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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 Schiltigheim, on June 13, 2013:

Case number:

ALSACAT-2013-06-13-SCHILTGHEIM-1

Summary:

On August 12, 2013, a man completed the GEIPAN questionnaire on observations of "unidentified aerospace phenomena" for his observation made two months earlier, on June 13, 2013.

He basically reported that at midnight, on a bicycle, he had observed a brilliant light that he first thought to be Saturn or Jupiter. Arrived home, he was surprised to find that the light, bluish, passed over him without any noise, with a rectilinear trajectory that seems altered by zigzags.

He describes the thing as "just a very bright ball", of "white / bluish color, like a very bright blue light". He said it was halo-free, without a trail, "very, very bright, like car headlights but without lighting up the ground, it was like seeing Venus but 4 times bigger."

He answered on the angular size on the one hand saying that it was four times the size of Venus, on the other hand that it measured a centimeter at arm's length.

The ball eventually faded away.

Upon request, the man said he was interested in the UFO phenomenon already before the observation, and that in his opinion is that "unofficial objects cross the sky." He says that observation has changed his opinion; which is now that "something superior than us looks down."

The testimony is not entirely consistent, with a contradiction on the directions of movement; there is no sketch, no map, no description of the steps of the observation.

Given the gathered data, the GEIPAN assigned the "B" type to this case, concluding it was most likely the ISS, or an airplane.

Data:

Temporal data:

Date: June 13, 2013
Time: 00:30
Duration: 2 minutes.
First known report date: August 12, 2013
Reporting delay: 2 months.

Geographical data:

Department: Haut-Rhin
City: Schiltigheim
Place: Rue des Chasseurs, rue des Perles, UFO in the sky.
Latitude: 48.601
Longitude: 7.747
Uncertainty radius: 50 m

Witnesses data:

Number of alleged witnesses: 1
Number of known witnesses: 1
Number of named witnesses: 1
Witness(es) ages: Adult.
Witness(es) types: Male resident, employee or worker, interested in UFOs.

Ufology data:

Reporting channel: Official GEIPAN report form.
Type of location: City streets, UFO in the sky.
Visibility conditions: Night
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: No
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: Not plane, not Chinese lantern.

Classifications:

Hynek: NL
ALSACAT: Probable ISS.

Sources:

[Ref. gei1:] GROUPE D'ETUDES ET D'INFORMATIONS SUR LES PHENOMENES AEROSPATIAUX NON IDENTIFIES (G.E.I.P.A.N.):

SCHILTIGHEIM (67) 13.06.2013
Observed on: 06/13/2013
Region: Alsace
Department: Rhin (Bas)
Class: B
Summary: SCHILTIGHEIM (67) 05/13/2013. Observation of the silent displacement of a very luminous bluish ball in the sky: probable observation of the passage of the international space station (ISS).
Description:

On June 13, 2013, at midnight and thirty minutes, a cyclist observes a brilliant light that he first takes to be Saturn or Jupiter. Arrived home, the witness is surprised to find that the bluish light passes over him without any noise. The trajectory is rectilinear but the ball seems to make zigzags at times. It eventually fades away. No other testimony was collected.

Given the objective informaton gathered, namely that the object was moving in a straight line, with small zigzags, with a luminosity and a trajectory compatible with the passage of the ISS, the strangeness of the phenomenon may to be considered weak with two possible hypotheses of explanation, of which one very probable: plane or ISS. (see the investigation report).

The testimony is of average to weak consistency: we note an internal contradiction on the directions of displacement, and an absence of sketch or photo.

In front of these elements, this case is typed "B" as a very likely ISS observation, as the witness was probably victim of the auto-kinetic illusion.

Report: None.

Details of the testimony
Witness
Date of the observation 06/13/2013
Document number
Age Adult (more than 18)
Profession Employees, Workers
Sex Male
Reaction Active Curiosity
Credibility
Conditions
Enviroement Urban landscape
Weather conditions Fog, haze
Hour of the observation Numbered: 0 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Reference frame Sky or clouds
Distance between phenomenon and witness Distant (from 200 m to 1 km)
Start of the observation Start of observation by witness
End of the observation End of observation by phenomenon
Localization
Angle of site Numbered; Not-specified
Direction of observation North
Heading North
Trajectory Straight line; Other; Not-specified
Nature of the observation Descriptive terms (lights, etc)
Characteristic of the observation Unique
Global shape Round, circular, ball
Color Luminous (shining);Other (other colors)
Apparent size Numbered
Apparent speed Slow, constant
Noise No noise
Effect on the environment Not-specified
Number 1

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cnes
CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES

GEIPAN

Madam, Sir,

You have witnessed directly, on the French territory, an aerospace phenomenon that has intrigued you and you want to understand what you have seen.

