Red ball in the Paris sky of 1956

Summary

On November 15, 1956, at 19:05 in Paris, an observer on the ground saw a bright red ball moving from northwest to southeast in a clear sky. Suddenly, a second ball separated from the first and followed a parabolic trajectory downward for one second. No trails were observed, and both lights extinguished abruptly and simultaneously. Only one witness was recorded at the time, limiting the available information. Despite the singularity of the testimony, the phenomenon was classified by GEIPAN as likely a fireball caused by the entry of a natural meteoroid into the atmosphere, which fragmented during its fall. This type of event, although unusual, can explain isolated sightings like this one.