Saint-Paul-aux-Bois, variable light reclassified as Venus

Summary

In March 1980, four witnesses at Saint-Paul-aux-Bois observed a luminous object that varied in intensity and colour. Three described a descending trajectory; the fourth perceived it as stationary. Officers who arrived on scene found only a clear starry sky. Originally classified as type B, GEIPAN re-examined the case and concluded it was most likely Venus at sunset. Fatigue and surprise influenced the witnesses' interpretation—a pattern common in sightings that ultimately receive an astronomical explanation.