SAINTE-HELENE (33) 11.01.2022

Early on 11 January 2022, a resident of Sainte-Hélène (33) was walking his dog and looking at a clear sky above ground fog extending to about 100 m. Suddenly, he saw a bright yellowish light fall from northwest towards southeast. He stopped to watch; it lasted about 2 seconds and vanished abruptly. He initially thought of a meteorite, but it lacked a trail unlike those he had previously seen. GEIPAN rates evidential support as moderate, with only 1 witness and no photograph. The shape, duration and apparent speed strongly suggest a fireball. FRIPON detected one from Dax (40) at the reported time and in a matching direction (see the investigation report). The absence of a visible trail caused the unusual impression. GEIPAN explains that fireballs can sometimes be seen without trails depending on viewing conditions; the fog could also have hidden a faint one. The case is classified A: fireball.