Fireball observed in Plaisir in 2013

Summary

On July 17, 2013, at 23:58, a witness in Plaisir (Yvelines) observed from their window a bright object rapidly crossing the sky on a descending trajectory. The witness described an incandescent object with white light and no visible trail, which fits perfectly with the description of a fireball, that is, a meteoroid entering the atmosphere. Although there were no automatic recordings of the event, another person in Saint-Germain-Sur-Ille reported a similar phenomenon at 23:45, reinforcing the consistency of the testimony. Fireballs are typically seen at altitudes between 100 and 50 kilometers, making them visible over large areas—explaining why two witnesses from different locations could have seen the same event.

The GEIPAN classified this case as "B", indicating a likely observation of a natural phenomenon—in this case, a meteoroid entering Earth's atmosphere. These events, though striking, are common and are often misinterpreted by witnesses due to their brightness and speed. Despite the lack of confirming images, the coincidence of times and descriptions suggests the testimony is reliable and fits within known fireball behavior.