Colour-changing bright point over Martigues

Summary

Between 7:40 and 9:30 PM on September 15, 1980, several people in Martigues watched a luminous point in the sky from their homes. Larger than a typical star, it changed in brightness and colour before disappearing to the northwest. Investigators concluded it was most likely the star Arcturus, particularly visible at that time with a magnitude of 0.15. The case illustrates how atmospheric conditions can alter the perception of familiar celestial objects.