site.btaUnidentified Aerial Phenomena Reported across Bulgaria in Late 1978

In late December 1978, residents of Pleven, Vratsa, and Sofia reported unusual celestial phenomena visible to the naked eye, as reported in BTA archives.

In the early hours of 30 December, numerous residents of the capital reported seeing unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) overhead. Witnesses described luminous objects with unusual shapes and flight paths, prompting public concern.

The previous day, similar reports of unexplained aerial phenomena were received from Pleven and Vratsa. The authorities issued an official statement claiming that citizens had in fact been observing the planet Venus, which was exceptionally bright at the time. Many researchers and eyewitnesses found this explanation unconvincing, pointing to the objects’ apparent maneuvering and dynamic movement.

In its final issue of the year, the French daily Le Méridional ran a piece on the subject, describing the presence of two objects, absolutely identical, which remained motionless at an altitude of approximately 1,000 m before rapidly rising vertically and disappearing to the west. According to the article, the bodies “emit a strong red light on one side and a silvery one on the other”.

Professor Kiril Serafimov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Committee for the Study and Use of Outer Space, dismissed any suggestion that “flying saucers” from extraterrestrial civilizations could exist. Questioned by a BTA reporter about the phenomenon, he noted that no acoustic effects had been recorded and that it had not been photographed. He also cited the lack of any reaction from Bulgaria’s air-defence forces as further grounds for considering it a natural phenomenon.

Simeon Vladimirov, Chief Assistant at the University Astronomical Observatory, was also sceptical that the sighting involved UAPs. He reiterated the authorities’ view that, between 29 and 31 December, the bright object in the sky was in fact the planet Venus.

More information about the phenomenon and society’s reactions to it was published in BTA’s Domestic Information bulletin:

UAPs over Pleven?

Pleven, 29 December 1978 /BTA correspondent – Dimitar Mustakerski/ This morning at 5:40, an unusual luminous object was observed above the village of Bohot, Pleven District. At 06:10, according to witnesses, it appeared about the size of the Moon and remained stationary at an altitude of approximately 1,000 m. Later it was seen above Pleven as a large, intensely shining star, observed by hundreds of residents. It appeared spherical, bright red on one side and silvery on the other. For about an hour, the object remained almost motionless over the city, and around 09:00 it slowly moved westward.

According to the reports, the object was initially at an altitude of 400-500 m. It was obscured by clouds for a time, after which it gained altitude. At around 7:00, a second, similar luminous sphere appeared from the direction of Bohot, moving horizontally at an altitude of only 400-500 m. After hovering over the village for some time, it rapidly ascended vertically and disappeared to the west.

Observed through binoculars, the two objects appeared entirely identical, each emitting a bright, bluish radiance.

Following the correspondent’s report, a BTA journalist contacted Kiril Serafimov, Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Chair of the National Committee for the Study and Use of Outer Space, and Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Astronautical Society:

In my view, this isn’t a serious phenomenon, as I said goodbye to flying saucers a long time ago. There are at least six phenomena that can be interpreted as UAPs.

First, these are reconnaissance balloons and other space-based reconnaissance assets; they come in the strangest shapes. Yet some people refuse to read the pilots’ repeated reports about the number of such objects that have been shot down.

Second, these are natural phenomena spanning a wide spectrum, from mirages to ball lightning, that capture the human imagination.

Third, one may speak of the human impact on nature.

Fourth, everything can be a product of mass psychosis, when a balloon is mistaken for something else. In this case, I rule that out, because many people saw the body. Unfortunately, we often receive numerous reports of flying saucers and other objects that people fabricate, etcetera.

So far there have been no signs of extraterrestrial involvement. In my view, this is an entirely terrestrial phenomenon, natural or human-made, that remains unexplained simply because we have very limited information.

There were no sound effects, and the object was not filmed clearly. The altitude was not measured; it was estimated visually. The fact that the object was colored makes me think it was something like a balloon.

I am convinced that some phenomenon did occur, as it was observed by many people, but it is impossible to say exactly what it was. The composure with which our air defence forces handled the situation demonstrates that claims of UAPs are unfounded.

***

Venus in the spotlight

Sofia, 30 December 1978 /BTA/ Today, before noon, the capital was unsettled by a “celestial” psychosis – UAPs over Sofia! Thousands of people crowded along the central streets and observed a strange body with changing brightness and colour.

BTA reporter Sergey Nakov contacted Simeon Vladimirov, Chief Assistant at the University Astronomical Observatory.

Here is what he said:

Venus was barely visible, as expected. Sometimes the planet can be seen even in daylight, but only by people with exceptionally sharp eyesight.

With a small telescope, we went to downtown Sofia, where a large crowd had gathered. They pointed out the celestial body that had been alarming the citizens. We trained the telescope on it and saw… Venus!

It was very beautiful and visible like the Moon, as its current phase is 0.4, i.e. a half-disc. As usual, changes in its colour were observed because the strong wind meant the atmosphere was not stable.

Why was the illusion created that the observed luminous body, Venus, was moving?

If we observe at night, this illusion does not occur, because, in addition to Venus in the same direction, we see many other stars, and relative to them its motion is imperceptible to the naked eye. During the day, however, we observe Venus against terrestrial objects, and since a person cannot remain perfectly still, and knows that buildings and other objects are stationary, the impression arises that the planet is moving.

This illusion is further enhanced by the rapid movement of low-level clouds. For example, on 28-29 December, winds aloft over the country were north-westerly at 20-40 m/s, whereas today they are south-westerly at 20-45 m/s. As the wind direction shifts, so does the direction of cloud movement.

The phenomenon observed today in Sofia could also have been, and indeed was, observed in other parts of the country.

Therefore, there is no cause for concern. Venus will be visible tomorrow as well, in the same place and at the same time.

***

Wind and celestial bodies – additional data on the unidentified “guests”

Vratsa, 30 December 1978 /BTA correspondent Emil Borisov/

It is claimed that the unidentified celestial bodies observed yesterday in Pleven and the surrounding area were moving west, evidently with the intention of violating the airspace of Vratsa District. Naturally, one might assume that the first to spot them would have been residents of Kneja, Byala Slatina, and Oryahovo, towns of about 15,000 inhabitants located not far from Pleven. However, as the secretaries of the City People’s Councils, Andrey Kolchev of Kneja and Georgi Tsanev of Byala Slatina, and Petar Florov, Deputy Chairman of the City People’s Council in Oryahovo, reported, local citizens did not observe any celestial bodies.

Nor did the residents of Vratsa see them. Instead, at 7 a.m., the temperature here was measured at 15 degrees, and a strong wind sprang up, reaching 120 km per hour. It shattered windows, snapped power lines, blew laundry off balconies, tore dozens of television aerials from rooftops, and gave work to many men determined that their families would not miss the New Year’s television programme. Some citizens claimed the wind was unexplained and was caused by the celestial bodies that appeared yesterday in the Pleven area. Others strongly disagreed, arguing that there have been other instances of celestial wind even when no unidentified celestial body was nearby.

In any case, the main reason the residents of Vratsa and the surrounding district did not see the glowing objects is that they rose to a very great altitude, extremely high. It still needs to be clarified whether their ascent to such a height is what caused the wind here to gradually die down.