MADELEINE (LA) (59) 11.01.2020

From 00:30 on 11 January 2020, a witness noticed an unusual phenomenon in a lightly clouded sky. For 40 minutes, a white light resembling a large white tube repeatedly appeared, moving rapidly along a curved path. He saw no laser beam from the ground and wondered about the phenomenon apparently over the countryside around Verlinghem (59) or Prémesques (59). Tired, he went to bed after filming it with his phone. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN finds many features consistent with a laser or skytracker used on this Friday-to-Saturday night, probably by Le Manoir nightclub in Bailleul (59), although use there was not confirmed (see the investigation report). The elongated, diffuse shape is typical of an illuminated patch on clouds; perspective elongates a beam that is circular at the searchlight. White is a common searchlight colour. The beam itself was invisible to the witness and in the original video because excellent horizontal visibility meant few airborne particles to scatter its light. Enhancement nevertheless revealed it, showing that it was present but too distant or faint for direct perception and the untreated recording. Rapid, regular movements fit an automated system. Some sweeps were invisible because the light pointed farther away or beyond the cloud base; others were nearer, as initially when the witness placed it overhead. A weekend is a plausible time for such festive or promotional lighting, for example advertising a nightclub event. Skytrackers can reach or exceed 20 km, placing the suggested nightclub within range and in the viewing direction. Although investigators could not confirm operation of that searchlight on the night, the other witness information makes the explanation very probable. GEIPAN classifies the case A: very high probability of a laser/skytracker seen on clouds.