Orange ball in Gernelle attributed to the Moon

Summary

Two witnesses in Gernelle in January 1982 saw an orange luminous ball that appeared to rise from the ground. They described an intense light illuminating the surrounding area and leaving a layer of coloured gas. The next day they returned to the spot but found no physical traces. After re-examining the case, GEIPAN concluded it was most likely the Moon sitting low on the horizon, its reddish hue and partial cloud cover creating the illusion of a nearby ground-level object.