An orange orb in Vaucluse, France

On October 13, 2014 at 8:50 PM, a witness looking toward the northwest observed for 10 seconds the movements of an orange light coming from his right (see his diagram), which made a 90° turn toward the east, then stabilized before making a vertical ascent and disappearing. No noise was noticed, nor any trail. The witness indicated a south-southwest wind of 10 to 20 km/h. The Marignane weather report indicates a light south to southeast wind. The Flightradar site does not mention any airliner passing north of Pertuis, corresponding to the start of the witness's observation. Because of the orange light possibly moving with the wind (if one assumes it from the southwest), one hypothesis considered was that of a sky lantern at the end of its burn: the first change of direction could correspond to the decrease in power of the burner, causing the lantern to descend, the apparent moving away then being in fact the extinguishing of the flame, interpreted as the moving away of a presumed constant light source. Given the uncertainty about the wind direction (variable wind, Marignane weather report inconsistent with the witness's statements, proximity of the mountainous Lubéron relief), the day of the observation (Monday) unusual for lantern releases, and the complex final trajectory, this hypothesis is too fragile to be retained. For lack of photos or videos, or another testimony, GEIPAN lacks elements to continue the investigation. This observation case is classified "C" for lack of information.