MONTMORILLON (86) 05.04.2015

On 5 April 2015 between 21:30 and 23:00, a motorist near Montmorillon (86) saw an intense stationary elongated light in a clear sky. He stopped several times to watch it. GEIPAN considers a prolonged bright point apparently following the observer while staying west at the same elevation typical of a celestial body. Venus was particularly bright and exactly in the reported direction. After GEIPAN contacted him, the witness checked a few days later and confirmed Venus there. The elongated shape seen initially was absent during that later check. GEIPAN suggests visual fatigue or an atmospheric effect distorting the planet's point-like image as possible explanations. The case is classified A: observation of Venus.