Basel celestial phenomena
- Date
- 7 Aug 1566
- Place
- Basel, Switzerland
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
A broadsheet by Samuel Coccius, printed by Samuel Apiarius, reports three sky events seen by many people in Basel: an unusual red sunset on 27 July 1566, a total lunar eclipse followed by a blood-red sunrise on 28 July, and on the morning of 7 August many large black and fiery spheres before the sun that seemed to move against each other and then fade. The broadsheet, written as a religious warning, is the only record. The first two events fit a lunar eclipse and atmospheric reddening; the spheres of 7 August have no agreed explanation, with sun-related optical effects the usual suggestion.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
The July events fit a lunar eclipse and a reddened sky; the August spheres are usually read as solar optical effects, not established
Evidence profile
- No: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Rendering
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- Yes: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: 1566 celestial phenomenon over Baselen.wikipedia.org
On the map
47.56° N, 7.59° E, plotted at the town or city
Show on the map