ALSACAT-2012-12-26-TAGOLSHEIM-1
A 27-year-old man from Tagolsheim published immediately the report of his observation on a ufology forum, where members did not really find a suitable ordinary explanation.
He reported that on December 26, 2012 at 08:29 p.m., he made an observation of about 15 to 20 seconds under a cloudy but not rainy sky while walking his dog as usual, at a hundred meters from his home in Tagolsheim in the Haut-Rhin.
Arrived near the entrance to the school yard, he looked up and saw a light, and told to himself jokingly "Oh, a UFO." But he thought it was rather an airliner with the headlights on, as he often sees.
He actually heard an airliner noise, but not in that direction, and later he spotted the airliner that made that noise.
He then said that if what puzzled him was really an airline, he should see the flashing lights at the wingtips, but he noticed that there were none. In addition, the object appeared to be now stopped like a big bright ball, much stronger than most of the stars he usually sees, and larger too.
He was surprised and even more and more puzzled when the luminous ball he estimated to be quite high and quite distant, at 4 kilometers from him, seemed to dim out as if someone used a dimmer.
It was now hardly visible, when suddenly he saw it shine again, more and more, until it reached the intensity it had at the beginning of the observation.
He was very surprised, considering that when a cloud hides a star in the sky, it covers it "until the said cloud passes below the sector of the star and even then, most of the time, ones continues to distinguish the star, especially if it shines stronger than another."
Finally, the bright spot or light ball appears to shine less until it was not visible; then it reappeared a bit and disappeared suddenly, leaving a slight streak of light on a few tens of meters, or 20 meters, at least according to what he says was his subjective perception.
| Date: | December 26, 2012 |
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| Time: | 08:29 p.m. |
| Duration: | 15 to 20 seconds. |
| First known report date: | December 26, 2012 |
| Reporting delay: | 30 minutes. |
| Department: | Haut-Rhin |
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| City: | Tagolsheim |
| Place: | Near entry of schoolyard of Tagolsheim, UFO in the sky. |
| Latitude: | 47.6575 |
| Longitude: | 7.273 |
| Uncertainty radius: | 100 m |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | ? |
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| Number of known witnesses: | ? |
| Number of named witnesses: | ? |
| Witness(es) ages: | ? |
| Witness(es) types: | ? |
| Reporting channel: | ? |
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| Type of location: | ? |
| Visibility conditions: | Night |
| UFO observed: | Yes |
| UFO arrival observed: | Yes |
| UFO departure observed: | Yes |
| Entities: | No |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | ? |
| Hynek: | NL |
|---|---|
| ALSACAT: | Possible airliner with landing lights on. |
[Ref. myo1:] REPORT AND COMMENTS ON THE "LES MYSTERES DES OVNIS" WEB FORUM:
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fifi0001 |
Subject: 2012: on 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Wed Dec 26, 2012, 10:12 p.m. Firstname or pseudo : Philippe D. City: TAGOLSHEIM Department: Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Region: Alsace launch a call to witnesses: http://www.lalsace.fr Country: France Date: 12/15/1986 [sic] Hour of the beginning of the observation: 08:29 p.m. Duration of the observation: about 15 to 20 seconds Weather conditions: cloudy / no rain Number of witnesses: 1 Type of phenomenon: Strange light in the sky Official report: No Complete sighting report: At 08:29 p.m., on 12-26-12, i was walking my dog (as usual, always about that hour). I come by the entry of the school (it can be walked around thanks to a small path), and i look up to the sky: I tell to myself scoffing "oh a UFO" but in fact i finally think I'm seeing one of the airliner's headlights, as this often happen anyway. I want to stress that yes I did hea the noise of the jet engines of an airliner but in my opinion, this noise came from the totally opposite direction from the place of observation and by the way walking further after the end of the observation i found in the sky this specific airliner, and it was much higher than the phenomenon i observd a bit earlier and it wasnt at all at the same place... anyway, i resume: Then i tell to myself "if this is an airliner, look for the flashing lights, at the wings tips, and that's when i realize there are not wings, and that the object seems to have stopped now, it resembles a large luminous ball, much larger than a star that shines very brightly in the night ... I think this is surprizing but that's when it becomes realy weird: The luminous ball which is in my opinion , at about 4 kms in straight line, "seems to turn off" as if someone had used a dimmer (i have one of those in my living room to modify the inensity of the light of the ceiling...) well it was the same thing ! so the light was motionless, very strong, much stronger than most of the stars that shine and that i am used to observe when i wander, and by the way it was biggers than a star of strong