Sighting of a Rectangular Object at Sunset

Summary

On July 8, 2014, a witness in Saint-Laurent-le-Minier (Gard) observed a very bright rectangular object moving in a straight line. The object passed silently for about 6 to 8 seconds, with no other witnesses. The observer described it as a yellow rectangle moving above the horizon. The sun had set about 8 minutes before the observation, suggesting the event occurred at sunset. The witness was looking southeast and saw the object moving from left to right, as shown in their drawings. The possibility of it being an airplane illuminated by the setting sun was considered, as the wings could reflect light in an unusual way. Additionally, the gray halo around the object could be due to an atmospheric optical phenomenon or a localized blinding effect in the observer's eye. Ultimately, the GEIPAN classified the case as "A", attributing it to the observation of an airplane at sunset.