Silver sphere in Haute-Garonne from 1998

Summary

In August 1998, a couple in Haute-Garonne observed a bright sphere moving in a zigzag pattern across the sky. The object, described as silvery and silent, disappeared suddenly toward the Moon. A second witness, in a distant city, also reported the phenomenon, though contact could not be reestablished. Initially classified as a type C case, the GEIPAN reevaluated the incident using modern tools and accumulated experience. The most plausible explanation points to the Mir space station, which was indeed passing through the observed area at the time. Although the witnesses did not recognize it, their description matched Mir's characteristics, which entered Earth's shadow at the end of its trajectory. The case was reclassified as a PAN A, indicating a misidentification with the Mir space station.