SkyUnknown
Back to the map
Insufficient data

Sighting in Nice, April 25, 1997

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

Sighting on April 25, 1997 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes, France). GEIPAN could not reach a conclusion for lack of sufficient information (class C).

What happened

The account was collected in 2009, more than eleven years after the events of 1997. From their office, the witness watched a large yellow point of light with an iridescent quality moving slowly in a straight line from south to north. The observation lasted 20 to 25 minutes. No one else reported seeing the phenomenon.

The description suggested a high-altitude balloon. However, Météo-France reported light winds from the southwest that day, which does not quite fit the direction of travel described. If it was a scientific balloon, it is unclear where it could have come from, possibly Italy.

The sighting closely resembles that of a balloon, but GEIPAN lacks the information needed to confirm or rule out this explanation. Given the age of the case and its low strangeness, it was classified 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
April 25, 1997
Location
Nice · town centre
Type of sighting
From the ground
Source classification
C

Sources

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