UFO Mail - No 090 - 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 90
Date: 10. august 2007
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on a mass sighting of "ufo-balloons" over Copenhagen on the night of August 5, 2007. The magazine presents numerous witness accounts, photographic and video evidence (though often of limited quality), and an analysis by the organization.

Mass Sighting of Orange Lights Over Copenhagen

The main article, authored by Ole Henningsen, details the events of the night between Saturday, August 4th, and Sunday, August 5th, 2007. A large number of people in the Copenhagen area observed a significant number of orange lights in the sky. While the initial assumption for many was that these were UFOs, the organization, SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information), leans towards the explanation that they were a large-scale release of small hot air balloons, possibly related to a private party on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen. SUFOI had not yet directly contacted the organizers of this event.

The magazine emphasizes the challenge of capturing clear photographic and video evidence of such phenomena, especially with digital cameras and mobile phones, noting that the photos received only showed the lights, not the balloons themselves.

Witness Accounts

The issue compiles a variety of testimonies from different individuals, providing a nuanced picture of the observations:

• A young female student from Frederiksberg and her friends observed flying objects for about 1.5 hours over Copenhagen, from Frederiksberg Zoo to Islands Brygge. They noted that the sky was cloudy initially but cleared later, with stars and shooting stars visible. The sighting occurred between 00:30 and 01:00.

• A 29-year-old radio host from Amager described seeing approximately 20 sharp, star-like UFOs that gathered closely, moved up and down and sideways, and then disappeared. About 20-30 people witnessed this, and no one could explain it.

• A 32-year-old female substitute teacher from Amager saw lights following each other, initially mistaking them for planes. However, seeing pairs made her realize they were something else. She and her friend were astonished by the sight of many orange lights moving rapidly, some together, some alone, estimating around 30 objects.

• A 38-year-old postman from Amager noticed a bright star, then several more in a line, and then formations of 3, 4, or 5. He described the lights as having a constant brightness and speed, comparable to Venus, and moving from west to east. He estimated 50-80 units, noting they moved like slowly rolling squares and rectangles, bending northeast. He initially considered if they were light cones from the Opera on Holmen but found it unlikely.

• A criminal assistant observed lights from Amager around 00:30 while heading home. He and his wife, along with his brother and his wife, saw multiple orange and clearer lights moving slowly in a formation from southwest towards Copenhagen and beyond. He compared their movement to satellites but noted they were distinctly more orange. He estimated 35-40 objects in a long line, some forming rhombuses and rectangles. He also mentioned that the phenomenon sometimes blinked slightly, as if experiencing atmospheric disturbances.

• A 47-year-old professional firefighter from Amager confirmed his family's sighting, estimating 40-50 white light points that kept appearing. He stopped counting at 30.

• A 35-year-old substitute teacher and three friends were in their rehearsal space when one of them spotted a large, slowly moving luminous point in the sky. Shortly after, several more appeared in groups of 3-4, forming triangle or rhombus patterns. The entire event lasted about 30 minutes, and he managed to record short video sequences.

• A 39-year-old data technician from Frederiksberg reported seeing 10 balloons in a line from left to right from his window, followed by about 20 more flying in clusters.

• A 33-year-old female kindergarten teacher from Copenhagen K. observed what she first thought were very bright stars, but realized they were moving slowly and were too large to be stars. She and her partner watched them move across the sky. She estimated 26-30 objects in total, with no sound heard.

• A 31-year-old man walking in Copenhagen between Øresundsvej and Albaniensgade observed unusually bright, yellowish stars. He soon realized they were luminous points in a formation of 10-15 moving from west to east, at a speed comparable to satellites. He wondered if SUFOI had an overview of flights over Copenhagen, inquiring about Kastrup Airport, the Civil Aviation Administration, or the Air Force, as he couldn't find information on training flights.

• A 30-year-old lecturer described 20-30 small yellow/red luminous flying objects circling slowly, possibly over Holmen or Øresund, resembling small training aircraft. They were observed from Vesterbrogade around midnight on August 5, 2007.

• A 28-year-old manager from Enghave Plads saw a "Big Dipper-like" formation in the east, with strongly orange/red points. Another point was seen moving from the south towards the others.

• An 48-year-old case worker reported many luminous spots in a long, spaced-out formation coming from the south. He speculated they could be hot air balloons but noted they didn't light up continuously and there was no sound. He described the experience as very frightening, comparing it to a Darth Vader invasion.

• A 28-year-old self-employed individual also witnessed the event during a garden party and noted that many others had seen it.

• A 30-year-old student from Amager saw about 18 yellow dots in a formation roughly 3-4 times the length of the Big Dipper. The formation disappeared over Amagerværket towards Sweden over 20-30 minutes, followed by two more lights. He expressed surprise that the event was not covered by the press.

• A couple living in Islands Brygge reported their experience to Dansk Ildkugle Central, who forwarded it to SUFOI. They estimated 30-50 objects moving at a high altitude with the same direction and slight deviations.

• A 34-year-old IT professional from Copenhagen Ø observed large, faint red and yellow luminous dots moving silently across the sky at a constant speed, resembling hot air balloons. Initially, there were 7-9 red dots, and as they disappeared, new ones emerged, totaling 14-20 red dots moving in a pattern. The entire event lasted about 6-7 minutes. He took photos and video clips, but the equipment was insufficient to capture useful detail.

Sighting in Skagen

An almost identical report comes from a 53-year-old writer from Frederiksberg who observed the phenomenon in Skagen on the night of August 4, 2007. Around 30 luminous spheres flew in a narrow belt from southeast to northwest. Five witnesses enjoyed the spectacle, noting that some objects formed isosceles triangles and that some red spheres changed speed and position. They sailed in a steady stream for about a quarter of an hour, disappearing behind clouds at times. The experience was described as breathtaking and similar to the Copenhagen event, just slightly later.

SUFOI's Analysis and Conclusion

After reviewing the numerous reports and submitted media, Skandinavisk UFO Information concluded that the phenomenon was indeed the release of a large number of small hot air balloons for a party or event. The descriptions of the lights, their slow movement, and their positions suggested they were airborne and affected by wind. The magazine notes that while the rational for releasing so many balloons simultaneously is unclear, such events are sometimes seen in places like Thailand, suggesting the idea might have originated from the East. SUFOI had previously suspected hot air balloons in UFO reports from the Allerød area and had even identified the individuals responsible for a summer prank. This event in Copenhagen, however, was the largest simultaneous balloon release reported in Denmark and generated an unprecedented number of inquiries to SUFOI. The organization also noted that young presenters from Danmarks Radio had contacted them about the case, having witnessed the lights themselves.

SUFOI is still seeking information about the exact launch location and the organizers, hoping that better recordings might exist. They also express surprise at the lack of media coverage for such a widely witnessed event.

Call for Information and Future Issues

SUFOI requests any additional observations or information regarding this event. They also encourage readers to forward the UFO-mail to friends and family to share information about Danish and international observations, celestial phenomena, and UFO-related materials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the mass sighting of unexplained lights, which, after investigation, are attributed to hot air balloons. The editorial stance is one of careful investigation, presenting witness accounts, and offering a reasoned explanation while acknowledging the initial mystery and the public's fascination with UFOs. The magazine highlights the challenges of documenting such events and the lack of media attention for significant public sightings. The organization actively seeks further information and encourages public participation in reporting observations.