An account in Gard, France

GEIPAN continues to publish all of its archives on its public website www.geipan.fr. Among its publications are old cases classified at the time (A, B, C, or D) that are now being re-examined, with the sole aim of being more relevant in the conclusions. Thanks to new technical means (software) and the investigation experience gained over all these recent years, this re-examination sometimes leads to new remarks or even a change in classification. This observation case, previously classified D and named GRAND GALLARGUES (30) 1984, is part of a set of cases recently re-examined. FACTS On January 5, 1984, around 2:30 a.m., two witnesses were traveling in a VSL vehicle on the A9 motorway toward Montpellier (34). The witnesses noticed a UAP following them along the motorway over a distance of about twenty kilometers. A second UAP was observed only by the second witness, who was very frightened. No particular noise was heard during the observations. ANALYSIS Two phenomena must be distinguished: UAP 1 and UAP 2 (see the investigation report). The physical characteristics and behavior of UAP 1, observed by both witnesses, do not correspond to any known phenomenon. However, on studying the testimonies a bit more, one realizes that practically all the elements of the testimonies, in addition to the drawings, diverge on the appearance and behavior of UAP 1, and that their quantitative and qualitative weakness does not allow further verifications and cross-checks that could either explain, confirm, or refute the strange and inexplicable nature of the phenomenon. This weakness of consistency prevents keeping the case in its initial classification D. Consequently, GEIPAN classifies UAP 1 as C: lack of reliable information. Regarding UAP 2, observed only by T2 (see the case [A9] from NIMES (30) toward MONTPELLIER (34) 05.01.1984 T2), it is an astronomical confusion with the star Aldebaran, observed in a temporarily favorable geographical configuration. Part of the strangeness caused to T2 results from the illusion of the following ball, created by the witness's own movement: the distant UAP (here the celestial body) gives the impression of following the witness's movement while moving relative to the road, whereas it is the road that changes relative to the fixed direction of the celestial body. Consequently, GEIPAN classifies UAP 2 as A: observation of Aldebaran.