Orange half-sphere in Moselle explained by moonset

Summary

In February 1979 a driver in Moselle saw an orange half-sphere moving horizontally from southwest to northeast before fading. Initially classified C, the case was revisited years later by an amateur astronomer who returned to the spot in 2015 and compared lunar positions using astronomical calculations. The reconstruction showed the low Moon could appear exactly as described—orange and semi-spherical. The terrain's gentle slope, cloud cover, and the car's motion accounted for the brevity and apparent movement. GEIPAN reclassified the case as A: confusion with the setting Moon.