Germany is experiencing an unprecedented surge in reports of glowing orbs and mysterious lights in the sky.
While the Pentagon's release of its 'UFO archives' reignites global debates about unidentified anomalous phenomena, the Central Research Network for Unusual Celestial Phenomena (CENAP) has been operating for decades in Lützelbach, Hesse.
This center is where Germans turn when seeking scientific explanations for what they've witnessed.
Record Influx of Reports
Hansjürgen Köhler, head of CENAP, confirms that the center has never before received so many inquiries—three to six daily.
This makes the organization the busiest UFO reporting service in the German-speaking world.
By August 2026, Köhler's team had investigated and explained approximately 14,000 cases.
Köhler himself is an amateur astronomer, and his involvement with the subject began, as he puts it, 'with youthful imprudence'.
The observatory where he worked was inundated with calls about 'flying saucers,' prompting the team to seriously investigate UFOs.
At just 11 years old, he watched the moon landing on television, which laid the foundation for his fascination with the sky.
In 1973, young researchers ordered World War II microfilms from the US, featuring images of objects then considered inexplicable.
They soon became convinced that 'even then, during the war, natural phenomena were observed again and again'.
Pentagon Archives: "We Can Only Yawn"
Washington sparked a new wave of interest in the phenomenon.
Following the U.S. Navy's release of video footage showing military pilots encountering unknown objects, the Pentagon officially confirmed the authenticity of three videos, filmed in 2004 and 2015, for the first time in April 2020.
In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense established a special unit, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
AARO systematically investigates UAP reports and assesses potential national security threats.
Declassified dossiers also contain World War II footage, showing glowing objects that pilots described as accompanying their aircraft over Germany at high speeds.
For Köhler, all of this is an old story: 'We've been familiar with these archives for a long time; there's nothing new there for me... Looking at these old records, we can only yawn'.
The Gimbal Video and the Balloon
One of the most widely discussed recordings is the so-called Gimbal video, captured in January 2015 during a U.S. Navy F/A-18 training flight off the coast of California.
The infrared footage shows an object that appears to be rotating on its axis.
The Pentagon confirmed the video's authenticity but was unable to definitively determine the object's nature.
Köhler is convinced that the video simply shows a weather balloon.
He explains the object's apparent speed by the relative displacement between the fast-moving fighter jet and the balloon.
The expert also points out a weakness of the F/A-18 itself: since its deployment, the aircraft has experienced issues with its electronic measurement system.
Even after nine updates, incorrect readings, including speed, still occur.
However, he exasperatedly admits that these explanations 'get lost in the deluge' of information: the video is endlessly replayed on social media, while rebuttals go unnoticed.
What People Actually See
The list of objects identified by CENAP is quite prosaic.
It includes aircraft, helicopters, rocket stages, satellites, meteors and bright fireballs, planets and bright stars.
They also encounter various types of balloons—from weather balloons to oversized festive foil balloons from children's birthdays and weddings.
Furthermore, laser beams from event companies, stretching for kilometers, are also frequently mistaken for UAPs.
There are even cases that baffle the police.
Köhler recounts, 'Two police officers stand with the caller, look at the sky, can't figure out what's happening either, and then turn to us'.
His advice is simple: use free astronomical apps that display the name of celestial objects when you point your phone at the sky.
Not Aliens, But a Lack of Data
There are indeed cases that CENAP has been unable to explain.
However, Köhler tempers the enthusiasm of those who see these as proof of alien visits.
He states: 'These were not alien arrivals. These episodes simply remained unresolved because we lack crucial information'.
For a serious investigation, the center requires the date, time, location, direction in the sky, and, if possible, photo or video materials.
CENAP is occasionally criticized for its excessive skepticism and reliance on classical explanations.
However, supporters view this as the organization's strength.
Its mission is to provide scientific assessments of observations and distinguish truly unexplained phenomena from erroneous interpretations.
Köhler himself, while not denying the existence of life in the universe, expresses irony about 'daily visits from cosmic guests'.
He asks rhetorically: 'Would they, with highly advanced technology, traverse galaxies to arrive at our blue planet, only to crash here, in the desert?'
