Orange ball UFO in France 1978

Summary

In July 1978, a camper in France observed a luminous orange ball moving slowly across the sky. The witness described a shape resembling a "saucer" or "upside-down plate" and took three photographs before the phenomenon disappeared. Despite the detailed description, photographic analysis revealed nothing unusual. The phenomenon made no noise and was observed at low altitude, near the horizon. The gendarmerie found no other witnesses in the area.

The most plausible explanation points to a possible confusion with the Moon. At that time, the Moon was in a position matching the direction and altitude described by the witness. Additionally, the presence of clouds and the Moon's low angular height (2°) could have altered its appearance, leading to unusual shapes. The final movement toward the south could also be explained by cloud displacement. In summary, the case is classified as a PAN B, meaning a likely observation linked to a misinterpretation of a natural phenomenon.