The Moon mistaken for a UFO in Montdardier in 1988

Summary

In December 1988, four witnesses in Montdardier (Gard) observed a luminous object shaped like a double rectangle separated by a dark band, silent and hovering about seven to eight meters above the ground, apparently blocking the road. As vehicles advanced, the object seemed to retreat while maintaining its relative position. Witnesses agreed on the description and their credibility was not questioned. However, investigators concluded the observed object was the setting Moon. The complete absence of any mention of the Moon in the testimonies, combined with fatigue and nighttime driving conditions, contributed to the misinterpretation. The case was classified as PAN A — attributed to confusion with a known astronomical object.