Orange light in the sky over Vaucluse

Summary

On December 17, 2016, a witness in Vaucluse observed a very bright orange-red light moving silently across the sky. Intrigued, he took a photo capturing an orange swirl. Although the object disappeared quickly, the GEIPAN analysis concluded it was a Thai lantern. The witness's description and the photo match typical characteristics of such objects. Additionally, the calm weather and festive date support this explanation. The swirl in the image is due to the witness's movement during the long exposure. The bright central light and the swirl are normal effects of this type of photography. The witness likely reviewed the photo before looking back at the sky, possibly explaining the apparent coincidence between the image and the object's disappearance. In summary, the case was classified as a natural phenomenon and not an unexplained one.