Sighting in Val-de-Reuil, October 23, 2011

At around 4:45 a.m., a driver and their passenger noticed a luminous phenomenon low in the sky. Its colors kept changing, between blue and red, and it seemed to take on unusual shapes. It stayed motionless and no sound was heard. The observation lasted about three quarters of an hour, after which the witness decided to continue their journey.

Only one account was collected. GEIPAN rated the strangeness as low: the phenomenon stayed fixed for more than 30 minutes, and only the witness's description, with triangles and threads of light, makes it seem odd. The consistency of the case is also low, since no second witness came forward.

The witness first recognized a star and only saw details after looking at it closely. GEIPAN therefore favored that explanation: Sirius, low on the horizon, is a good candidate. In such viewing conditions it twinkles strongly and seems to change color, and it is often mistaken for something else in this way. The investigator did note a significant gap between the position of Sirius and the viewing direction the witness indicated, but that direction was recorded 18 months after the event. The case was classified B: probable sighting of Sirius.