Sphere over Sainte-Sigolene, Auvergne · France
Resolved to a known cause by an investigating body, with the identification on the record.
The report, as filed
Le 1 mars 2012 vers 19h05 un témoin observe le passage d'un objet sphérique et lumineux dans le ciel. Le déplacement est rectiligne à allure constante sans changement de direction. L'observation décrite correspond exactement à un passage de "gros" satellite. La station internationale ISS survolait la France ce soir là du Nord-Ouest vers Sud-Est de 19h00 à 19h03. Malgré l'écart de 2 minutes entre le témoignage et la restitution du passage (dû probablement à l'imprécision de la montre du témoin, ou du modèle d'orbite utilisé pour la restitution), le GEIPAN classe ce cas "A" : observation de la station internationale ISS. [GEIPAN classification A — ISS]
Held as-reported from GEIPAN, Centre national d'études spatiales (record GEIPAN 2012-03-08213). Witness text is preserved verbatim, including its spelling; nothing is edited beyond formatting.
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Routed to: GEIPAN / CNES (France) · records window 2012-02-27 → 2012-03-15