Sighting in Cenon, April 19, 2016

At about 3:56 a.m., a witness looking out of a window at the clear night sky saw a glow travel across it from the southeast to the northwest. As it passed directly overhead, the witness made out an orange-white ball surrounded by an orange halo around its edge. It was not very bright, moved without making any sound and left no trail behind it. The witness followed it for about five seconds before losing sight of it. No one else reported the phenomenon.

The witness's description was very precise. A drawing, posted on a website but not supplied to the GEIPAN, showed the path of the object plotted on the window from which it was seen. The GEIPAN found that the colour, shape and trajectory, consistent with the local easterly wind, matched a Thai lantern in flight in every respect. The case was therefore classed B: a probable sighting of a Thai lantern.