Blue Sky Illumination in Cranves-Sales

Summary

On December 17, 2012, a witness in Cranves-Sales (France) observed a sudden blue illumination of the sky lasting three seconds. The testimony is brief, and the witness only saw an intense light indirectly. Although there are few details, the description matches that of a fireball, that is, a meteoroid entering the atmosphere. That year, the Geminids, a well-known meteor shower, was particularly notable.

The possibility of an electrical flash, such as a short circuit or electrical welding, was also considered, but the witness did not mention flickering, which is common in such events. Instead, they described a complete illumination of the sky, even though it was overcast, pointing to a high-altitude phenomenon. For these reasons, the case was classified as "B", meaning a likely observation of a fireball.