Sighting in Pajay, December 21, 1976
Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Sighting on December 21, 1976 in Pajay (Isère, France). GEIPAN considers the phenomenon probably identified (class B).
What happened
A witness watched a multicoloured luminous phenomenon through binoculars between 10:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. Two other people also saw it, and to them it appeared to stay stationary in the sky.
The GEIPAN investigation concluded that it was most likely Sirius, a star that is perfectly visible at that time of year. The colours the main witness described were probably produced by two effects combined: the star's twinkling, caused by disturbances in the atmosphere, and the chromatic aberration of ordinary consumer binoculars, which creates iridescent fringes around very bright points of light. The case was classified B, probably identified.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- December 21, 1976
- Location
- Pajay · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 1976-12-00373
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.