Sighting in Santo-Pietro-di-Venaco, January 11, 2003

On a Saturday evening, around 6:15 to 6:20 pm, a driver and a passenger were travelling on the RN193 towards Corte when a bright green light with white flashes passed quickly and silently across the sky. The night sky was clear. Both witnesses described a circular shape that followed a south-to-north path for a few seconds. The first witness made out several details inside the circle, such as openings and position lights. The second saw no details and ended up describing it as a "streak of light". No sound was heard.

The case was first classified D, then re-examined as part of the review of GEIPAN's archives. The description matches that of a meteoroid entering the atmosphere: a duration of a few seconds, a high angular speed, and intense colours (fluorescent green, yellow) with halos. The witnesses mentioned no trail, but a round shape. The silence fits too, since they were in a car and a meteoroid is often silent to those who see it. Since 2003, GEIPAN has gained considerable experience with this kind of account, partly through collaboration with specialised sites (IMO, BOAM, FRIPON, REFORME). These features are common in confirmed meteoroid entries, so it is highly probable that this was one as well. GEIPAN therefore classified the case as B: probable observation of a meteoroid entry.