Giant Star in Aveyron 2011

Summary

On August 19, 2011, a witness in Aveyron observed what appeared to be a "very large star" during a night walk. Initially stationary, the light quickly ascended toward the zenith before suddenly disappearing. The testimony mentions no unusual sounds and the observation lasted about 10 seconds. Given the time and description, the possibility of a satellite—such as the International Space Station (ISS), which was visible that night—was considered. However, the lack of precise details prevents confirming with certainty what was seen. The sudden disappearance and the perception of movement toward the zenith could be explained by an optical illusion, common with bright points of light that vanish abruptly. The GEIPAN classified this case as "C" due to insufficient information for a more in-depth investigation.