UFO identified as the International Space Station

Summary

On May 24, 2017, two witnesses in Gien-sur-Cure (Nièvre) observed a very bright object moving from south-southeast to east-northeast. After a night of Jupiter observation with a group of astronomers, they noticed a luminous point that seemed to approach before quickly disappearing. Although initially appearing to come closer, it soon vanished from view. The GEIPAN concluded that it was the International Space Station (ISS), whose passage matched the description, albeit with a small time discrepancy likely due to a delayed watch check or an advanced time setting. The ISS is known for its intense brightness and rapid movement, making it hard to confuse with other celestial phenomena.

The witnesses described a curved trajectory, but this was due to a misinterpretation of the object's changing brightness and apparent size. One of them sketched a path coming from the southeast, approaching, and then moving away toward the east-northeast. This kind of perception is common when someone interprets an increase in brightness as an approach, and a decrease as a departure. In this case, the ISS's peak brightness created the impression that the object was "plummeting" toward the observers. After analyzing all data, the GEIPAN classified the case as "A", meaning a clear observation of the ISS.