UFO in Lyon 2014, Confusion with Antares

Summary

On May 15, 2014, the French gendarmerie conducted an aerial patrol over Lyon using a helicopter. For more than 10 minutes, the onboard camera recorded a bright object with strong flickering. The object remained visible to the naked eye for two and a half hours, staying fixed in the same position in the sky. Although the investigation concluded it was a misidentification with the star Antares, several factors stood out: the fixed position, the intense scintillation, and its angular proximity to the Moon. However, the testimony was not very consistent, as the witnesses were not used to using cameras to observe the sky.

The video recording was crucial for analysis, though the case was classified as "A" by the GEIPAN, indicating a certain misidentification with Antares. The low strangeness of the case was due to the unusual appearance of the object, which surprised the witnesses. Despite the lack of detailed data, the recording allowed for a more in-depth analysis. The astronomical explanation seems most plausible, though the phenomenon caused some controversy due to its unexpected appearance.