Sighting in Malaucène, September 18, 1977

Between 10:30 and 10:35 p.m., two witnesses saw a fire-orange luminous phenomenon in the direction of the Bel-Air hill. They had time to make out a rectangular shape, which quickly vanished behind the hill while still lighting up the immediate surroundings.

The gendarmerie investigation found a third witness, who described a bright light seen behind another hill about three weeks earlier. That account was too vague (uncertain date, unknown time) to be used. A press appeal for witnesses brought in no further reports.

GEIPAN re-examined the case, which had first been classified C. It judged the case consistent, since it rests on two witnesses and a fairly precise description, and the witnesses' sincerity was never questioned. The shape, size, color and glow match those of the setting Moon, and the Moon was indeed in the part of the sky they were watching, though the witnesses did not mention it. Their perception was not at fault; rather, their interpretation was influenced by how they felt (tiredness, observing at night). The case, of medium strangeness, is now classified A: a misidentification of the Moon.