Sighting in Valenciennes, July 14, 2011
Nord, Hauts-de-France, France
Sighting on July 14, 2011 in Valenciennes (Nord, France). According to GEIPAN, it was most probably a sky lantern (class B).
What happened
A witness and their spouse saw a bright orange glow cross the sky at 11:49 p.m. It moved silently, at a steady speed and along a straight path. The witness filmed it with a mobile phone for the last 43 seconds during which it remained visible, and later posted the video online.
The investigation found that the description matched a Thai lantern: size, light, movement, date and time all fit. However, the place where such a lantern might have been released was never looked into, which is why the case is classed B (probably identified). The gendarmerie report, received on 4 November 2011, points to another possibility: a flying wing whose brightness would come from LEDs connected to a battery.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- July 14, 2011
- Location
- Valenciennes · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- B
- Explanation
- Sky lanterns
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2011-07-02788
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.