Venus identified after 40-minute observation in Lyon

Summary

On 4 April 2018, an observer in Lyon spotted a bright, circular object with apparent filaments that remained visible for about 40 minutes before disappearing behind a cloud bank. Three family members also saw it, though only one testimony was collected. The witness himself mentioned Venus as a possibility but felt it was brighter than usual. Verification confirmed Venus was between 280° and 290° azimuth at roughly 10° altitude, precisely in the reported direction. Prolonged, fixed observation of a light source can produce perceptions of flickering and filaments. GEIPAN classification A.