SkyUnknown
Back to the map
Insufficient data

Sighting in Menton, August 7, 2012

Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Sighting on August 7, 2012 in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes, France). GEIPAN could not reach a conclusion for lack of sufficient information (class C).

What happened

A witness saw a very bright luminous sphere cross the sky from west to east at about 9:31 p.m. The account gives no further detail on how long it lasted, its exact appearance or its apparent size.

The description strongly resembles the passage of a large satellite in low orbit, at an altitude of 300 to 400 km. However, a check against the worldwide satellite database found no match with this sighting. The object may be one that is not listed, such as a military satellite. Because precise information was lacking, the GEIPAN classed the case, regarded as of low strangeness, as category C (insufficient data).

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

Date
August 7, 2012
Location
Menton · town centre
Type of sighting
From the ground
Source classification
C

Sources

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