ARTIGUES-PRES-BORDEAUX (33) 25.01.2025

On 25 January 2025 at 14:00, 2 witnesses in Artigues-près-Bordeaux (33) saw a black sphere with a metallic appearance. It moved slowly in a straight line from west to east at a constant elevation of 45°. After about 10 seconds, a building obscured it, ending direct observation. GEIPAN rates the evidential support as moderate: only 1 of the 2 witnesses reported the sighting, and there is no photograph or video. In GEIPAN’s terminology, evidential support is the amount of reliable, objectively established information collected for an account. GEIPAN considers the sighting only slightly unusual, chiefly because of the UAP’s metallic appearance. The investigation favours a novelty Mylar balloon, with an aluminized envelope, carried by the wind (see the weather appendix). This conclusion rests on its round shape, typical of such balloons; its black metallic appearance, characteristic of Mylar; its straight west-to-east movement with the wind; and its low speed, consistent with the wind and the distance travelled. However, the accuracy of the reported date or time remains uncertain. Weather records for the stated period show complete cloud cover and precipitation over Bordeaux, weakening the match with the reported visual conditions. GEIPAN classifies the case B: probable observation of a Mylar balloon.