Sighting in La Teste-de-Buch, January 18, 2012
Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Sighting on January 18, 2012 in La Teste-de-Buch (Gironde, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably a sky lantern (class B).
What happened
A couple saw two groups of orange fireballs pass by on two occasions: around 10:45 pm on 18 January 2012, and again around 12:15 am during the night of 18 to 19 January. Each time, the shapes moved silently and at a constant speed. The witnesses said they were heading toward Bordeaux.
GEIPAN noted that this description, silent orange balls moving at a steady speed, immediately suggests Thai lanterns. Such releases tend to happen more often at weekends, but Chinese New Year on 23 January may have prompted several celebrations around that time. The Bordeaux weather data showed a south wind, whereas movement toward Bordeaux points more to a south-west wind. The lanterns could have been released from one of the many villas or restaurants located to the south-west of the town.
GEIPAN classified the case as B: probable sighting of Thai lanterns.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- January 18, 2012
- Location
- La Teste-de-Buch · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Sky lanterns
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2012-01-08200
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.