PASSAGE (LE) (47) 08.10.2015

On 8 October 2015 at 05:00 in Le Passage (47), a witness noticed a very bright light in the clear sky. He took photographs and found another object in the images. Only 1 account was collected. He reported a bright point to the east; a telephone conversation clarified its position as below and to the left of the Moon. Numerous images show varying camera shake despite a tripod. GEIPAN explains that pressing the shutter button without a remote release or timer was enough to cause substantial blur with a 300 mm lens. Other points in the uncropped photographs were identified beyond doubt as stars 31 Leo, Pi Leo, HIP 48876 and HIP 48734, confirming that the photographed bright object was Venus. Cropped and enhanced photographs 7298–7301, unfortunately not supplied in full, show an odd saucer shape. Viewing their thumbnails in suitable software, such as XnView, reveals the original framing and shows that Venus was off-centre in these images. The strange form may be a photographic artefact, a flare or unwanted reflection, or a real lenticular cloud. The source states that assessment by photography and weather experts was ongoing. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation and photographs of Venus, with a probable photographic artefact.