Sighting in Saint-Étienne-de-Boulogne, January 7, 2013
Ardèche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Sighting on January 7, 2013 in Saint-Étienne-de-Boulogne (Ardèche, France). GEIPAN considers the phenomenon probably identified (class B).
What happened
The witness was at the highest point of the Col de l'Escrinet in the Ardèche when a luminous phenomenon caught their eye in the sky. It was fire-coloured and trailed a broad yellow streak behind it. It crossed the sky from west to east along a horizontal path.
This sighting was linked to a simultaneous case reported by an airline pilot on the same day. Other accounts also appeared in the press.
Based on the witness accounts, GEIPAN concluded that the phenomenon was very probably the atmospheric re-entry of a piece of satellite debris, possibly from the Iridium 33 satellite. 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
- January 7, 2013
- Location
- Saint-Étienne-de-Boulogne · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2013-01-08390
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.