ALSACAT:

Investigation:

A U.F.O. 56 million kilometers away.

On Tuesday August 5, a message from C. Morgenthaler informed the SPICA investigation team of an observation made somewhere north of Strasbourg. The summary description presents it as a fuzzy cloud, visible for six hours (midnight to 6:00 a.m.), heading north. The two witnesses - the younger one seems impressed with what he saw - even managed to take photos with a digital camera. It should be noted that these people were able to contact us through the Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace. Indeed, the witnesses first turned to this daily to find out if there were other observers. We warmly thank the journal cited above.

An appointment is made with the witnesses for Thursday August 7 at around 8:30 p.m. Elements are taken by C. Morgenthaler and myself. We arrive on the scene to realize that the primary description needs to be reviewed. The phenomenon was observed for two hours (from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.), in a southerly direction, around the 210° angle. The photos, taken with a digital four mega pixels, are interesting despite the inevitable "shake". The two most impressive, taken at 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., are presented to us on paper by the witnesses. As they had the presence of mind to include a foreground, we situate the phenomenon respectively at 205° and 215° on the images.

The main witness describes the conditions of his observation:

"I had decided, because of the heatwave, to spend the night from Sunday to Monday (that of August 3 to 4) in the garden. Around four in the morning, I was awakened by the abnormal noise made by the swimming pool pump. This happens from time to time and it is a small technical problem. As I was waking up, I had the impression that something was coming from above the house to come to a stop in the sky, just where I saw the phenomenon. It appears in the form of a luminous ball of yellow / white color. Quite puzzled, I observe during a while before taking the first pictures and finally waking up my father. I let you imagine his reaction!"

The dad will agree to get up and observe the thing in his turn. His description differs somewhat from that of his son. This second witness saw a luminous ball, still yellow / white, but with the impression that other smaller balls were circling around. However, he is much less impressed than his son, and assumes that many other people see the same thing. Together they will take other photos, especially from the first floor of their residence. Note that this way of doing things is excellent, and we can never say enough that, faced with a phenomenon that is not identifiable at the time, taking visual or photographic landmarks is essential. It is also true that it is not always easy to have a camera close at hand. Even if this is the case, it is best to make sure there is film inside if it is a conventional camera.

But let's get back to the investigation. Very quickly, we realize that the phenomenon is located right on the ecliptic (this imaginary line where the planets, the Sun and the Moon pass), and that the future identification is to be sought on the astronomical side. We think of a planet. For safety we ask the witness to take a photo of the Moon which has just risen, with the digital camera used during the observation. The resolution is excellent and we no longer doubt that a brilliant planet can be photographed with a camera of this quality.

However, the most obvious explanation does not immediately jump out to us. Without looking for excuses, it must be said that it is very bad to go and do an investigation having in mind the aspect of the sky seen from the side of amateur astronomers that we also are.

Habit leads to error and bad judgment.

The identification of the phenomenon is of course the planet Mars, which is in full phase of approach to honor its historic appointment with the Earth. Indeed, during the night of August 27 to 28, the beautiful red will cross the beautiful blue at only 55.758 million kilometers. The closest opposition since 73,000 years!

The consultation of the ephemeris immediately after the investigation will also provide definitive support for this explanation. The study of the diameter comparator by our two witnesses is also very telling:

Main witness - 8 or 9 for the phenomenon and 18 for the Moon.

His father - 12 for the phenomenon and 17 or 18 for the Moon.

These values, despite the overestimation, remain very correct and within the limits of what has been observed. The luminosity of the planet was also the subject of an increased diffusion at the time of the observation because of the light morning mist present.

C. Morgenthaler and I would like to thank the witnesses and their families for their very friendly welcome. Our thoughts are also with a well-known professional astronomer who offered Altair (the main star in the constellation of the Eagle) as an explanation.

His confusion is forgiven and we wish his wife a speedy recovery.

By way of conclusion, we want to send a little word to the Gendarmerie contacted by telephone by the mother of the witness for the signaling of the phenomenon, or even a statement or the beginning of an explanation. In knowledge of the well-known skepticism vis-a-vis the "UFO" phenomenon, of the number of existing hoaxes and of the contemptuous behavior of certain people vis-a-vis this matter, we thank the gendarmerie to always take the statements made by the witnesses seriously, who are like each of us human beings seeking reassurance. Research on the phenomena is advancing, scientists are beginning to ask questions. So each testimony is important and can be essential for an explanation or a better understanding of these phenomena.

Dominique Schall