Lyon 1985, meteorite atmospheric entry over the Rhône

Summary

In September 1985 four witnesses between Lyon and Villefranche-sur-Saône saw a fluorescent green light with a bright halo cross the sky at high speed, reminiscent of Bengal fires. Some also noticed a persistent light on a pond's surface. Descriptions from geographically separated witnesses were consistent. Originally classified D, GEIPAN upgraded the case to B after concluding it was a meteorite atmospheric entry, supported by the speed, short duration and typical visual profile. Notable details such as the pond light and slight radioactivity detected did not invalidate the hypothesis. A signal anomaly in a security vehicle was attributed to the driver's heightened alertness after receiving prior reports. No physical confirmation of the fall was obtained.