The '1561 Celestial Phenomenon Over Nuremberg' refers to a mass sighting of an aerial phenomenon over the city of Nuremberg, Germany, on April 14, 1561. This event was documented in a broadsheet news pamphlet by Hans Glaser later that month. The broadsheet describes an event where residents of Nuremberg saw what appeared to be an aerial battle, followed by the appearance of a large black triangular object and then a large crash outside of the city. The sky was reportedly filled with various shapes and objects including crosses, spheres, and tubes among others, which moved erratically overhead.
The broadsheet contains a woodcut engraving and a description of the event, which has been interpreted in many ways over the years. During the time of the event, it was perceived as a religious or supernatural sign, often interpreted within the framework of 'sky battles' and divine omens.
In modern times, the phenomenon is often cited in discussions of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Some UFO enthusiasts consider it one of the earliest documented instances of a mass UFO sighting, although there are also skeptical interpretations suggesting these were just atmospheric optical phenomena exacerbated by religious interpretations.
