BEAUMONT-EN-VERON (37) 23.02.2014

On 23 February 2014 at 22:10, a couple in Beaumont-en-Véron (37) watched through a large glazed window as a very bright light moved silently in a straight line. It then repeatedly rose and fell, turned red and disappeared westward. The 2–3-minute observation was described as occurring in a clear sky. GEIPAN finds an incandescent light with red reflections moving generally horizontally, with small vertical movements over several minutes, suggestive of a windborne sky lantern, probably released nearby after a private party. Météociel records for Tours give extensive cloud cover of 7/8, differing from the reported clear sky, and easterly wind of 17–28 km/h. That wind supports the hypothesis. However, lantern releases are more frequent on Saturdays than on this Sunday evening. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable sky lantern.