Jupiter mistaken for an aerial phenomenon from a Mediterranean cruise

Summary

On the night of 2 March 2018, a tourist on a cruise ship near Minorca was trying to photograph the full moon when he noticed an extremely bright point in the sky. He took two photographs before the phenomenon disappeared. Back in his cabin, he felt he had been outside longer than expected. He even believed the two photos showed different faces of the object and speculated that the crew might have chosen not to disclose the event.

Analysis with astronomical software confirmed it was Jupiter, positioned 19° above the horizon and 85° to the left of the moon — exactly where the witness described the phenomenon. Long camera exposures distorted the planet's appearance, fuelling the perception of something extraordinary. GEIPAN classification A.