Luminous object over Haute-Garonne identified as a stratospheric balloon

Summary

In September 1976, several witnesses in Haute-Garonne reported a silent, color-changing spherical luminous object. The investigation quickly determined it was a stratospheric balloon launched by the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES). The color shifts were caused by solar light diffraction in the atmosphere, and air currents visually distorted the balloon. Case resolved.