“Balls in the sky” or “black triangles”, they track strange celestial phenomena

Whether it’s plate-shaped or triangular, dark or bright, high in the sky or low on rooftops, the mufon makes a point of “studying all the cases”, assures Jean-François, the director for France and Belgium of the association Mutual UFO Network (Mufon).

This American association born in 1969, and now established in 41 countries, presents itself as “the world’s largest association for the study of unidentified aerospace phenomena (PAN)”, more commonly known as UFOs. In France, it has about fifteen investigators, including one in Gironde for a month, Nelly, a young woman who presents herself as “passionate about astronomy” above all, and “occupying administrative functions in a sensitive area” in the private.

“A lot of confusion with the ISS”

At the national level, the Mufon has already identified nearly 230 cases since the beginning of the year, against barely 150 last year. An increase which is partly explained by “the increasingly strong presence of satellites in the sky” explains the young woman. “There is also a lot of confusion with the ISS [Station spatiale internationale], adds the director of the association. It’s usually very easy to check. »

“More than 90% of the cases submitted to us are clarified” continues the Girondine investigator, who in just one month has already been contacted several times. In particular by an elderly person who sent him a photo “of a ball above the clouds. “It was impressive, she admits, but by magnifying the image with editing software, it was actually a balloon…”

Strange unexplained black triangles…

In this case, the investigation was quickly folded. “When we have a photo, we study it, when the person describes something that has passed furtively in the sky, we rely on maps or our internal tools. It happens for example to see green balls, these are meteorites that enter the atmosphere” deciphers Nelly. For the most complex cases, the investigators sometimes travel to the field to see what is going on. The investigation can sometimes last several weeks or even several months. “However, we set ourselves a limit, because we can’t dwell on it either. »

Without a response, the case is then classified as “unknown.” “That doesn’t mean it’s an extraterrestrial object, it’s just that we couldn’t find an explanation” insists the investigator. Since the beginning of the year, around ten celestial phenomena have thus remained unsolved in France. “In particular, we have been asked several times for black triangles that pass over houses, without noise, without drag, without light, says Jean-François. Either people invented it, or it is something that is not yet known, for example a drone. »

“Reassure people”

“Our role is to solve inquiries, to provide answers to people, often to reassure them, that’s why we answer everyone” insists Nelly. The association estimates that “in 99% of cases, people are sincere, hoaxes are very rare, and we spot them right away. “However, “some are not satisfied with our response, and remain convinced that they have seen a UFO, continues the investigator. We obviously leave them free to think what they want. »

Mufon investigators are hand-picked, must have a background in astronomy, and pass an exam before being accepted into the association. “Above all, you have to be rational to join the Mufon” sums up Nelly. “The Mufon is all that is most serious, insists Jean-François, and counts among its members an airline pilot, a topographer, a former soldier…”

Although it is well established in France, the Mufon has no connection with the Geipan, the Group for studies and information on unidentified aerospace phenomena, a service of the National Center for Space Studies based in Toulouse. “It happens that the general public solicits both the Geipan and the Mufon, explains Jean-François, but you must first fill out a fairly substantial file before the Geipan triggers an investigation, while we respond to everyone, even those who have just seen Starlink…”

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