VAL-DE-REUIL (27) 23.10.2011

On 23 October 2011 at about 04:45, a woman driving and her passenger noticed a low light in the sky showing various colours, including blue and red, and unusual shapes. It remained stationary and silent during 45 minutes of observation. She then continued her journey. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN considers a light stationary for more than 30 minutes only slightly unusual; the witness’s descriptions of triangles and luminous threads create the unusual impression. Evidential support is weak because only 1 witness agreed to contact GEIPAN. The witness initially recognized a star, then perceived details after looking closely. GEIPAN therefore favours a star, with low-lying Sirius a good candidate. Strong scintillation in these conditions, with multiple changing colours, often causes such misidentifications. However, Sirius’s position differs noticeably from the direction later established by the investigator, 18 months after the event. The case is classified B: probable astronomical observation of Sirius.