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Sighting in Issoire, July 24, 1980

Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Sighting on July 24, 1980 in Issoire (Puy-de-Dôme, France). GEIPAN could not reach a conclusion for lack of sufficient information (class C).

What happened

Two witnesses were on their way home at about 4:30 in the morning when they noticed a very bright white ball in the sky. It gave off an intense light that lit up the countryside. The ball rose, then changed course with a right-angle manoeuvre and headed north, before coming to a stop. The witnesses watched it for about an hour, even though its brightness hurt their eyes.

They then went to bed, but heard crackling sounds. One of them had taken photographs, but these could not be used: the photographer declared the film "burnt" and refused to develop it. Later the same day, one of the witnesses reported seeing the very bright white ball again. No other witness in the area came forward.

GEIPAN gathered no further information about the phenomenon. Because the data were insufficient, the case was classified C.

Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.

Date
July 24, 1980
Location
Issoire · town centre
Type of sighting
From the ground
Source classification
C

Sources

Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.