the witness in the questionnaire and an interview with the witness, classed this case as "B", as probably explained by a ladybug-shaped helium party balloon that escaped its owner.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: October 22, 2013
Time: 10:40 p.m.
Duration: Seconds.
First known report date: October 22, 2013
Reporting delay:

Geographical data:

Department: Haut-Rhin
City: Munster
Place: From home car space area, UFO in the sky.
Latitude: 48.041
Longitude: 7.135
Uncertainty radius: 4 km

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 1
Number of known witnesses: 1
Number of named witnesses: 0
Witness(es) ages: Adult or aged.
Witness(es) types: Male resident.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: By the web to the GEIPAN using the official report form.
Type of location: From home car space area, UFO in the sky
Visibility conditions: Night
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: Mo
UFO departure observed: Yes
Entities: No
Photographs: No.
Sketch(s) by witness(es): Yes.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): Yes.
Witness(es) feelings: Puzzled.
Witnesses interpretation: ?

Classifications:

Hynek: N/A
ALSACAT: Probable party balloon.

Sources:

[Ref. gei1:] GROUPE D'ETUDES ET D'INFORMATIONS SUR LES PHENOMENES AEROSPATIAUX NON IDENTIFIES (G.E.I.P.A.N.):

MUNSTER (68) 10/22/2013

Observed on:22-10-2013
Region:Alsace
Departement:Rhin (Haut)
Class:B
Summary:Observation of the silent movement S-N of a dark object in the shape of a half-cupola with protruding pendants: probable observation of the passage of a party balloon.
Description: On October 22, 2013 at 10:40 p.m., a witness looking at the clear sky is intrigued by the passage S-N of a dark object in the shape of a half-dome with pendent growths. The very short observation (less than 10 seconds) does not allow the witness to take a photograph. The silent object disappears in the darkness of the night sky.

According to the elements collected by the questionnaire and interview with the witness, the GEIPAN classifies this case "B" as probably a party balloon inflated with helium, type "ladybug", which would have escaped its owner.
Compte-rendu:Aucun.

Details of the testimony
Witness
Date of the observation 10/22/2013
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Independent workers
Sex Male
Reaction Active Curiosity
Credibility
Conditions
Environment Others
Weather conditions Clear Sky
Hour of the observation Numbered: 10 p.m. - 00:00 p.m.
Reference frame Sky or clouds
Distance between phenomenon and witness Very far (more than 1 km)
Start of the observation Start of the observation by witness
End of the observation End of the observation by phwnomenon
Localization
Angle of site Numbered;Numbered
Direction of observation North-East
Heading South
Trajectory Straight line;Straight line
Nature of the observation Object
Characteristic of the observation Unique
Global shape Autre forme (comparaison)
Color Black (dark)
Apparent size Others (comparison landmarks, etc.)
Apparent speed Not-specified
Noise No noise
Effect on the environnement Not-specified
Number 1

Scan.

Madam, Sir,

You have witnessed directly, on the French territory, an aerospace phenomenon that has intrigued you and you want to understand what you have seen.

In order to answer your questions, the National Center for Space Studies and its specialized service GEIPAN offer you a two-step approach:

  • On the www.geipan.fr website, first consult the UAPS identification guide where you may find an explanation for your observation.
  • If you have not found an explanation, complete the following questionnaire that will allow us to open an investigation.
    • The questionnaire is individual and must be completed by the direct witness
    • The questionnaire should concern only one observation at a time

Your testimony is important and perhaps unique. It will consist of telling a story of your observation, answering specific questions, making drawings and sketches or attaching photographs to further refine your description.

It is imperative that you adhere to the instructions mentioned at each step so that we can gather as much information as possible about the observed phenomenon.

You must not be afraid to tell us about it, nor feel ridiculous, we are used to collecting this type of testimony.

The conclusions of our investigation will be transmitted to you personally. Once made anonymous, your testimony will be published on our website (www.geipan.fr), tab "Case Search" in the menu bar.

We thank you in advance for the contribution you make to our work.

The head of GEIPAN

GEIPAN
Centre national d'études spatiales
DCT / DA / GEIPAN
18 Avenue BELIN 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX 9
05 61 27 48 01 - geipan@cnes.fr

Scan.

Your observation

We will ask you to provide as much information as possible about your observation. The most important thing is to leave nothing out: it is often the details that make it possible to solve the investigations. Do not hesitate to give the maximum of information, even if your memories are incomplete or that certain elements seem unimportant to you. If you are not sure about this or that detail, tell us your doubts, but, again, do not omit anything. We need to be able to visualize everything you've seen, like re-runing the movie of your observation.

