Circular orange shape over Yonne in 1981

Summary

At dusk on February 26, 1981, several witnesses in the Yonne department saw a circular orange shape move from southwest to northeast, leaving a luminous trail. The phenomenon lasted only seconds, yet testimonies and sketches from different observers agreed on the key details. Everything points to an atmospheric entry — a meteorite or satellite fragment burning up on reentry — a hypothesis consistent with the shape, brevity, and trail observed. GEIPAN classified the case as B: probably identified, though without absolute confirmation.