In order to answer your questions, the National Center for Space Studies and its specialized service GEIPAN offer you a two-step approach:

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

o The questionnaire should only be about one observation at a time

Your testimony is important and perhaps unique. It will consist of telling the story of your observation, answering specific questions, making maps and sketches or attaching photographs to further refine your description.

It is imperative that you adhere to the instructions mentioned at each step so that we can gather as much information as possible about the observed phenomenon.

You must not be afraid to tell us about it, nor to feel ridiculous, we are used to collecting this type of testimony.

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

We thank you in advance for the contribution you make to our work.

The head of GEIPAN

GEIPAN
Centre national d'études spatiales
DCT/DA/GEIPAN
18 Avenue BELIN 31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX 9
05 61 27 48 01 - geipan@cnes.fr

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Your observation

We will ask you to provide as much information as possible about your observation. The most important thing is to leave nothing out: it is often the details that make it possible to solve the investigations. Do not hesitate to give the maximum of information, even if your memories are incomplete or that certain elements seem to you not important. If you are not sure about this or that detail, tell us your doubts, but, again, do not omit anything. We need to be able to visualize everything you've seen, like re-doing the movie of your observation. Use the end of this page to tell the story of your observation and continue on free paper as much as you want:

Your free account of the observation:

I came back from work by bike. Near my home I see a bright light that I take for saturn or jupiter. As I advance the light moves and I tell myself that it is a plane.

Arrived at my garage, the light passes me above. No noise, continuous speed but zig zag by moment. It makes its way to disappear in the distance.

The ball of light is impressive by its strong bluish glow, voluminous and constant speed.

I'm sure it's not a Chinese plane or lantern

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Conditions of observation of the phenomenon

Please provide all the requested information.

What were your occupations just before your observation?

I came home from work by bike

Specific address of the place of observation (street, city ...):

Hunter Street, Pearl Street. 67300 Schiltigheim

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

On my bike at the rue des chasseur, then at the foot of my garage

Date of the observation: ...... 13/06 ...... / 2013 ............ Precise start time (in local time): 00H30.

Duration of the observation or end time (in hours, minutes, seconds): 2 minutes.

Did other witnesses see the same phenomenon as you? If yes how much?

......no......

If so, please ask them to contact us using the contact details on the last page of this document.

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

The observation was made in a continuous manner (bar or delete the "useless" word)

If the observation was done intermittently, specify why it was interrupted and resumed:

How did this observation end?

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 4

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The light went out as it moved away.

Have you seen the phenomenon directly with your eyes? YES

(bar or delete the "useless" word)

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

no

Weather conditions (clear skies, clouds, wind, storm, mist, fog, rain, snow, changing conditions during observation):

A haze that made the observation not very clear at the contours. The stars and the object had asterisk outlines.

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

I first took the observation for jupiter or saturn, but it moved. I do not remember a moon.

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

Nothing

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

none

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 5

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Description of the phenomenon

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

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

Unique, just a very bright ball

Shape:

Round, ball.

Color:

White / Bluish. Kind a very bright light blue

Brightness (in comparison with known stars like Venus and the Moon, or the lighting of a lamppost, car lights, house lights, etc.):

Very, very brilliant. A bit like headlights but without illuminating the ground. It was like seeing Venus 4 times bigger.

Presence of a drag 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 scale carried at arm's length):

At the end of the rule, I would say a centimeter.

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

no

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

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 6

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I first saw in the distance the object I took for saturn or jupiter, and then with its displacement for an airplane. the object came closer and passed over me. He made some zigzag. I live near Entzheim airport, the object had a height close to a plane landing. Can be 200 meters.

Direction of appearance of PAN (north, south, southwest, etc., or specify a local visual or geographic landmark, direction of a place, etc.):

North

UAP disappearance direction (north, south, southwest, etc., or specify a local visual or geographic landmark, direction of a location, etc.):

South East

Height of appearance of the PAN with respect to the horizon
(the horizon = 0 °, the zenith = 90 °):

Between 30 ° and 45 °

PAN disappearance height from horizon:

Between 45 ° and 60 °

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

Straight line with some zigzag that I could confirm in relation to the wall of a building.

Portion of the sky covered by the PAN during the observation (eg a quarter of the sky or 30 ° to 40 ° with respect to the horizon, etc.):

All the sky I suppose.