Use the end of this page to tell the story of your observation and continue on free paper as much as you want:

Your free account of the observation:

Tonight, October 22, 2013, at 10:40 p.m., observing the moon in the direction of the east, I saw an object that passed between the moon and me, in the south-north direction, approximately vertical to the hills located at the east from the city of Colmar. I first thought of a cloud, but its shape was not a cloud. The object had a rounded shape on the upper part, flat in its lower part, with parts directed downwards, a little like enormous legs of an insect hanging under its body. I wanted to take a picture of it using my cellphone, but it came out of the moonlight before I could do it.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 - page: 3

Scan.

Conditions of observation of the phenomenon

What were your occupations just before your observation?

I was in my daughter's apartment on the ground floor of our house. After turning off the lights, I closed the front door. It was at this moment that I observed the sky, which was almost clear, and the moon partially hidden by what I first thought to be a cloud.

Specific address of the place of observation (street, city ...):

The observation was made from my home on the parking lot in front of the house, looking east.

Where exactly were you? (Please indicate if you were in a building and on which floor, if you were looking through a window, and how fast you were driving if you were in a vehicle.)

On the parking lot of the house, outdoors.

Date of observation:

10/21/2013

Precise start time (in local time):

10:40 p.m.

Duration of the observation or end time (in hours, minutes, seconds):

less than 10 seconds

Did other witnesses see the same phenomenon as you? If yes how many?

I do not know.

If so, please ask them to contact us using the contact details on the last page of this document.

How do you relate to these people (parents, friends, colleagues, neighbors)?

The observation was made in a way:

continuous

(delete or par the useless words)

If the observation was done intermittently, specify why it was interrupted and resumed:

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 4

Scan.

How did this observation end?

Disappearance of the object.

Have you seen the phenomenon directly with your eyes?

YES

(delete or par the useless words)

Has the phenomenon been observed through an instrument (eyeglasses or sunglasses, binoculars, camera, video camera, telescope...)? If so, please specify the model:

No

Weather conditions (clear skies, clouds, wind, storm, mist, fog, rain, snow, changing conditions during observation):

Clear sky, some clouds. No wind at ground level, but there seemed to be altitude.

Astronomical conditions (remember the position of the Moon, the Sun, the presence or not of stars or planets, etc.):

Moon to the east, few stars.

Equipment on or active during the observation (lights, radio, TV, lights ...):

None, I had just tunred off the lights.

Noise during observation (TV or radio on, passing vehicles, airplane engine, thunder ...):

No.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 - page: 5

Scan.

Description of the phenomenon

Number of phenomena (single, multiple or single and then divides ...):

Single.

Shape:

Hemispheric with outgrowths below. The shape looks like a hot air balloon seen through a telescope that would flatten the shapes.

Color:

Black, night-time observation against the moon.

Brightness (in comparison with known stars like Venus and the Moon, or the lighting of a lamppost, car lights, house lights, etc.):

Black, clear moon.

Presence of a drag or a halo? If so, what color?

No.

Apparent size (express the dimensions of the phenomenon in relation to a familiar object and / or in millimeters counted on a graduated scale carried at arm's length):

Hard to estimate. By the time I saw it, its position was roughly centered on the moon. Its extremities protruded from the imperfect circle of the moon, horizontally, but not vertically.

Noise coming from the phenomenon (hissing, buzzing, detonation, comparison with a known noise ...):

No.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 - page: 6

Scan.

Distance between you and the UAP (the observed phenomenon), estimated roughly (specify if the object passed in front of or behind an element of the landscape):

10kms.

Direction of appearance of UAP (north, south, southwest, etc., or specify a local visual or geographic landmark, direction of a place, etc.):

South

Direction of disappearance of UAP (north, south, southwest, etc., or specify a local visual or geographic landmark, direction of a place, etc.):

North

Height of appearance of the UAP with respect to the horizon (the horizon = 0 °, the zenith = 90 °):

30

UAP disappearance height from horizon:

30

Trajectory of the phenomenon (straight line, rising, descending, with or without change of direction, curve, etc.):

Right

Portion of the sky covered by the UAP during the observation (eg a quarter of the sky or 30 ° to 40 ° with respect to the horizon, etc.):

<5°

Effect (s) on the environment (trace (s) on the ground, effect (s) on living beings or equipment):

none

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 7

Scan.

