NOGENT-SUR-MARNE (94) 09.10.2023

On 9 October 2023 at about 17:20, a witness in Nogent-sur-Marne (94) saw a rainbow-colored ball to the right of the Sun. He was in a car facing it, but confirmed that it remained visible after he got out, so it was not caused by the windows. GEIPAN commends this direct check without the windscreen. He also took 2 photographs. The photographs allow GEIPAN to identify an iridescent cloud. Referring to Méprises du ciel, the source describes atmospheric iridescence as relatively rare: sunlight passing through medium-altitude clouds can separate into the full range of rainbow colors. It states that iridescent clouds occur within 30° of the Sun or Moon and that the effect can sometimes also appear in aircraft contrails or the trail of an ascending rocket. The case is classified as A: observation of an iridescent cloud.