ALSACAT:

SUMMARY

Daytime observation of a pale white luminous phenomenon crossing the sky and sudden disappearance towards the Vosges: probable reflection on the canopy of the pilot of a military plane.

DESCRIPTION

While waiting for his daughter who was to perform a parachute jump, the witness and his wife, at Colmar aerodrome on August 21, 2015 at 11:05 a.m., observe in the sky a pale white ball crossing the sky N / NW, at an apparent speed greater than that of airplanes in flight for jumps. The phenomenon suddenly stops towards the Vosges. The witness talks about it to the person who made the jump with his daughter, but the latter did not see anything. Only one testimony was collected.

Analysis of the elements made available to us:

1) the observation is carried out statically, outside, on the tarmac at the Colmar aerodrome;

2) the phenomenon is unique, bright, white, pale, round in shape, blurred outlines, small (estimated 1°), without noise or trail, spotted in the North, then disappearing in the Northwest, moving in a rectilinear manner in the sky at 220 ° (reconstituted by the indications of the witness), speed of 4°/s, elevation down from 40 to 20° (ignoring if it is due to the distance, to a real drop in altitude or a combination of both;

3) the weather situation recorded on the site of Colmar airport on August 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. and indicated by Meteociel indicates a weak easterly wind of 6 km / h on average, without rain.

The witness reports "Perfectly clear blue and sunny sky";

4) the date: it is a Friday, late morning;

5) the environment: open area of the aerodrome, north of Colmar.

The map showing the trajectory of the phenomenon is in the file "map report trajectory.jpg".

ANALYSIS:

This phenomenon leads us to consider at first analysis a reflection of the sun on an object in flight, either metallic or on a canopy. The detailed analysis below will show that the observation conditions are very favorable to this phenomenon.

The ephemeris from the place of observation give the position of the sun at 11:05 am at 127° (in the South-East), with 43° of elevation, see the file: "Ephémérides Soleil.jpg". The trajectory of the phenomenon from North to North-West, estimated by the witness, is at 220°, with a decreasing elevation from 40° to 20°, diametrically opposed to the sun. The map in the "Hyp Carte reflet soleil.jpg" file positions these elements.

These elements show that:

- the incidence of the sun is almost perpendicular to the trajectory of the phenomenon;

- the sun's elevation at 43° is of the same order of magnitude as that of the phenomenon estimated by the witness at 40°.

All these elements are favorable to the generation of a reflection of the sun, as validated geometrically in the file "Hyp Géométrie reflet soleil.jpg", reflection disappearing when the angles of incidence between the sun, the object and the witness on the ground deviate from favorable conditions. This explains why other witnesses performing a parachute jump, therefore at a different altitude and location from the witness, did not see this phenomenon which required a precise location to be observed at this precise moment.

Now the question arises of the type of object in flight, moving at the origin of this phenomenon.

Several hypotheses are developed:

Hypothesis A: a civilian aircraft approaching Basel-Mulhouse airport:

- the recorded trajectory is compatible with an approaching aircraft, during a turn, to align with the runway of the Bâle-Mulhouse airport, located to the south at 170° at 55 km, runway oriented at 150°.

The file "Hyp A near Basel-Mulhouse.jpg" draws the trajectory observed by the witness (in red), the runway (in blue), which makes it possible to interpolate the trajectory between the observation and the landing (in black).

This leads to a reflection of the sun on the cabin of an aircraft in flight, in an arc around the witness, reflection disappearing when the object resumes a rectilinear trajectory, in line with the Basel - Mulhouse runway.

Now let's study the approach paths for Basel-Mulhouse airport. It appears that the planes passing near Colmar are at an altitude of 10,000 to 12,000 feet, or 3,000 to 3,600 meters above sea level. As for the speed, it is between 300 and 400 knots, which corresponds to 600 to 700 km / h.

Let us corroborate this with the data of the observation: the angular speed as recorded by the witness, 60° traveled in 15 seconds, leads to an angular displacement of approximately 4° / s.

Under this hypothesis, an airplane is really between 3,000 and 3,600 meters high, and given its elevation of 43°, corresponds to a distance between 3,000 and 3,600 meters.

At 3,000 meters, this corresponds to a linear speed of 3,000 * tan (4°) ~ 200 m / s, or 720 km / h. For 3,600 m, this corresponds to 860 km / h.

