Tourlaville 2012, silent orange lights

Summary

On May 6, 2012, between 11:00 PM and 11:30 PM, several witnesses in Tourlaville (Manche, France) observed silent, orange glowing points moving in the sky. These lights seemed to fade and disappear after a few minutes. Their appearance (orange spheres), movement with the easterly wind, short duration, and silent motion clearly suggest Thai lanterns. Investigators from GEIPAN concluded that these were likely launched by a joyful citizen celebrating the outcome of the presidential elections. Although mysterious at first glance, the most plausible explanation points to a local festive tradition.