Sphere over Grandfontaine, Franche-Comté · France
A conventional explanation is favored by the record but was never formally confirmed.
The report, as filed
Le 3 mars 1980 entre 20 heures 30 et 20 heures 45, un couple circulant en voiture observe une boule orange de la taille du soleil couchant. Un peu plus tard, ils ne voient plus cette boule mais ils constatent la présence de la lune, plus blanche. Il est probable que les témoins aient été surpris par une apparence singulière de la lune en début de nuit, éclairée par le soleil couchant. [GEIPAN classification B — Lune]
Held as-reported from GEIPAN, Centre national d'études spatiales (record GEIPAN 1980-03-01698). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: GEIPAN / CNES (France) · records window 1980-02-29 → 1980-03-17