AUGEA (39) 06.12.2018

On 6 December 2018 at about 20:20, a driver and his wife saw a very fast light move southwest to east. He described a powerful flashing white light at 15–20° elevation with a much weaker steady red, laser-like light above it. He had an impression of a large dark mass, like a large transport aircraft, around both points. His wife did not see the red light. They watched for 3–5 seconds and heard no sound even with the window open. No further account was collected. GEIPAN rates evidence moderate: two observers but one gendarmerie statement, no technical questionnaire and no imagery. The speed, brightness and brevity strongly suggest a fireball; the flashes resemble fragmentation-related flares. According to the International Meteor Organisation (IMO) website, at the exact reported time, seven observers in southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Italy saw a bright fireball to the west. Its southwest-to-northeast or west-to-east motion and angular elevation fit this account. Those seven described green, light blue or yellow, unlike this witness. GEIPAN notes that people can perceive colours differently—ten witnesses might give ten colours—and that a fireball can produce several colours during atmospheric entry. Classification A: fireball.