[D47] de MEYRUEIS (48) vers LANUEJOLS (30) 21.09.2014

On 21 September 2014 at about 21:00, a motorist and passengers on the D47 from Meyrueis (48) towards Lanuéjols (30) noticed several coloured lights of unknown nature near the horizon. Only 1 account was collected. The investigation report identifies, on the one hand, colour, regular flashing and stationary positions matching legally required night warning lights on wind turbines; excellent visibility allowing them to be seen at long range; azimuth measurements and terrain elevation profiles confirming visibility from successive witness positions; low angular elevation; and an illusion of movement worsened by the lack of reference points for judging azimuths. On the other hand, a Calsky calculation confirmed a powerful Iridium satellite reflection, magnitude -7.0, visible from the witnesses' first position around the observation time. Its rapid disappearance matched the brief visibility of such flares. GEIPAN concludes that the witnesses first saw, simultaneously to the west, the warning lights of one group of wind turbines and an Iridium flare, then saw the lights of a second turbine group to the southwest. The case is classified A: certain observation of night warning lights on 2 distinct groups of wind turbines and an Iridium flare.