Sighting in Savigné-sur-Lathan, March 17, 2009
Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Sighting on March 17, 2009 in Savigné-sur-Lathan (Indre-et-Loire, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably the International Space Station (ISS) (class B).
What happened
The witness saw two points of light pass across the sky. They described a change of direction, which happened while the objects were behind a chimney, as well as changes in brightness and appearance, with the objects looking redder as they neared the horizon.
The GEIPAN investigation found that at the time of the sighting, the space shuttle was approaching the International Space Station. By the following day it had docked with the ISS. The account fits well with seeing this pair of objects together. The change of direction occurred behind the chimney, which suggests the witness misjudged the direction of travel. The changes in brightness are normal, since the reflection of sunlight varies during a pass, and nearness to the horizon reddens the look of any luminous object. The case was classified B: probable sighting of the space shuttle and the ISS.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- March 17, 2009
- Location
- Savigné-sur-Lathan · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Space station (ISS)
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2009-03-02236
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.