SAINT-YRIEIX-LA-PERCHE (87) 10.02.2015

On Tuesday 10 February 2015 at 21:05, a witness in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche watched 5 orange balls for 5–7 minutes. They seemed to approach silently, each apparently surrounded by a paler halo, and disappeared one after another. The source summary describes a rapid disappearance along an ascending path. GEIPAN considers orange balls visible for a few minutes strongly suggestive of Thai sky lanterns, probably released nearby after a private party. The slight movement from the northeast, with an impression of approach, was compatible with the 15–20 km/h northeasterly wind recorded in Limoges, as shown in the cited Météociel record for that day. GEIPAN notes that lantern releases more often take place at weekends, but that this date fell during school holidays and was conducive to carnival festivities. The case is classified B: probable sky lanterns.