The analysis of this hypothesis makes it credible, if we take into account an error in the approximation of distance by the witness, the phenomenon being around 3,500 meters away, and not twice as close. In this case, it is moving at a speed of about 800 km / h, which is consistent with that of an approach at this distance from the runway.

But, unfortunately this hypothesis does not stand up to the reality of civilian radar readings. There is no civilian aircraft following this path at this time. More surprisingly, there is indeed a civilian aircraft, flight AB7653, but in an azimuth diametrically opposed to 038° (+ 180 ° = 218 ° ~ 220 °), making an approach on Baden-Baden, located in the North-East, at the 035 ° at 90 km, track oriented at 030 °. This flight has a track on the ground 1.3 km northwest of the witness, an altitude of 4,000 meters, which positions it at an elevation of about 70 °, not being able to generate a reflection, if however the witness gave the wrong direction of movement when writing the questionnaire. Civilian radar survey in the file "Hyp Abis real approach Baden-Baden.jpg".

Hypothesis B: a military aircraft approaching Air Base 116 Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur:

This base houses the 2nd fighter squadron which has a single operational unit, the 1/2 "Cigognes" Hunting Squadron and its Mirage 2000-5F.

It is located 80 km at 250 ° from the witness, whose track is aligned at 290 °.

To land, passing through Colmar, an airplane should have a trajectory more to the South than the 250 °, which corresponds to the 220 ° observed, in order to be able to make a turn towards the West (at 290 °) to line up with the track.

In this case, it would be the pilot's canopy that would be at the origin of the reflection, the aircraft in a slight roll towards the witness for a trajectory in an arc of a circle, the cabin being treated to mask the aircraft. The photo "Hyp B Verrière mirage 2000.jpg" shows the importance of the canopy.

A request for military traffic, not reported on civilian radar readings was issued in May 2017. Unfortunately, we have no response to our request to validate this hypothesis.

Hypothesis C: a daytime Iridium flash:

Celestial bodies are visible to the naked eye in the daytime when their magnitude drops below -4. This is the case with the planet Venus during its maximum elongations. Phenomenon unknown to the general public!

Iridium flashes can be much brighter down to magnitude -8 (nearly 30 times brighter than the glow of Venus), some are visible during the day.

As for the color of the reflection, despite the yellow color of the sun, the stars visible during the day are white. The moon visible during the day during its phase near the quarter is of this color.

This Iridium flash hypothesis is plausible but unfortunately, we no longer have ephemeris for this date and place to confirm this hypothesis.

In conclusion:

The consistency of the testimony is good, several witnesses (only one statement) and a good reliability of the information given.

In the absence of certainty with a response from the military authorities, we favor the hypothesis of a military aircraft approaching Air Base 116, as the most probable, with a proposed classification in B: probable reflection on the canopy of a military plane.

WITNESS

DATE OF THE OBSERVATION	08/21/2015
AGE	50
SEX	M
REACTION	Emotion - Surprise

CONDITION

ENVIRONMENT GROUND FEATURES	Artificialized territories -Industrial or commercial areas and communications network - Airports
WEATHER CONDITIONS	Sun of light Night
LOCAL DATE AND HOUR	08/21/2015 11:05 a.m.
REFERENCE FRAME	Rural Landscape
DISTANCE BETWEEN PHENOMENON AND WITNESS	1.5 to 2 km
START OF THE OBSERVATION	Conditions or appearance caused by the phenomenon
END OF THE OBSERVATION	Conditions of disappearance caused by the phenomenon

LOCALIZATION

ANGLE OF SITE ELEVATION	40.00 20.00
HORIZONTAL DIRECTION OF OBSERVATION	330.00 270.00
NATURE OF THE OBSERVATION OR DESCRIPTIVE TERMS	Phenomenon
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OBSERVATION	Blurred or fuzzy outlines
GLOBAL SHAPE	2D - Round
COLOR	White
APPARENT SIZE	1 cm at arm's length
APPARENT SPEED	Fast
NOISE	Nont, total Silence
NUMBER OF OBSERVED PHENOMENA	Single

CNES
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales

GEIPAN

Madam, Sir,

You were a direct witness, on French territory, of an aerospace phenomenon which intrigued you, and you wish to entrust this observation to GEIPAN for analysis.

