UFO mistaken for Jupiter in the Mediterranean

Summary

On the night of March 2, 2018, a tourist on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean observed a bright phenomenon that initially seemed like an unidentified flying object. While trying to take photos of the full moon, the witness noticed an extremely bright point in the sky. Intrigued, he took two photographs before the phenomenon suddenly disappeared. When returning to his cabin, he was surprised to realize he had been outside much longer than he had thought. The sole testimony revealed that the observed phenomenon was actually the planet Jupiter, whose position matched exactly with the PAN. Using specialized software, it was confirmed that Jupiter was at 19° above the horizon, 85° to the left of the moon, exactly where the witness described the PAN.

The case highlights how an astronomical observation can be interpreted as something extraordinary, especially when combined with factors like long exposure in the photos, which distort visual perception. The witness, fascinated by what he saw, even thought the two photos showed different "faces" of the object. Although it was eventually identified as Jupiter, the case illustrates how the human mind can attribute mystery to natural phenomena. Additionally, the witness speculated that the ship's crew may have decided not to disclose the event out of fear of unsettling passengers. The GEIPAN classified the case as "A," meaning explained as an astronomical observation.