NANTES (44) 25.06.2015

On 25 June 2015 at about 03:15, a witness watched a point of light moving in a straight line for 10–15 seconds and identified it as a satellite. He then saw a larger white-and-orange light travelling rapidly, silently and without flashing. It seemed to stop, abruptly change direction and disappear. CalSky satellite predictions show numerous satellites visible around that time on roughly north–south or south–north paths. Cosmos 2428, visible from north-northwest towards south between 03:00 and 03:12, may have been the first object, although other satellites also fit. The much brighter phenomenon that drew the witness’s attention travelled south to north and disappeared after 10–15 seconds. Both CalSky and Heavens-Above show an Iridium 52 flare visible from Nantes at 03:25, with the satellite orbiting south to north. See the information on Iridium satellite flares. The witness described a right-angle turn and sudden acceleration before disappearance. GEIPAN explains that such descriptions are common when satellites enter Earth’s shadow or their brightness suddenly ceases because their orientation relative to the Sun changes. The sudden dimming is unconsciously interpreted as recession into the distance. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of an Iridium 52 flare.