BLOIS (41) 28.12.2017

On Thursday 28 December 2017 at about 05:00, a witness in Blois (41) saw 2 nonflashing points of light moving north to south through a clear sky while maintaining their separation. The initial account gives 30 seconds. No particular sound was heard, and the lights disappeared below the horizon. Only 1 account was collected. A pair of NOSS satellites near the end of visibility followed roughly the same path at the witness's approximate time; see the investigation report. Calsky data give faint but naked-eye-visible brightness, magnitude 3, dimmer than Spica as the witness described. The duration was also given as 30 seconds to 1 minute, too imprecise for confirmation. Without a watch, the witness may have underestimated it. GEIPAN cannot be certain, but considers satellites highly probable because a close pair is distinctive. It classifies the case B: probable observation of 2 satellites following the same path.