Reconstitution of your observation

In order for us to reconstitute the "movie" of your observaAon, we must have the maximum amount of informaAon. Concretely this implies that we understand everything from the beginning to the end of your observation, and that we know the direction of movement of the phenomenon as well as its altitude. This step is crucial.

We offer three complementary methods:

How to "caption" a photo or a map with your comments?

If you are used to image editing software (Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator, ...), we advise you to use these tools, then send us a file in the jpg png or pdf format.

If you can not access this type of material, print a map of the place and / or a photo, draw over it and attach it to the paper file; or scan or photograph the result and send it to us in jpg, png or pdf format.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 8

Scan.

Sketch of your observation

Use this page to draw your observation.
You are entirely free as of the development of this sketch.

NB: the shape of the moon is not exact because it is not a full moon. It showed a small crescent to the south.

Moon

Direction

Hills

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 9

Scan.

And now?

Describe the emotions you felt during and after the observation:

At first none because I thought it was a cloud, then I was intrigued. I especially regretted not having had the time to take a photograph.

What did you do after your observation? Have you spoken about it? How did your interlocutors react? Have you done any research to understand what you saw?

I have not spoken to anyone yet.

I searched via the net, without result so far.

What interpretation do you give to what you have observed? Have you thought of a known phenomenon? What are the elements that justify your interpretation? If you do not know, did you give up understanding? If so, when and why?

I do not like giving up, so I will continue to search.

Before your observation, what interest did you have in strange aerospace phenomena? Did you have a clear opinion on the subject? Which one? What is the base of your opinion?

These phenomena intrigue me. In the absence of an official proclamation of those who would have the greatest possibilities of observation, it is difficult to get an idea on the matter. I have 2 opinions whose conclusions are diametrically opposed. On the one hand, I think it is unlikely that we are alone in the universe. On the other hand, I believe that distances make any contact with other civilizations impossible.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 10

Scan.

Did this observation change your vopinion on unidentified aerospace phenomena? If yes, explain what you think now:

No

Do you think that science will give an explanation to your observation?

Certainly

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 11

Scan.

Summary

If you have already reported about this UAP, please tell us to what authority, organization or person by removing or blocking the useless mentions in the list below, and completing the requested information (several possible contacts):

- Gendarmerie (mention brigade and date): no ...

- Police (mention the police station and the date): no ...

- GEIPAN (mention contact name and date): no ...

- Private Investigator (mention name of contact and date): no ...

- Ufologist (mention the name of the contact and the date): no ...

- Journalist (mention contact name and date): no ...

- Internet (mention site and date): no ...

Please indicate in the list below the documents you have attached or filled.
(Tick or delete the words that are not applicable)

( ) Form
( ) Sketch of observed phenomenon (number: ......)
( ) Map(s) or map (number: ......)
( ) Photograph(s) of observation (number: ....)
( ) Video(s) of observation (number: ......)
( ) Photograph(s) of the environment (number: ......)

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 12

Scan.

You still have to fill the authorization of publication below, which will enable us to oublish your anonymized testimony on our Internet site.

Authorization to publish your information

(In case of refusal, bar or delete one or both of the following formulas.)


I, the undersigned [-], certify the sincerity of the information provided above.

Made in Munster

October 22, 2013

Signature

If you fill out this form by computer, insert your scanned signature or simply type your name.


This questionnaire is to be sent to:

or

GEIPAN
National Center for Space Studies

DCT / DA / GEIPAN
18 avenue Édouard Belin,
31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX 9

We thank you for taking the time to testify.

CNES / GEIPAN Standard Questionnaire GEIPAN V3.5-June-2013 page: 13

Discussion:

Map.

On September 6, 1998, around 8 p.m. in Voreppe, in the Isère, France, a family had seen and filmed in video a similar thing. The witnesses were talking of "legs" hanging under the object, and on the video, one of the witnesses was saying, "It looks like a ladybug..." It turned out, after investigation by the SEPRA (an ancestor of GEIPAN), that it was indeed a "ladybug", i.e. a lost party balloon shaped like a ladybug. This is why GEIPAN considers that this can be the explanation for this observation, and in fact, nothing goes against it.

Evaluation:

Probable party 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
Editeur: Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version: Create/changed by: Date: Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross January 19, 2018 Creation, [gei1].
1.0 Patrick Gross January 19, 2018 First published.

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict



 Feedback  |  Top  |  Back  |  Forward  |  Map  |  List |  Home
This page was last updated on January 19, 2018.