ALSACAT-2016-05-05-ITTENHEIM-1
On July 5, 2019, Pierre H. reported his observation of May 5, 2016 on the ufology web board "Les Mystères de OVNIS". He explained that he delayed it because he had considered at the time that it was probably a balloon; but he is now puzzled by the fact that he has never seen one of this type or any other since.
He was then traveling by car with his wife who was driving on the Nationale 4 in the direction of Strasbourg - Ittenheim when shortly before Ittenheim, he noticed a white balloon in front and to his right, therefore in the approximate direction of the Northwest. This balloon seemed to him very white and perfectly spherical.
He informed his wife, who also saw it. They had never seen a balloon there, and never a balloon like this. This balloon seemed to him slightly strange by its whiteness and its sphericity, but he thought it was a balloon, a weather balloon, although he had never seen one. As it was Ascension Day, and although he had not noticed any basket with the naked eye, he also thought that it could be a tourist balloon.
When they arrived in the town of Ittenheim, they were slowed down and then stopped twice by traffic, and he took the opportunity to take three pictures with his phone.
He was able to follow the object with his eyes until Furdenheim, where they had branched off to the left in the direction of Ergersheim, and after this bend he did not see it again, it must have been behind them.
Once he arrived at his destination, he looked for it for a long time in the direction where it should have been, but in vain although he thought that from this position he would have been able to spot it. He indicates an observation duration of 10 minutes, with clear skies and sunny, as the photos show.
He notes that since that time he has been using this route daily and has never seen this balloon again, nor any balloon of any kind on this route or elsewhere.
He had seen hot air balloons before, but they were easily recognizable to him even from afar because of their characteristic teardrop shape.
The best of his three photos showed this:
| Date: | May 5, 2016 |
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| Time: | 01:30 p.m. |
| Duration: | 10 minutes. |
| First known report date: | July 5, 2019 |
| Reporting delay: | 3 years. |
| Department: | Bas-Rhin |
|---|---|
| City: | Ittenheim |
| Place: | From car driving 9 route de Paris direction to Furdenheim. |
| Latitude: | 48.603 |
| Longitude: | 7.598 |
| Uncertainty radius: | 20 m. |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 2 |
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| Number of known witnesses: | 1 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 0 |
| Witness(es) ages: | 55, adult. |
| Witness(es) types: | Local couple. |
| Reporting channel: | To the ufology Web forum "Les Mystères de OVNIS". |
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| Type of location: | Driving by car on village street. |
| Visibility conditions: | Day, clear sky, sunny. |
| UFO observed: | Yes. |
| UFO arrival observed: | No. |
| UFO departure observed: | No. |
| Entities: | No. |
| Photographs: | Yes. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | Balloon? |
| Hynek: | DD |
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| ALSACAT: | Probable balloon. |
[Ref. myo1:] WEB BOARD "LES MYSTERES DES OVNI":
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PierreH |
2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Mon Jul 15 2019, 12:05 Firstname or alias: PierreH City: Ittenheim Weather conditions: clear sky, nice weather Full story of the observation: Here is an observation made a little over 3 years ago. I delayed, considering at the time that it was probably a balloon. Nevertheless (and I will come back to this), taking this route for 3 years now and having never seen this type of balloon again (nor any balloon whatsoever...), I am led to ask myself the question of this that I actually observed and photographed. Here are the facts: Thursday, May 5, 2016, we were traveling in the car with my wife, who was driving, on the Nationale 4 in the direction of Strasbourg - Ittenheim when shortly before Ittenheim I noticed a white balloon in front and to my right, so in approximate northwesterly direction. It seemed to me very white and perfectly spherical. I informed my wife, who also saw it. We had never seen a balloon there, and never a balloon like this. When we arrived in the town of Ittenheim, we were slowed down and then stopped twice by traffic. I took the opportunity to take 3 shots (attached) with my phone. This balloon seemed slightly strange to me by its whiteness and its sphericity, but I quickly concluded that it was a balloon because: - in this direction there is a television relay station, located in the municipality of Nordheim (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89acteur_TV_de_Nordheim-Strasbourg ). I assumed it might be a weather balloon, although I had never seen one. - It was Ascension Day. Although I did not notice any nacelle with the naked eye, I hypothesized that it could be a tourist balloon. The first snapshot (DSC_0004) was taken here: https://goo.gl/maps/sneTxXgzqj852KiF7 https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img922/869/Pqu5HG.jpg The next two (DSC_0005 and DSC_0006) were taken a few meters further