The Gangwon Sightings of 1609
The official royal annals of Korea record that, on one day in 1609, glowing objects shaped like bowls and gourds crossed the skies over five towns.
What was reported
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the official record of Korea's kings, include a report from the governor of Gangwon Province in 1609, in the first year of King Gwanghaegun's reign. On a single day, people in five districts saw strange objects in the sky.
They were described in different ways: like a large bowl, a gourd, a washbasin or a red pear, some moving quickly and giving off light and sound. The governor checked the reports before sending them to the court.
Explanations offered
Historians and astronomers have suggested a large meteor or fireball breaking up, which could look different from different places, or other natural phenomena. The annals record many unusual sky events, and this one stands out for being seen in several places at once.
- When
- September 1609
- Where
- Gangwon Province, Korea
- Witnesses
- Officials and residents in five districts, recorded in the royal annals
- Status
- Unexplained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.