Basel Celestial Phenomenon, Black Spheres Over Switzerland

Residents of Basel, Switzerland reported large black spheres appearing in the sky and moving at speed toward the sun, along with a large red sphere. The event was documented in a woodcut by Samuel Coccius and published in the Basel municipal gazette. Coming five years after the Nuremberg event, it represents the second major documented mass aerial phenomenon of the 16th century. Both the Basel and Nuremberg events were recorded by civic authorities, not just individual observers.