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 Munchhouse, on July 26, 2008:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2008-07-26-MUNCHHOUSE-1

Summary:

On August 4, 2008, a reader of my website had reported to me by email an observation of Saturday, July 26, 2008, between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, from Munchhouse in the Haut-Rhin.

There were 6 adults and 4 teenagers who watched the object. The observation duration was approximately 5 minutes.

These people were on the terrace drinking coffee when suddenly a red light had approached quickly and silently. Some witnesses had said they perceived a burning smell.

After a time, the object is left up vertically and disappeared.

The reporter had attached a digital photograph that had been taken with the zoom set to the maximum. The original image was provided, and an edited version with brightness and contrast enhancement was attached too. The image is visible below, and explained.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date:	July 26, 2008
Time:	Between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.
Duration:	~5 minutes.
First known report date:	August 4, 2008
Reporting delay:	9 days.

Geographical data:

Department:	Haut-Rhin
City:	Munchhouse
Place:	From the terrace, UFO in the sky.
Latitude:	47.869
Longitude:	7.452
Uncertainty radius:	600 m

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses:	10
Number of known witnesses:	1
Number of named witnesses:	0
Witness(es) ages:	6 adults, 4 teenagers.
Witness(es) types:	6 adults and 4 teenagers.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel:	To me by email.
Type of location:	From the terrace in village, UFO in the sky.
Visibility conditions:	Night.
UFO observed:	Yes
UFO arrival observed:	?
UFO departure observed:	Yes
Entities:	No
Photographs:	Yes.
Sketch(s) by witness(es):	No.
Sketch(es) approved by witness(es):	No.
Witness(es) feelings:	?
Witnesses interpretation:	?

Classifications:

Hynek:	NL
ALSACAT:	Chinese lantern.

Sources:

[Ref. pgs1:] REPORT SENT TO ME:

Basic indications:

Number:	FR0309
Date written:	August 4, 2008
Date received:	August 4, 2008
Date published:	September 25, 2008
Date of sighting:	July 26, 2008
Place of sighting:	France, Haut-Rhin, Munchhouse
Original language of report:	French
Reported using:	e-mail
Unreleased information:	Email address
Investigation, additional information:	None
Explanation:	Not looked for. Possible thai lantern.

The report:

Subject: Trans. : Observation d'OVNI
Date: August 4, 2008
From: [Removed by webmaster]@aol.com
Attachments: IMGP0080_-_Copie.JPG 138 KB, IMGP0080-original.JPG 841 KB

Saturday, July 26, 2008
between 11:30 p.m. and 00:00
place Munchhouse 68
numerous people to see the objet 6 adults et 4 teenagers
sighting time about 5 minutes
were on the terrace drinking cofee when suddenly a red light approaches
fast without noise (some say they smell a burnt odor) then stops
after a pause the object starts again vertically until disapearing

attached photo we could take (zoom at the maximum)
one original and one with image editing with luminosity and constrast at the maximum

Note:

The attached image:

(Was taken with a Pentax Optio M20 on stamped date April 20, 2006 at 01:17 p.m. 1/60sec).

Discussion:

This was beyond doubt a Chinese lantern.

Evaluation:

Chinese lantern.

Sources references:

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

[pgs1] * Report sent to me on August 4, 2008, first published in the "your reports" section of my website on September 25, 2008.

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	July 20, 2015	Creation, [pgs1].
1.0	Patrick Gross	July 20, 2015	First published.

This page was last updated on July 20, 2015.