Grandfontaine, luminous sphere explained as a lunar illusion

Summary

A couple driving through Doubs between 20:30 and 20:45 on 3 March 1980 saw a luminous sphere roughly the size of the setting sun. The phenomenon vanished shortly afterwards, and the witnesses noticed the moon appeared whiter than usual. GEIPAN concluded that it was an unusual illumination of the moon by the setting sun—an effect capable of producing a striking visual impression.