Sighting in Six-Fours-les-Plages, November 25, 2012
Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Sighting on November 25, 2012 in Six-Fours-les-Plages (Var, France). GEIPAN identified the phenomenon with certainty: it was a light from the ground (searchlight, laser, vehicle…) (class A).
What happened
Two witnesses were on the corniche of the Fort de la Collégiale when they noticed a point of light above the sea, between the Gaou peninsula and the island of Embiez. Intrigued, they watched it for about three hours. Photos were taken.
During the investigation, an employee of the "Marine Traffic" service gave decisive help. Thanks to this, a container ship, the "Mol Marvel", was identified: it was sailing south of Toulon at the time. It matched the light, since its passage in the direction described coincided with the date and time of the sighting. Its size, speed and distance from the coast are consistent with the testimonies and the photos.
GEIPAN therefore classified the case as A: the phenomenon was fully identified and was the lighting of a ship.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- November 25, 2012
- Location
- Six-Fours-les-Plages · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- A
- Explanation
- Ground lights and lasers
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2012-11-08369
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.