Le Vigen 1979, reddish mass identified as the Sun

Summary

In December 1979, three people in Haute-Vienne saw a very bright reddish mass that changed shape before disappearing into the clouds. The sky was overcast with low clouds hindering visibility. Initially classified as a D case, a later review confirmed it was the rising Sun: its low angular elevation explained both the reddish color and the apparent shape variability. A clear example of how atmospheric conditions can turn an everyday phenomenon into something bewildering.