intensity The latter was almost not visible anymore when suddenly, i see it shine again and stronger and stronger ! until it has again the brightness it had at the start of the observation... i tell to myself that's totally crazy because usually if a cloud reaches a star in the sky, it hides the light more and more until the said cloud goes below the area of that star and nevertheless, most of the time you can still distinguish the star especially when it shines more than another... Finaly, the luminous dot in question or rather the luminous ballseems to me to shine againg less and less until it is not seen anymore, or almost, then it reappers very slightly and all of a sudden disapears leaving a slight trail of light on some dozens of meters (again according to what i "think" after having seen it, you see, because as i said it was quite high and distant in the sky) So, from my point of view, and seen at my level, when the ball really left, itwass as if it had taken speed so much that it would have left in fron of it, the luminous trajectory on about 20 meters... It was really not something usual and i really wanted to tell immediately what i saw... and then again i had to struggle to quickly open an account and everything lol but i think it was worth it ! Moreover i want to specify that i live at half-an-hour from Basel (SWITZERLAND) and my area already had its share of werd observations (specially towards Huningue, in the eighties i think). Huningue is really on the border with switzerland...and a half hour from my home) PS sorry for the mispells and everything but i have to go to bed i'm working and this is really an instant reaction that i send to you ! I'll come back tomorrow on the forum if i can in the day or in the evening to answer to your potential questions ! I just hope i communicated correctly what i saw and what i felt. Precise description: ball or very luminous object Size of the phenomenon: Behavior: in normal movement first, then floating later, then disappeared and reappeared Trajectory: not - specified Specific noise: very weak noise of a jet engine Specific odor: No too high to smell anything Direction of the object relative to the wind: i do not know Presence of installations: BALE MULHOUSE airport (i am not sure about the distance of 20 kms) Similar photo: D1 Table: saucer E9 I certify on my honor the correctness of the communicated information and the authenticity of the attached documents. I do not know how to identify this phenomenon thanks in advance for your answers. Regards Philippe D. |
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fifi0001 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Wed Dec 26, 2012, 10:21 p.m. Oops! i just saw the date 12/15 -1986 at the top of the report but this is actually my birth date. THE DATE OF OBSERVATION IS 12/26/2012 AT 08:29 P.M. |
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Polyèdre57 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Wed 26 Dec 2012, 10:37 p.m. First thing to chekc, the passing of the ISS, actualy it happens that it was present there... ;-) In what directions (cardinals) did you follow visually this luminous ball in your sky of Tagolsheim ? @+ |
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fifi0001 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 09:47 a.m. well that i dont know i'm too dum in orientation and i know nothing about that... now i'm at my workplace but i'll check this evening whther i have a compass somewhere to check it. I'm not sure i have one left. Otherwise there's a trick to check it without compass and in the night (because i come hom from work onlyat about 07:30 p.m....) |
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fifi0001 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 09:57 a.m. I just called my bro: according to hime since the observation spot is at about a hundred meters from my home instraight line, referring to the position of my parents' home, the luminous ball was in the NORTHWEST part of the sky. Ok there were lots of cloud layers at places and I think i understood that satelites and space stations were visible only by "clear sky" but i'm no expert. I'm certainly wrong it would appear. In any case it was not a natural phenomenon in my opinion |
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odc |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 00:34 p.m. Hi, Here is the place ? |
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fifi0001 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 03:38 p.m. What ? yes according to my brother it was above my head, at about 4 km from the scholl and quite high, north-west area. But I'll check asap |
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Evalia |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 08:00 p.m. Good evening, Thanks for your testimony. Indeed, it resembles the ISS except for the end of you testimony... Regards, |
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Pat41 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 08:15 p.m. Good evening Evalia wrote: Good evening, Thanks for your testimony. Indeed, it resembles the ISS except for the end of you testimony... Regards, Unless I'm mistaken, there is no passage of the ISS at that hour Rgds |
