PANZOULT (37) 12.08.2020

The title dates this Panzoult (37) case to 12 August 2020, but the French narrative gives 12 August 2010. Between 05:00 and 06:00, a witness in his garden saw a point of light toward the northeast in a cloudy sky. He went indoors and, on returning outside, saw what he took to be the same point toward the southeast. Its path appeared irregular. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN's investigation found that in the very cloudy sky he had successively seen 2 celestial objects, the star Capella and the planet Mars, with an additional physiological autokinetic effect, described by the source as ocular micromovement; see the investigation report. The conclusion rests on their point-like appearance; the reported yellow-white color matching Capella, though somewhat different from the more reddish Mars; initially strong brightness comparable to Venus, with Mars somewhat dimmer; initial and final azimuths and elevations matching the 2 celestial objects; and irregular movement that GEIPAN attributes to the autokinetic effect rather than actual motion. GEIPAN considers that the witness did not realize he was seeing different objects because they were very similar in color and brightness. He had briefly gone inside shortly after first seeing Capella, which clouds obscured during his absence. On returning, he could see Mars in the southeast, unobscured at that moment. As these were probably the only celestial objects visible in succession, he understandably thought he was seeing the same phenomenon. GEIPAN classifies the case as A: successive observations of Capella and Mars, accompanied by a physiological effect of ocular micromovement.