We suggest to you, first of all, to visit our website www.geipan.fr, The consultation of the UAP identification guide will allow you perhaps to quickly find an explanation for your observation.

Otherwise, we invite you to complete this questionnaire.

Important: the questionnaire should not be completed if you did not do a direct observation

(an object observed in a photo or a film AFTER the shooting does not constitute an observation)

- The questionnaire is individual and must be completed by the direct witness

- The questionnaire should only deal with one observation at a time

Your testimony is capital and unique. It will consist of giving an account of your observation, answering specific questions, making drawings and sketches or attaching photographs to further refine your description.

It is imperative that you follow the instructions mentioned at each step so that we can gather as much information as possible about the observed phenomenon. You shouldn't be afraid to tell us or feel ridiculous, we are used to collecting this type of testimony.

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

We thank you in advance for your contribution to our work.

The head of GEIPAN

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 1

Your observation

We will ask you to provide as much information as possible about your observation. The most important thing is not to omit anything: it is often the details that allow investigations to be resolved. So don't hesitate to give as much information as possible, even if your memories are incomplete or certain elements seem unimportant to you. If you are not quite sure of a particular detail, let us know your doubts, but, again, do not leave anything out. We need to be able to visualize everything you have seen, as if to remake the movie of your observation.

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

Your story free from observation:

... we were on the tarmac with my family waiting for our daughter's parachute jump.

Looking north at the sky, I and my wife witness a phenomenon that we called strange.

A not very clear and white ball this was going horizontally from North to Northwest at an altitude estimated between 1500 and 2000 m at a fairly high speed but not excessive (probably greater than 300 km / h) in comparison to the plane that had taken off for the jump. In all cases in an improbable direction to an airplane or glider. Without noise and for about 15 seconds.

We did not take the time to take photos or video in the time of the phenomenon.

We talked to the person who made the jump with my daughter, but he hadn't seen anything.

We are convinced that it was neither a plane nor a drone considering the speed.

The phenomenon suddenly stops towards the Vosges by looking on the map, let's say that the displacement could have occurred between Bennwihr and Katzenthal.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 3

Observation conditions of the phenomenon

Please provide all the information requested.

What were your occupations just before your sighting?

We were waiting for our daughter's parachute jump and therefore observed the sky.

Precise address of the observation site (street, town...):

COLMAR 68000 aerodrome
48 ° 06'46.7 "N 7 ° 21'47.3" E

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

Outside

Date of observation: 08/21/2015 Precise start time (in local time): 11:05 a.m.

Observation duration or end time (in hours, minutes, seconds): 0H0M15S

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

1

If necessary, please ask them to contact us at the coordinates indicated on the last page of this document.

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

CONCUBINE

The observation was made in a way: continuous
(cross out or delete the unnecessary mention)

If the observation was made discontinuously, specify why it was interrupted and resumed:

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 4

How did this observation end?

DISAPPEARANCE

Did you see the phenomenon directly with your eyes? YES
(cross out or delete the unnecessary mention)

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

Weather conditions (clear sky, clouds, wind, thunderstorm, haze, fog, rain, snow, change in conditions during observation):

Perfectly clear blue and sunny sky.

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

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

nothing

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

Road nearby

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 5

Description of the phenomenon

In your descriptions, do not hesitate to make comparisons with known objects.

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

Unique

Shape:

round

Color:

White

Brightness (in comparison with known sky bodies like Venus and the Moon, or the lighting of a street lamp, car lights, house lights, etc.):

Pale

Presence of a trail 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 ruler carried at arm's length):

1 cm

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

none

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

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 6

1.5 to 2 km

Initial UAP position in the sky (start of observation):

Indicate a cardinal point (North, South ...), or an azimuth in degrees with respect to North, or a local visual or geographical reference (building, village)

Northwest

Indicate a height in degrees from the horizon, or from an element of the landscape (eg: 2 times higher than the church tower)

around 40 °

Final position of the UAP in the sky (end of the observation):

Indicate a cardinal point (North, South ...), or an azimuth in degrees with respect to North, or a local visual or geographical reference (building, village)

Northwest

Indicate a height in degrees from the horizon, or from an element of the landscape (eg: 2 times higher than the church tower)

In the sky part about 20 cm above the Vosges.

