Orange ball mistaken for the Moon at Bierre-lès-Semur

Summary

In July 1978, a camper near Bierre-lès-Semur photographed a slow-moving orange ball near the horizon, shaped like an inverted cup. He took three photographs before it disappeared silently. Photo analysis revealed nothing abnormal and the gendarmerie found no other witnesses.

The most plausible explanation points to the Moon. Its position matched the reported direction and altitude, and at just 2° above the horizon its appearance can be significantly altered by the atmosphere and cloud cover, producing unusual shapes and colours. The final southward movement could be explained by drifting clouds. GEIPAN classified the case as B, attributing it to a probable misidentification of the reddish Moon.