NICE (06) 21.08.2013

At 09:46 on Wednesday 21 August 2013, a walker in Nice (06) saw an intense light over the sea in a clear sky. It remained almost stationary and silent, gradually dimming until it disappeared after 20–25 minutes. No additional accounts were collected. The Sun was at azimuth 104° and elevation 32°. A steady northwesterly wind measured 19–28 km/h. GEIPAN found a nearly stationary bright point seen for about 20 minutes towards the beginning or end of a day strongly suggestive of a high-altitude balloon. This could not be verified, although it fitted the sighting. GEIPAN states that there were no regular weather-balloon launches from Nice or nearby, but several scientific institutes could release balloons in southeastern France or Italy. Modelling their movement was very complex because high-altitude winds, often strong, differ from surface winds. GEIPAN assessed the case as low in strangeness and classified it B: probable weather balloon.