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

Straight line without change of direction

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

About 50% of the sky

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

None

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 7

Reconstruction of your observation

In order for us to be able to reconstruct the "movie" of your observation, we must have as much information as possible. 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:

1. Take a picture of the environment as it was during the phenomenon, as if the camera were your eyes when observing. Feel free to draw what you observed directly on the photos.
2. Make one or more sketches of your observation (see next page) from your point of view, including the environment. Give as much information as possible to allow us a good understanding of the scene.
   
   You are entirely free from the sketches that you send us. But color accuracy is important, especially if the level of contrast between the observed phenomenon and the environment is low. Try to be as precise as possible, even if it means writing on the sketch.
   
   No drawing skills are necessary. The main thing is to make us understand what you saw in a schematic way. You can use the following page for this purpose.
3. Reconstruct your observation on one or more planes. If you can, this is to present your observation from a top view. To do this, you can print a map of your observation location on Google Map (http://maps.google.fr) or Geoportail (http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil) and record your different positions there, and the directions of observation.

How to "dress" a photo or a card with your comments?

If you are used to using drawing or image editing software (Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator, etc.), we recommend that you use these tools, then we send a file in jpg, png or pdf format.

If you cannot access this type of hardware, print a map of the places 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.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 8

Sketch of your observation

Use this page to draw your sighting. You are entirely free to draw up this sketch.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 9

What now?

Describe the emotions you felt during and after the observation:

I immediately felt that it was not a normal thing and that's why my wife saw it at the same time as me, she also felt an unusual phenomenon although she doesn't believe in UFOs.

What did you do after your sighting? Did you talk about it? How did your interlocutors react? Did you do any research to understand what you saw?

We told our entourage about it and tried to see on the net if there was any other witness, without result.

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

I strongly believe that what we saw may have been a UFO.

Before your observation, how interested were you in strange aerospace phenomena? Did you have a specific opinion on the topic? Which one? What were you basing it on?

I always believed in it because in my youth we also observed me and my mother a strange thing in the sky.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 10

Did this observation change your view of unidentified aerospace phenomena? If so, explain what you think now:

no

Do you think that science will provide an explanation for your observation?

No unless a radar did record the phenomenon.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 11

Summary

If you already testified about this UAP, please tell us to which authority, organization or person by deleting or striking out the unnecessary mentions in the list below, and by completing the requested information (several contacts possible):

- Gendarmerie (mention the brigade and the date): .....
- Police (mention the police station and the date): .....
- GEIPAN (mention the name of the contact and the date): ....
- Private investigator (mention the name of the contact and the date): ....
- Ufologist (mention the name of the contact and the date): ...
- Journalist (mention the name of the contact and the date): .....
- Internet (mention the website and the date): .....

Do you allow us to publish this last information? YES

(it may possibly identify you if your identity appears on that website)

Please specify in the list below the documents you have attached or completed.
(tick or delete unnecessary mentions)

Questionnaire

Google Earth document

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 12

You still have to fill the publication authorization below, which will allow us to display your anonymized testimony on our website.

Authorization to publish your information

(In case of refusal, cross out or delete one and / or the other of the following formulas.)

• I authorize GEIPAN to publish this testimony on its own website, after having deleted the information allowing the identification of the witnesses (name, address ...).
• I authorize GEIPAN to allow certain parts of this testimony (text, possibly retouched photos, drawings, diagrams, videos) to appear in the media (press, television, Internet).

I, the undersigned .... ....., certify the sincerity of the information provided above.

Made in SAINTE CROIX AU MINES ....

On 08/25/2015 ......

Signature

If you complete this form by computer insert your scanned signature or type

This questionnaire is to be returned:

• By e-mail with all the digitized parts to geipan@cnes.fr

or

• By mail to the following postal address, after making a copy for you to keep:

GEIPAN
National Center for Space Studies
DCT / DA / GEIPAN
18 avenue Edouard Belin,
31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX 9

Thank you for taking the time to testify.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW Nr 78-17 OF 6 JANUARY 1978 RELATING TO COMPUTING, FILES AND FREEDOMS, AND DECREE Nr 78.774 OF
JULY 17, 1978, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL AND CORRECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
REQUESTS MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO GEIPAN - COORDINATES ON THE LAST PAGE

V3-8/JANUARY 2015 page: 13