UFO in France classified as stars

Summary

A GEIPAN case from France in 2017 describes multiple observations of luminous objects in the night sky. A witness reported phenomena of different colors during January and February. On one occasion, the witness, his partner, and two gendarmes observed a PAN (unidentified aerial phenomenon). After investigation, the GEIPAN concluded it was a misidentification of the star Arcturus. The elevation and azimuth data matched Arcturus's calculated position. Moreover, the low elevation of the star and atmospheric turbulence can create the illusion of movement and color changes. The autokinetic effect, caused by fixating on a bright point, can also explain the perception of motion. Other observations by the witness also matched other well-known stars, reinforcing the astronomical explanation.

The GEIPAN classified all observations as misidentifications of different stars. The atmosphere and how the human eye perceives light play a significant role in such cases. Although at different times and positions, stars like Procyon and Sirius could also have been mistaken for unidentified aerial objects. This explanation, based on astronomical data and optical phenomena, helps understand what the witness described. In this case, there was no evidence of unexplained phenomena, but rather a combination of natural and psychological factors.