UFO observed in Lot (France) in 1985

Summary

On the night of January 24, 1985, two witnesses in the Lot department of France observed an unusual aerial phenomenon. According to the GEIPAN report, the witnesses described two flashes followed by a brief, intense light, then an object moving slowly and silently, shaped and sized like a rugby ball. This object, with a milky color and surrounded by a whitish halo, remained visible for several minutes. Later, detonations were heard, although there was no power outage in the house. The GEIPAN reviewed this case, originally classified as D, and reclassified it as A, linking it to a meteorite entering the atmosphere. The phenomenon's characteristics—intense light, halo, and delayed detonations—are consistent with a meteorite's atmospheric entry. Additionally, other witnesses in the area reported similar observations, supporting this hypothesis.

The GEIPAN updated its classification thanks to new technological tools and accumulated experience. In this case, the phenomenon aligns with what is known about meteorite entries, where light and sound arrive with a delay due to altitude. Although initially considered unexplained, it is now understood as a natural event. The GEIPAN concludes that the case corresponds to a very probable observation of a meteorite's atmospheric entry, allowing the case to be closed without further investigation. These types of phenomena, though striking, are now better understood and documented by institutions dedicated to studying meteorites and aerial events.