An account in Gironde, France

Recent testimony (2016) of an old observation (July 2007). On July 7, 2007 at around 3 a.m., a motorist and his friend traveling on the N118 in the Bordeaux-Nantes direction are surprised to see a luminous phenomenon of spherical shape and incandescent green color with a light greenish halo moving in the air in a random manner with frequent changes of direction. The observation at close distance lasts about twenty seconds before the UAP disappears. The witness thought of ball lightning but rejects this hypothesis in the absence of stormy weather. He emphasizes the proximity of the CEA in Saclay. Only one testimony is collected. According to the expert consulted, the observation is compatible, in the behavior of the phenomenon, its lifespan and its color, with a case of ball lightning. But the testimony is late (11 years after the observation) and therefore does not allow access to meteorological data (including storm situation?) likely to support this hypothesis. Consequently, GEIPAN classifies the case as C (close to a case B: ball lightning).