CENAP Infoline - no 157

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue: NR.157
Volume: 35
Date: April 9, 2002
Publisher: CENAP-INFOLINE
Country: Germany
Language: German
Price: 0,50 DM

Cover Story: "Ufo? Weltraum-Schrott? Kometen? Das Rätsel über Bayern's Himmel"

The cover of this issue of CENAP-INFOLINE focuses on a mysterious light phenomenon observed over Bavaria on the night of Saturday, April 6, 2002. The main headline poses the question of whether the event was a UFO, space debris, or a comet, highlighting the enigma surrounding the sighting.

Abendzeitung Report: "Wenn Kometen geflogen kommen..."

A report from the "Abendzeitung" on Monday, April 8, 2002, discusses the mysterious spectacle observed over the weekend. Astrologers had predicted two celestial phenomena for the period after Easter: the planet Venus visible as a "bright light" and the comet "Ikeya-Zhang" with its tail visible in the northwest sky. The article notes that the comet has been circumpolar since April 3rd and is visible in the northern sky after 1 AM. It encourages readers to keep their eyes open for "Ikeya-Zhang."

tz Report: "Ein Komet, Meteorit oder Ufo? München in heller Aufregung"

This article from "tz" details the widespread confusion and excitement in Munich and Bavaria following the sighting of a bright, fiery object in the night sky. Hundreds of people reported seeing a brilliant, bluish-white light with yellow flames, accompanied by thunderous noises. Descriptions varied, with some likening it to a science-fiction film. The event caused a significant police response, with calls flooding in from concerned citizens.

Eyewitness Accounts:

• Thomas Gaulke described a bluish, bright light with small yellow flames that illuminated the sky over Siegertsbrunn for seconds.
• Georgina Bond saw a "white light mist" illuminate her garden in Grünwald.
• Max Völkl was startled by a "huge flash" over the Starnberger See.

Official Reactions and Explanations:

• The Munich airport confirmed that the event was not an aircraft crash.
• NASA stated it was not space debris.
• The German Weather Service initially suggested it might be the comet Ikeya-Zhang but later definitively ruled this out, as the comet was too far from Earth.

UFO Expert's View:

• Werner Walter, a UFO expert from the Mannheim UFO reporting center, declared it to be "clearly extraterrestrial visit." He attributed the phenomenon to a "fireball-bolide," a large chunk of matter from space, essentially a "mega-sized meteor." He explained that the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere at a shallow angle and broke apart.

AZ-Info: Phänomene am Firmament

This section provides context on similar past events, noting that police often receive calls about strange lights. It clarifies that many sightings are explained by astronomical phenomena or earthly causes, such as mini-hot air balloons mistaken for UFOs during New Year's Eve. It also mentions other reported sightings, including glowing red-orange balls in Lower Saxony (likely hot air balloons), a "Z" shape in the Irish sky (possibly a meteorite trace), and a "flying saucer in a diamond shape" reported in Bavaria and Westphalia in 1990.

tz Report: "Licht-Blitz über Bayern - Was war denn das? Die Experten streiten"

This article from "tz" reiterates the event, stating that hundreds of eyewitnesses reported mysterious light phenomena over Bavaria on Sunday night, leading to a large police operation and a helicopter search for a crashed object, which proved fruitless. Experts are divided on the cause, with the headline posing the question: "What was that? The experts are arguing."

Eyewitnesses and Police Response:

Hundreds of calls flooded the police, prompting a major deployment. A helicopter was dispatched to search for a possible crashed object.

Expert Opinions:

Experts are speculating about the cause, with the article indicating a debate among them.

"Das sagen die Augenzeugen - Raum erleuchtet"

This section features a quote from Cornelia Jung, a TZ secretary, who described her home in Obersendling being illuminated by a "yellowish light" that lit up her living room. She initially thought it was a thunderstorm or St. Elmo's fire but was glad to have witnessed the spectacle.

tz München Report: "Hunderte Alarmrufe - Polizei im Großeinsatz - Lichtb - unerklärlich wie ein Ufo!"

