VILLENEUVE-LES-BORDES (77) 11.11.2016

On 11 November 2016 around 22:00, a witness outside his home in Villeneuve-les-Bordes (Seine-et-Marne) saw a stationary bright star-like object to the northwest, left of Ursa Major, at an estimated 60° elevation. Looking more closely, he perceived small zigzags alternating left to right and back, within an apparent span of 10–15 cm at arm's length. It returned close to its original position, slightly offset. Looking east, he then noticed a second high, star-like phenomenon with similar slight irregular movements. Both remained visible when he stopped watching. The total duration could not be established precisely. He also reported similar observations before and after 11 November. This investigation specifically concerns that date; explanatory material about other occurrences is in the annex. Substantiation is moderate: 1 witness, but substantial information and photographs of later observations. GEIPAN defines substantiation as the amount of reliable, objectively established information collected for an account. The investigation identified the 2 objects seen on 11 November as Vega and Capella (see investigation report). Vega's approximately 30° elevation discrepancy between the witness's estimate and its true position is not considered decisive against identification, because he estimated the elevation in daylight after observing at night. The perceived strangeness—rapid abrupt left/right movements and zigzags returning within a few apparent centimeters of the initial position, all within the 10–15 cm span—can be explained by the autokinetic effect. The case is classified A: observation of Vega and Capella.