Luminous ball in the sky of Lançon-Provence

Summary

On December 19, 2015, a witness in Lançon-Provence observed a large luminous orange ball moving across the sky. The object, initially appearing as an oval shape, evolved into a "V" profile with small, evenly spaced lights. The witness took three photographs, though only one was usable, showing a blurry orange circle. The object passed overhead silently, following a straight path with a slight upward tilt before disappearing. Although the witness mentioned seeing three distinct phenomena, only their testimony was recorded. Due to the date and weather, investigators concluded it was likely Thai lanterns released after a private celebration. The southwest wind recorded in the area also supports this explanation.

Thai lanterns, by nature, are low-luminosity objects often perceived as farther and faster than they actually are. This may explain why the witness gave an incorrect distance estimate, based on their aeronautical experience. Moreover, when launched one after another with intervals, they form organized lines that can resemble unidentified flying objects. Despite the blurry photo, it confirmed the phenomenon and its color matched that of the lanterns. The GEIPAN classified the case as "B," indicating a probable observation of these traditional lights.