Exceptional northern lights observed in France in 1989

Summary

In March 1989, several witnesses in France observed a luminous phenomenon within cloud layers displaying yellow, green, and red hues. Initially classified as unidentified, GEIPAN later reviewed the case and concluded it was a northern aurora — a rare event at those latitudes. The explanation was confirmed by astronomical observations and coincided with a solar eruption recorded during that period. The confusion was understandable given how exceptional the phenomenon was for the region. The case illustrates how more advanced tools and accumulated experience can resolve observations that once seemed inexplicable.