Red light in the Christmas sky

Summary

On December 24, 2015, a witness in Asnières-sur-Oise (France) observed a red glowing point with a halo moving silently in a straight line under the clouds. The object, estimated to be the size of a car, was photographed and remained visible for two minutes before disappearing behind some trees. Although the GEIPAN classified the case as likely a Thai lantern, the witness did not accept this explanation. The photographs and description match typical lantern features, such as the reddish color and wind direction. However, the witness overestimated the distance and speed of the object, a common occurrence in such cases due to the relatively low brightness of lanterns compared to other light sources.