WALSCHEID (57) 16.07.2022

On 16 July 2022 at about 23:30, a witness and his friend saw a bright white circular light moving in a straight line at apparently low altitude before disappearing into clouds. Only 1 account was collected. GEIPAN considers the evidential basis moderate: the account is detailed, but the 2 photographs are too blurred to analyze. The investigation concludes that they very probably saw the ISS; see the investigation report. Its brightness, color and straight path fit the station, as the witness himself noted. The ISS was demonstrably visible from 23:44 to 23:51, about 15 minutes after the reported time. However, the witness gave 3 different times: 23:00, 23:30 and around midnight. He confirmed 23:30 by telephone only 3 months later. GEIPAN does not consider a 15-minute estimation error sufficient to rule out the explanation. The principal unusual feature is the reported apparent size, comparable to the Moon. GEIPAN considers it very likely that this referred to the defocused circular images in the photographs, rather than a naked-eye estimate. It classifies the case A: very probable observation of an ISS passage.