Sighting in Rentree Atmospherique — National, August 1, 1996
France
Sighting on August 1, 1996 in Rentree Atmospherique — National (France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably the atmospheric re-entry of a space object (rocket stage, debris) (class B).
What happened
In the evening, a very large number of witnesses saw a very bright white ball race across the sky, trailing a yellow and green streak. The luminous phenomenon lasted about thirty seconds. Descriptions matched all the way from the Cantal to Alsace.
The times given by witnesses differed slightly, but the event appears to have taken place between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m., with the object moving toward the northwest.
GEIPAN concluded that this large-scale phenomenon, seen by many witnesses in eastern France, was probably an atmospheric re-entry. The case is 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
- August 1, 1996
- Location
- Rentree Atmospherique — National · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Re-entries
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 1996-08-01430
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.