top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Mystery 'blue sphere with green tail' seen over Alsace

A “huge blue sphere” has been reported as appearing in the sky over Alsace last night, with witnesses speculating over what the object could have been.

Around 18h on Tuesday November 14, reports began emerging of a rounded, blue shape with a green tail, flying over the department and the Grand-Est region.

Reportedly larger than a star and moving too quickly to be a planet or a plane, the object left witnesses confused as to what it could be.

Commentators have suggested it was simply a form of meteor, and more precisely, a "fireball" meteor.

“It was likely a small celestial body, which travels very quickly in the Earth’s atmosphere and which, on contact with the atmosphere, heats up its gases, giving this luminous trail behind it,” explained Jean-Yves Marchal, scientist at the Strasbourg planetarium, speaking to French news source FranceInfo.

Social media users also had comments.

“It was a huge thing, like a blue sphere with a green tail,” explained Sandrine, from Niederbronn-les-Bains (Bas-Rhin), while a man identified only as Frédéric, who was watching from Marckolsheim, said it was “larger than a shooting star”.

Others called it a “fireball” and others said it was simply “very strange to see”. No casualties or any other issues were reported.

Any witnesses - of this and any other similar sightings - are asked to fill in a form on the website of French scientific research group Vigie-Ciel, to help their expert project, which is undertaking research on shooting stars, meteorites, and impact craters.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France