Probable waning Moon observation at Ambierle in 1980

Summary

On February 13, 1980, at 5:40 AM, a postal worker in Ambierle (Loire) observed a crescent-shaped, yellow-orange light in the clear sky, moving slowly from north to south. He watched it for eight minutes before it gradually faded. Another witness also saw it but did not file a formal statement. Astronomical records show the Moon was very low on the horizon, close to new moon phase (February 16), with a magnitude of −8.9. Although the witness insisted there was no Moon, he was most likely seeing it without recognizing it.