Corte (Corsica), luminous sphere explained as Venus

Summary

A couple driving between Favello and Corte in March 1980 saw a saucer-shaped luminous sphere roughly 100–200 metres from their car. The object appeared to stop and resume movement in sync with the vehicle. No sounds or smells were detected. After the first light vanished, a second one appeared—conical and red. The witnesses filed a report upon reaching home, but no other testimonies or evidence emerged.

Investigators noted that Venus was highly visible at a low elevation during that period. The winding mountain road would have caused the planet to appear and disappear behind ridgelines, creating the illusion that it moved in tandem with the car. GEIPAN classified the case as type B: formally unexplained, yet with a plausible natural explanation.