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Polyèdre57 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 08:20 p.m. Pat41 wrote: Unless I'm mistaken, there is no passage of the ISS at that hour It's indeed a mistake I made, if one refers to the Stellarium the ISS on 12/26/12 at 08:29 is of grey appearance, light up my candle... ;-) @+ |
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fifi0001 |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 08:24 p.m. I do not know but theoretically if the station is supposed to do over 10 orbits per day (even 15) at nearly 27 700 km / h, I also do not think that's it because at some point the thing moved more ... and as I said the first impression of seeing an airliner headlight but as said it does not fit .... no stromboscope ext [sic, "etc."]... |
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Evalia |
Subject: Re: 2012: 12/26 at 08:29 p.m. - Strange light in the sky - TAGOLSHEIM -Haut-Rhin (dep.68) Thu 27 Dec 2012, 08:42 p.m. Pat41 wrote: Good evening Unless I'm mistaken, there is no passage of the ISS at that hour Rgds I did not check whether the ISS passed at the time of the testimony. I just referred to what I had seen before, with my own eyes. I should have checked |
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It is very difficult to get an idea of what was seen, mainly because there is no certain heading and direction, because there is no elevation angle or angle of displacement or timing for the different phases.
A crucial point is that there are clouds, apparently non-uniform. This may explain the successive increases, decreases, disappearances of the ball of light. Contrary to what the witness seems to think, clouds may well hide any "ball of light", from a satellite to the moon, much brighter than a bright star. It all depends on the opacity of the cloud or clouds.
We also have the fact that the witness heard an airliner that was not the ball of light he observed, but could have covered the noise of an airliner that he observed, if it was also an airliner, more distant.
In this area there are numerous airliners passing, landing or taking off from the Basel-Mulhouse airport, and thus they often have their landing headlights on.
Increases and decreases of light can be caused by clouds, but also when the supposed airliner veered. Upfront headlights seem very bright, more than a star, if the plane veers, they seem to dim. One thing that would reinforce this idea is the mention of this sort of luminous trail the witness mentioned: this could be a big airliner now seen from the side after a turn, with its row of lighted portholes, or the lights used by the pilot to check for icing of the wings (this was in the winter). The characteristic quasi-immobility but with some motion also observed is also matching quite well such a scenario. Flashing navigation lights could have been unnoticed when other lights (the powerful landing lights among others) are on.
The headlights of an airliner, that is actually what the witness initially thought he was seeing. What made him change his mind?
The appearance of immobility on one hand. But a facing plane can seem to be motionless. It is an illusion well known in ufology.
On the other hand, he did not see the red and green lights on the wingtips. But these lights are not necessarily always visible in the distance and clouds. Compared to landing lights, they are much weaker, specially when the landing lights spread their luminosity on clouds or mist, "drowning" the less powerful navigation lights. Some airliners have landing lights at the wingtips too; which overpower the flashing navigation lights when lit, as shown in the photo below:
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Planes have all kinds of lights. Landing lights off or on, various flashing navigation lights, cockpit lighting, light from the portholes of the passengers' cabin, jet engine nozzles with or without post-combustion, headlights illuminating the wings to allow the crew to check whether ice accumulates on the wing, etc..:
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To the eye, these lights can appear very different than on these images, for example when there is mist or clouds.
Lastly, the witness is right about this: the Basel-Mulhouse airport is indeed at 20 kilometers from the place of the observation. The airport is roughly East-south-East, and he says the luminous ball was in the North-West. Bingo! That's the path a landing plane would follow.
I'm obviously not sure that I am giving the final explanation here. I just think it is a possible explanation, and I do not see anything paranormal or extraterrestrial in this sighting report.
Unless I am mistaken, the place of observations looks like this:
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Possible airliner with landing lights on.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
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| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editeur: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
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| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | April 6, 2014 | Creation, [myo1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | April 6, 2014 | First published. |
