TREMBLADE (LA) (17) 22.11.2013

In the case dated 22 November 2013 at La Tremblade (17), a witness reported a prolonged sighting of a white light in a clear sky that sometimes twinkled blue. No sound was heard, and no other account was collected. GEIPAN considers the long, repeated early-evening sightings of a very bright point near the southwest characteristic of Venus, particularly conspicuous then at magnitude -4.6. It attributes brightness variations to atmospheric variability, probably related to the nearby ocean. The reported directions broadly match Venus; see the witness's map and GEIPAN's map. However, the witness estimated about 45° elevation while Venus was around 10°, and reported substantial movement across the sky. GEIPAN considers these inconsistencies probably due to a lack of precise reference points and observations from multiple locations. The witness mentioned the Moon, absent at that hour on 22 November, but clarified in a separate message that the Moon had been seen on Tuesday 19 November. GEIPAN classifies the case as B: probable observation of Venus.