Bolide observed in Saint-Hilaire in 2012

Summary

On August 26, 2012, at 22:07, a witness in Saint-Hilaire (Aude) saw a bright white ball pass rapidly across the sky. The phenomenon was silent and lasted only one second. Although only one formal questionnaire was received, the GEIPAN received additional testimonies by email from witnesses in the southwest of France. This kind of event, known as a bolide, is caused by natural meteoroids entering the atmosphere. They occur at great altitudes, between 80 and 30 kilometers, and can be seen from an area up to 500 kilometers in diameter. For this reason, witnesses in Agen, Toulouse, and Martel also reported seeing it. The GEIPAN classified the case as "A", meaning a confirmed bolide.