Probable Venus observation at Fay-de-Bretagne in 1980

Summary

On January 27, 1980, several witnesses in Fay-de-Bretagne saw an orange luminous ball near the horizon that flickered occasionally. It was visible between 9:05 and 9:10 PM. A similar observation was recorded the following night. After reviewing astronomical charts, investigators concluded the witnesses had mistaken Venus for an anomalous phenomenon. The planet was in the west-southwest at magnitude −3.9, very bright and visible until it set around 9:10 PM.