while zooming: https://goo.gl/maps/zNgpYJ2f3MWYvjuB6 https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img923/4743/GSOk5M.jpg https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img921/3915/V3gXDa.jpg I was able to follow this object with my eyes to the town of Furdenheim, where we turned left towards the town of Ergersheim. After turning left I never saw it again, it must have been behind us. Once I arrived at my destination and although I had a view of the Nordheim television antenna, I looked for it for a long time but in vain when I thought that from this position I should have been able to spot it. Note that since that time I have taken this route daily (we were in the middle of moving that day) and that I have never seen this balloon again, nor any balloon of any kind on this route. I have already seen hot air balloons on other occasions and in other places, but these are easily recognizable even from afar due to their characteristic teardrop shape. I also note that I had never seen this type of balloon, nor have I ever seen one again, anywhere. Regards. https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img923/4743/GSOk5M.jpg https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img921/3915/V3gXDa.jpg https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img922/869/Pqu5HG.jpg Precise description: White sphere Appendices (photos, videos, map): Contact made with the witness: yes Investigator in charge of the file: I hereby certify the accuracy of the information provided and the authenticity of the documents provided. I don't know how to identify this phenomenon, thank you in advance for your answers. Regards PierreH |
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Anonymous |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Mon 15 Jul 2019, 12:35 If this is a competitive race (like Gordon Benett), then we should track it down. I had to deal with an identical case at the beginning of the year, see HERE The winds are of extreme importance to verify wether this object was carried by the wind or not (a history exists). The Swiss frequently use this type of balloon profile. CU |
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PierreH |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 10:28 Hello, Thank you for your reply. these are points to check indeed, I will try to find additional information on my side. It seems to me that the first photo (see the 3 links inserted in the testimonial) in the order of shooting, does not appear in preview. However, this is interesting in my opinion because a second object appears under the white "balloon", which was not visible during the observation and which is no longer visible in the following photos. I put the link to this first photo below. Best regards, https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img922/869/Pqu5HG.jpg |
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Loreline |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 12:11 Hello Peter I'm editing: I didn't take a good look at the photo you just put For me it's a weather balloon to measure air pollution but the sensor should have appeared in the other photos and a sounding balloon does not disappear like that, one must be able to follow its evolution Last edited by Loreline on Wed 17 Jul 2019, 12:36, edited 1 time |
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Anonymous |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 12:35 In addition, a pod would not be located so far from the inflatable envelope. It could just as well be a curious coincidence... a pigeon or a crow passing in the visual field under this pseudo-balloon. Unless PierreH certifies having seen it throughout the course, however I doubt it since it does not appear under the other shots. CU |
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Loreline |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 12:41 Polyhedre57 wrote: In addition, a pod would not be located so far from the inflatable envelope. It could just as well be a curious coincidence... a pigeon or a crow passing in the visual field under this pseudo-balloon. Unless PierreH certifies having seen it throughout the course, however I doubt it since it does not appear under the other shots. CU Indeed and we should see (well Pierre should have seen the clip) but I see what I see too and that's why I was wrong at the beginning, it's a dark spot under the ball in the first picture Pierre says he did not see a "nacelle" In fact, I thought of the generali balloon which is somewhat reminiscent of this shape Pierre, in the last photo:/https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img922/869/Pqu5HG.jpg we no longer see the ball and yet you lost sight of it when changing direction Does this photo correspond to the moment when you took a new photo expecting to see him again? Last edited by Loreline on Wed, Jul 17, 2019, 9:46 PM, edited 3 times (Reason: additional info and clarification) |
