Bad Traunstein: Orange light with probing beams
On October 28, 1973, Karl Fichtinger observed an orange-yellow light south of Bad Traunstein, Austria, emitting upward beams that curved, turned green, and released mist repeatedly. Later joined by a friend, they saw a red missile-like object and a domed disc with similar beams over hours.
Background
Sighting
On October 28, 1973 at 23:30, Karl Fichtinger saw an unusual orange-yellow light south of Bad Traunstein, Austria. It sent two beams of light upward, which moved slowly like a snail's feelers, then bent outward, turned green at the tips, gave off mist to the sides, and disappeared. The sequence repeated every 7–10 seconds over several hours, with an estimated 1,200 signals.
Further Observers and Objects
At 0:30 he woke his friend Johann Pritz; the two watched until 4:30. At 2:00 a red "projectile" detached, flew east, stopped, turned yellow-orange, and showed similar patterns with at least 360 signals. To the west a dark domed disc appeared with thin rising feelers (about 550 signals). Three smaller lights joined them in the east. At 3:30 the red object flew south; the others remained until 6:00.
Background and Assessment
Researchers Alexander Keul and Ernst Berger documented the case. Keul described the witnesses as "naive, inexperienced amateurs". There were no physical traces; the observation was made through binoculars. Significance: several objects with repeated, coordinated light signals.