VARES (47) 09.02.2015

On 9 February 2015 between 20:00 and 23:00 in Varès (47), a witness saw an unusual stationary star-like light with red, green and blue colours. The analysis describes a 1-hour observation within that window. GEIPAN considers a prolonged fixed star-like object indicative of a distant astronomical phenomenon. The witness pointed towards Clayrac, about azimuth 165°, or Prayssas, 142°. The attached sky chart places Sirius, the brightest night-sky star, at azimuth 143° and elevation 21°. GEIPAN finds the colour changes and horizontal or vertical oscillations consistent with atmospheric scintillation and an autokinetic visual illusion; the source references “Une étoile ?” and its article on perceived motion of a point in the sky. The case is classified A: Sirius.