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PierreH |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 12:54 Hello, Thank you for your answers. Indeed, at the time of the observation I only saw the white sphere. It was when viewing the photos that I saw the "nacelle" well below, and only on the first photo as you can see. By cropping my photos now, I can qualify this observation: the dark part, far away on the 1st photo, seems very close to the white sphere on the 2nd photo, then on the 3rd has completely disappeared. A retractable boom lift? Does this exist...? To illustrate my point, I take the liberty of inserting the following 3 crops: Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Crop111 Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Crop211 Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Crop311 Thanks, |
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Loreline |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 13:07 Clearly, I'm looking badly: in the last photo we still see "the nacelle" far under the sphere https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img922/869/Pqu5HG.jpg it's on the middle ones that we don't see it anymore https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img923/4743/GSOk5M.jpg https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img921/3915/V3gXDa.jpg in 3 of them you can still see this little black rectangle as if glued to the sphere.... on the photo of course But you saw a bright white sphere with no object underneath. Last edited by Loreline on Wed Jul 17, 2019, 9:46 PM, edited 2 times (Reason: correction) |
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PierreH |
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Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 13:11 I'm sorry if I expressed myself badly, the photos in the order of shooting are (the EXIFS will attest to this): Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Dsc_0014 Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Dsc_0013 Enlarge this image Click here to see it in its original size. 2016: 05/05 at 1:30 p.m. - Ball? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67) Dsc_0012 The cropped and annotated versions (see my previous post) are also in order. |
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Loreline |
Re: 2016: on 05/05 at 01:30 p.m. - Balloon? - Ittenheim -Bas-Rhin (dep.67)Wed 17 Jul 2019, 13:21 Thank you Peter ;-) I understand better now but in this case you would have seen it It is likely that an object (insect) passed in front of the lens when you took the photo but in the first 2 photos there is always this small rectangle stuck to the balloon except in the last Last edited by Loreline on Wed Jul 17, 2019, 9:47 PM, edited 2 times (Reason: additional info) |
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We have almost what ufologists call a "negative case" here, that is to say a case resolved from the outset without the support of ufologists to find the ordinary explanation. The witness indeed thinks that it was probably a balloon. But he has doubts, so the case is not totally a "negative case."
We have a round object that appears stationary, without absolute certainty on this, but probably stationary during the observation.
We have an object that strongly resembles a balloon, except for the absence of a mark or logo or the absence of a basket.
There are obviously all kinds of "balloons", with different uses, with different looks.
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Above: the Generali balloon used over Paris to measure air pollution.
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Above: advertising balloons.
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Above: weather balloon, without the radiosonde.
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Above: weather balloon, with the radiosonde.
The fact that here the object is entirely white seems a priori to exclude an advertising balloon, whose purpose is precisely to show an advertisement.
But the argument is not perfect. Most of the advertising balloons used at that time and in Europe are, precisely, white and initially without any marking. It is at the order of a customer that one prints logos or slogans on it.
I can therefore propose a scenario: an advertising balloon that has been inflated and released for a test, without a logo or text having already been printed.
Is it conceivable in this sector? Yes, because there is a company selling advertising balloons 16 km away in Hoerdt.
Another scenario I had considered: a simple toy balloon inflated with helium and colored white. But I think this is less likely, because the witness saw it from the 9, route de Paris in Ittenheim until arriving at Furdenheim, that is to say over at least 2.8 kilometers. One does not know exactly the distance between the witness and the balloon, but seeing a small white helium balloon on a journey of almost 3 km seems implausible to me.
I also want to note that I happened to see an advertising balloon - captive - not far from my home on the outskirts of Mulhouse, white, without any visible mark. It was oval rather than round, but if I had seen it from another angle it might have been round. I am certain that it was indeed a balloon, of the advertizing type, since I finally passed within a few tens of meters of the object. I could see that it was held by a cable. Above all, it had, oddly enough, no branding or text or logo, it was plain white. Which shows me that such things do happen.
Probable balloon.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | January 31, 2023 | Creation, [myo1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | January 31, 2023 | First published. |
