Luminous Balls in Côte-d'Or

Summary

In May 2004, a witness and his son observed strange luminous phenomena in the sky for several hours. They described large glowing balls, much bigger than stars, appearing green or yellow, and moving in unusual ways. Initially, the case was classified as unexplained, but after a new review, investigators concluded it was likely Venus. The observation occurred on two consecutive evenings, which raised suspicion. The witnesses used binoculars and recorded video, which may have exaggerated the perception of movement and color.

The investigation revealed that Venus, along with other stars, formed a "V" shape moving toward the horizon. This phenomenon, combined with atmospheric effects and possible video artifacts, could have created the illusion of strange objects. Today, GEIPAN classifies this case as a probable observation of Venus, as the characteristics match what one would expect when viewing this planet under certain conditions. The initial confusion was explained by optical tools and recordings that can distort visual perception.