This article from "tz München" details the extensive police response to hundreds of alarm calls about the mysterious light. It emphasizes the inexplicable nature of the event, likening it to a UFO.

Police Response:

Hundreds of calls led to a large police operation.

Eyewitness Descriptions:

The light was described as "unexplainable like a UFO."

tz München Report: "Ein großer Feuerball"

This report focuses on the eyewitness accounts of the fireball.

Photographer's Account:

Thomas Gaulke, a photographer, described the event as "unbelievable" and like a "science-fiction film." While driving near Egmating and Siegertsbrunn, the surroundings suddenly became bright. He saw a bluish fireball shoot downwards, which then fragmented, leaving behind flames before disappearing. He regretted not having time to grab his camera.

Police and Witness Reactions:

• A police officer in Garmisch-Partenkirchen reported hearing a loud detonation after seeing the fireball, initially thinking it was an earthquake.
• The walls of a house near Holzkirchen reportedly shook.

"Ufo-Experte Werner Walter sagt: Das sind natürlich keine Außerirdischen, aber..."

This interview with Werner Walter, head of the UFO hotline in Mannheim, provides his expert opinion.

Walter's Explanation:

Walter identifies the phenomenon as a "bolide," a large meteor, not a typical small meteoroid. He explains that it was about fist-to-head-sized and burned up at an altitude of 80-100 kilometers. He dismisses the idea of it being satellite debris due to its trajectory (North to South, not West to East) and short duration (3-5 seconds).

UFO Beliefs:

Walter believes in UFOs as "unidentified flying objects" but states that most phenomena can be scientifically explained upon closer examination.

"Dieser Jet kämpft ohne Pilot"

This is a separate, unrelated article about a pilotless fighter jet (X-45) developed by Boeing.

"Helle Aufregung: Sternschnuppe?"

This article from "München/Mannheim" discusses the confusion surrounding the event.

Otto Guthier's Explanation:

Otto Guthier, chairman of the Association for Star Friends in Heppenheim, identified the cause as an unusually large "shooting star" or "fireball," based on evaluated sky photos. He described it as a "mega-sized brother of the shooting star" that entered the Earth's atmosphere at a shallow angle and broke into several pieces.

Police Reports:

Police in Garmisch-Partenkirchen received about 50 calls, with reports of multiple flashes and rattling windows. One officer described it as feeling like an earthquake.

Weather Observer's Account:

Werner Hahmann, a weather observer at Zugspitze, initially thought it was a plane crash due to the flashes and loud explosion-like sounds that lasted for at least half a minute.

"Zur Sache - Eine Feuerkugel aus dem Weltall?"

This section provides further details on the event and expert opinions.

Werner Walter's Testimony:

Walter reiterates that it was a bolide, not space debris. He emphasizes the short duration (three to five seconds) and the accompanying thunderclap, indicative of high entry speed. He notes the North-to-South trajectory, ruling out orbital debris.

Call Volume:

Walter's UFO hotline received numerous calls, with his phone ringing almost continuously.

Otto Guthier's Conclusion:

Guthier, from the Association for Star Friends, concluded it was a "fireball-bolide," a large piece of cosmic matter, based on sky photos. He described it as a "huge piece of cosmic matter" that entered the Earth's surface at a shallow angle and broke apart.

Other Reports:

Reports of multiple flashes and loud noises came from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The phenomenon was observed across Southern Bavaria, with over 100 calls in Munich alone. The Munich airport also reported a light phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout these articles is the mystery and public fascination surrounding unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on eyewitness accounts, presenting expert opinions (even conflicting ones), and acknowledging the public's interest in UFOs and other celestial events. While some experts, like Werner Walter, lean towards extraterrestrial explanations or significant celestial events like bolides, others, like the German Weather Service, initially propose more conventional astronomical explanations (comets) before admitting uncertainty. The magazine aims to inform readers about these events and the ongoing debate surrounding them, highlighting the blend of scientific inquiry and public speculation.