Saintes 2016, bright light in the sky

Summary

On July 13, 2016, around 11:30 PM, a witness observed a very bright white light for 30 seconds in the southwest of the clear night sky. The witness, who had previously reported a similar observation in March of the same year, thought it might be either Mars or Saturn, both near the Moon. The low position of the celestial bodies and the surrounding environment meant only one was visible, while the other two were hidden by trees and buildings. The light disappeared after 30 seconds, which the witness interpreted as a rapid departure, although it could have been caused by a passing cloud. The GEIPAN classified the case as an astronomical observation.