Claret (04) 22.08.2012

Summary

A witness in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence observed a luminous point on August 22, 2012, at 22:19. The object initially followed a straight trajectory but then made sudden left and right movements before disappearing. The GEIPAN report concluded that it was the International Space Station (ISS), and the apparent erratic motion was due to an optical illusion known as "autokinetic effect." This phenomenon occurs when a bright object moves against a sky without fixed references, causing the brain to misinterpret its motion. The observation also matched the expected direction and duration of the ISS, including brightness variations due to its rotation.

The "A" classification indicates the case was resolved as a known phenomenon—in this case, the ISS. Despite the unusual appearance of the movement, there were no signs of an unexplained event. The report highlights the importance of considering optical illusions when interpreting night sky observations, especially when there are no bright stars as reference points.