SALI (DZ.01) 14.09.1959

On 12 September 1959 at 19:00, a witness reported an orange phenomenon with the apparent diameter of a star, apparently at very high altitude. It moved rapidly from 180° to 360° in about 30 seconds. No unusual sound was noticed. Only one account was collected. On 14 September, beginning at approximately 05:10–05:15, three witnesses south of Sali, Algeria, watched an orange luminous body whose movements attracted their attention. The account says it became stationary at 05:30, but also describes a slow northeastward drift over 40 minutes. It frequently changed appearance and colour, with red at one end. The witnesses used binoculars and noticed neither a trail nor sound. The total observation lasted about an hour. One account, accompanied by two diagrams showing movement and shape changes, was collected; the same report included the 12 September sighting. GEIPAN classified the 14 September observation B, considering a balloon illuminated by the rising Sun probable because of the duration, slow movement and time near sunrise. Viewing and movement directions were insufficiently precise. For 12 September it proposed a meteor hypothesis, citing the brief observation of a fast, elongated orange light apparently high in the sky.