Orange balls over Bourg-les-Valence

Summary

On April 28, 2014, a couple driving at night noticed a dozen bright points in the sky, moving silently toward the south. The orange-yellow spheres were observed for three minutes before disappearing. Some blurry photos were taken with a mobile phone, which, despite being out of focus, confirmed the reality of the phenomenon. Two witnesses reported the event, but the gendarmerie found no other similar sightings or events in the area that night. The GEIPAN classified this case as "B," likely referring to Thai lanterns released after a private celebration. The wind direction from the north and the terrain near the Château de Crussol explain the movement and trajectory. The witness's distance estimation was unreliable, as these types of objects often appear farther away than they are, making them look larger and faster.