MARSEILLE (13) 12.09.2014

A report received on 18 December 2015 concerned a sighting in Marseille (13) on 12 September 2014, between 06:00 and 07:00. The witness noticed a light making circles in the sky before departing in a straight line into a cloud. The object was oval and gray-white. He had time to photograph it. No other account was collected. GEIPAN's photograph analysis shows a luminous form ahead of a faint white trail and favors an aircraft. At sunrise or sunset, aircraft are lit from the side; shaded wings can be darker than the blue-sky background and disappear from view. Strong sunlight reflections from the fuselage or windows can create a very bright point, making the visible shape resemble a cigar, oval or trapezoid, both to the eye and in photographs. A white trail also supports an aircraft. GEIPAN nevertheless notes that the circling movements described are surprising for this explanation. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable observation and photographs of an aircraft at sunrise. The witness initially placed the photographs around 06:00 on 12 September 2014, whereas their recorded timestamp was 20:16. He explained that the camera's clock was incorrect and that the sighting may have been a little later than he first stated. From the brightness of the sky, GEIPAN estimates a time around 06:50.