Sighting in Villerupt, August 13, 2013
Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est, France
Sighting on August 13, 2013 in Villerupt (Meurthe-et-Moselle, France). GEIPAN identified the phenomenon with certainty: it was one or more satellites (class A).
What happened
At around 8 p.m., the witness noticed a bright point in the sky moving along a straight path. It travelled slowly and its brightness stayed constant. At one point the object suddenly began to shine much more intensely.
The GEIPAN rated the case as moderately strange but sufficiently robust, since the account contained many precise, consistent details that made it credible. The investigation concluded that this was a classic misidentification of a satellite flare. Further research pointed to the most likely source: the Russian military satellite Cosmos 2268, a Strela-3 type that was no longer under control. After looking into it, the witness themselves validated and confirmed this hypothesis. The case was classified A: a satellite reflection phenomenon involving the former satellite Cosmos 2268.
Account rewritten by SkyUnknown from the investigation report published by GEIPAN (CNES). The original text and case documents are on the official record.
- Date
- August 13, 2013
- Location
- Villerupt · town centre
- Type of sighting
- From the ground
- Source classification
- A
- Explanation
- Satellites
Sources
- See the original document
GEIPAN (CNES)
n° 2013-08-08542
Summary written by SkyUnknown from the facts published by the source.