Sighting in Le Châtelard, May 15, 1979
Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Sighting on May 15, 1979 in Le Châtelard (Savoie, France). GEIPAN considers the phenomenon probably identified (class B).
What happened
Several people who were working in fields noticed an object resting on the ground. It then rose and drifted slowly in a horizontal direction. The witnesses described it as spherical and metallic in color. It swayed from side to side as it moved, following the contours of the terrain at roughly 20 metres above the ground. It then picked up speed while climbing vertically.
Some of the witnesses were able to watch it for about thirty minutes, between roughly 2:15 and 2:45 p.m., until it gradually faded from view.
GEIPAN classed the case as B (probably identified). No information was found about a weather balloon being released in the area, but the witnesses' descriptions fit a balloon, and that is most likely what they saw.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- May 15, 1979
- Location
- Le Châtelard · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 1979-05-01720
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.