Gouviex 2008, Orange Balls in the Sky

Summary

In September 2008, a witness in Gouviex (France) observed a dozen orange glowing balls in the night sky. These moved silently in a line, at low altitude, between the towns of Gouviex and Precy-sur-Oise. The balls emitted bright orange light, as if illuminated from within. Although the GEIPAN only received one direct testimony, the gendarmerie recorded two additional calls about lights in the sky. The report concluded that these were likely Thai lanterns, a hypothesis strengthened by the timing of the event on a festive weekend night and the wind direction matching the east-west movement observed.

The witness's description, from the colors to the shapes and trajectory, perfectly fit the characteristics of traditional lanterns. Additionally, other reports from the same night aligned with this explanation, leading the GEIPAN to classify the case as a Thai lantern observation. While other possibilities were not ruled out, the conventional explanation proved most consistent with the available data.