Sighting in Briis-sous-Forges, January 1, 2026

Shortly before dawn, a motorist was driving when a round, yellow-orange light appeared ahead. Its glow was diffuse and faint enough to look at directly without being dazzled. It looked like a sphere with slightly irregular edges, low in the sky, in surroundings that were still dark. It seemed to follow the vehicle as it moved. After a few moments it disappeared below the horizon, in under a minute, between 6:35 and 6:40 a.m.

There was only one witness and no usable recording. GEIPAN nevertheless rated the case's consistency as good. The technical questionnaire, the sketches and a reconstruction of the route made it possible to compare the witness's estimates with astronomical and weather data.

The investigation found that the direction the witness gave matched the position of the Moon, at about 309° azimuth and very low on the horizon. Clouds in that direction gradually hid it, which explains the quick disappearance. The orange tint and the altered outline are consistent with a Moon near the horizon in poor atmospheric conditions. The impression of being followed comes from the Moon's enormous distance: its apparent position barely changes as the observer moves, while nearby scenery rushes past. The case was classified A: the witness saw the setting Moon.