Green and orange flashes over Chantonnay explained as Sirius

Summary

Between 7:40 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on January 24, 1976, several people — including gendarmes — watched a luminous object displaying green and orange flashes above Chantonnay. It moved only slightly and made no sound. The sighting was logged by local authorities.

Investigators concluded that the witnesses had been observing the star Sirius, which was especially bright and low on the horizon at that time of year. The colour shifts are consistent with atmospheric scintillation typical of stars near the horizon.