UFO shaped like a saucer over Palaiseau

Summary

A family driving in a car observed on February 2, 2002, at 7:40 PM, a glowing object shaped like a saucer above a forested area in Essonne. The object, with a dome on top, displayed white lights spaced along its edge and measured about 15 meters in diameter. Despite its size, it emitted no noise. The witnesses lost sight of the object after changing direction on the road. Initially classified as case D, the investigation was reopened after a suggestion that it could have been a water tower. Eventually, it was determined that the object observed was likely a secondary radar associated with Orly Airport. This finding led to the case being reclassified as B.

The case illustrates how an unidentified aerial object can be explained by conventional elements, in this case a radar. The radar's location matched perfectly with the witnesses' description, suggesting that visual confusion was the main cause of the sighting. Although initially thought to be a water tower, a more detailed analysis pointed to an air traffic control installation. This type of resolution highlights the importance of thoroughly investigating sighting reports to avoid hasty conclusions.