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

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 7

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Reconstitution of your observation

In order for us to reconstruct the "film" of your observation, we need to 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 was your eyes during the observation. Feel free to draw what you have observed directly in the photos.
  2. Make one or more sketches of your observation (see next page) from your point of view, including the environment. Give as many information as possible to allow us to well understanding the scene.

    You are entirely free to make the sketches 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 you write on the sketch.

    No talent in drawing is necessary. The key is to make us understand what you have seen schematically. You can use the next page for this purpose.
  3. Make a reconstruction of your observation on one or more maps. If you can, it is about presenting your observation with a view from above. For this you can print a map of your place of observation on Google Map (http://maps.google.fr) or Geoportail (http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil) and report your different positions and directions of observations.

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

If you are used to the use of drawing or image editing software (Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator, ...), we advise you to use these tools, then send us a file in jpg, png or pdf format .

If you can not access this type of material, print a map of the place 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.

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Sketch of your observation

Use this page to draw your observation.

You are entirely free from the development of this sketch.

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 9

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And now?

Describe the emotions you felt during and after the observation:

Astonishment, a little fear

What did you do after your observation? Have you spoken about it? How did your interlocutors react? Have you done any research to understand what you saw?

I kept this for myself, did a little research on the internet.

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

At first I thought of a plane, then the phenomenon approaching and passing over me, I saw just a very bright ball of light. I did not see aircraft contours. Just a big blue ball that crossed the sky. It is not a Chinese lantern, nor an airplane, probably not an artificial satellite.

I just saw a very luminous ball travel in the sky from right to left.

Before your observation, what interest did you have in strange aerospace phenomena?

Did you have a clear opinion on the subject? Which one? What was its base?

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 10

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I am interested since a young teenager in astronomy and the UFO phenomenon. My opinion is that unofficial objects cross the sky.

Has this observation changed your view of unidentified aerospace phenomena? If yes, explain what you think now:

Yes, my observation makes me think that something superior is looking down.

Do you think that science will give an explanation to your observation?

No. I saw a luminous object cross the sky, like a plane

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 11

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Summary

If you have already testified about this NAP, please tell us which authority, organization or person by removing or blocking useless entries in the list below, and completing the requested information (several possible contacts):

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

Please indicate in the list below the documents you have attached or filled.
(tick or delete the words that are not applicable)

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 12

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You still have to fill the authorization of publication below, which will enable us to make appear your testimony anonymously on our Internet site.

Authorization to publish your information

(In case of refusal, delete or delete one or both of the following formulas.)

I authorize the GEIPAN to publish this testimony on its own website, after deleting the information used to identify the witnesses (name, address ...).

I authorize the GEIPAN to publish in the media (press, television, Internet) parts of this testimony (text, photos possibly retouched, drawings, diagrams, videos).


I, the undersigned ...

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

Made in Schiltigheim ....

The 08/12/2013 ...

Signature


This questionnaire is to return:

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

or

- By mail to the following postal address, after making a copy that you will keep:

GEIPAN
Centre national d'études spatiales

DCT / DA / GEIPAN
18 avenue Édouard Belin,
31401 TOULOUSE CEDEX 9

We thank you for having taken the time to testify.

CNES/GEIPAN Questionnaire standard GEIPAN V3.5-juin-2013 page: 13

Discussion:

Map.

The witness gives twice an angular size: on the one hand saying that it was four times the size of Venus, on the other hand that it measured one centimeter at arm's length.

This is obviously totally contradictory: a centimeter at arm's length is several times the apparent size of the Moon, 4 times the size of Venus is several times smaller than the size of the Moon. Such discrepancies are frequent when the witness communicates on an angular size.

To obtain something more reliable, when possible, a system of increasing and decreasing comparators must be used, gradually "encircling" the angular size. First, hold something obviously too big, ask if the UFO was bigger or smaller, if it is smaller, show something obviously much too small, ask if the UFO was smaller or bigger, and so on. It is better to do this on the observation site with the witness's gaze in the position he was in during the observation.

This observation in my opinion is probably an observation of the ISS (International Space Station). It cannot be an airplane or a Chinese lantern, because such objects are not affected by the auto-kinetic illusion. Generally, airplane lights flash, and the light of the Chinese lanterns is very rarely white / bluish. The ISS color is.

Note that the GEIPAN invites to see their investigation report, but that I did not find it on their web page.

Evaluation:

Probable ISS.

Sources references:

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

File history:

Authoring:

Main author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editor: Patrick Gross

Changes history:

Version: Create/changed by: Date: Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross March 23, 2018 Creation, [gei1].
1.0 Patrick Gross March 23, 2018 First published.

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This page was last updated on March 23, 2018.