GARCHES (92) 14.10.2021

On Thursday 14 October 2021 shortly before 16:00 local time in Garches (92), a witness observed a silent luminous object he initially identified as a helicopter light. It ascended northward without rapid movement. He thought a cable or pole hung beneath it. Its brightness stayed constant, but he hoped to make out its outline when the light changed direction. He recorded 2 videos. Watching them later, he noticed in one a very white light resembling a flame from a nozzle, behind a darker circular shape that seemed to rotate rapidly clockwise. GEIPAN considers the amount of reliable information good: 1 witness, a complete account and 2 videos used in the analysis. This assessment concerns the quantity of information considered reliable collected for an account. The attached investigation report identifies a novelty balloon, possibly made of Mylar, a highly reflective polyester film, probably lost by its owner and drifting with the wind. Supporting features are the white colour visible in the videos, common in balloons; strong brightness from reflected sunlight; movement with the prevailing wind; continuous visibility, interpreted as light reflected in all directions as with a balloon; and a string or stick for holding it. GEIPAN classifies the case A: observation of a novelty balloon.