Bright sphere in Fréjus explained as a Mylar balloon

Summary

In July 1979, two witnesses in Fréjus saw a very bright sphere performing complex manoeuvres — descending from clouds, hopping between hills, and hovering. Neither radar nor other observers corroborated the sighting. A modern review by GEIPAN concluded that strong wind conditions were consistent with the behaviour of a Mylar balloon, whose metallic surface reflects sunlight intensely and whose shape is only discernible up close. The difficulty of estimating distance and speed with the naked eye amplified the strangeness. Originally classified as unexplained, the case is now considered resolved.