CORROBORATED
CF-GEI-20111102852 CORROBORATED
Le Havre Bolide: The -10 Magnitude Atmospheric Entry
CASE FILE — CF-GEI-20111102852 — CASEFILES CLASSIFIED ARCHIVE
Date Date when the incident was reported or occurred
2011-11-26
Location Reported location of the sighting or event
Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
Duration Estimated duration of the observed phenomenon
Several seconds
Object Type Classification of the observed object based on witness descriptions
light
Source Origin database or archive this case was sourced from
geipan
Country Country where the incident took place
FR
AI Confidence AI-generated credibility score based on source reliability, detail consistency, and corroboration
85%
At 4:53 AM on November 26, 2011, a witness in Le Havre, France observed a bright luminous point traveling with a distinctive green trail across the sky. The witness described a powerful light source with a green trailing wake, following a rectilinear trajectory that lasted only a few seconds. The phenomenon matched the classic presentation of a bolide—the term used for atmospheric entry events caused by large meteorites (typically over 100 grams, ranging from several centimeters to 1 meter in size) entering Earth's upper atmosphere at high velocity.
The sighting was not isolated to a single observer. The REFORME network (Réseau Français d'Observation de MEtéores), France's meteor observation network, independently recorded the same event at virtually the same time (within one minute of the witness report) through multiple observer stations. This corroboration by an established scientific monitoring network immediately validated the meteoritic origin of the phenomenon. The REFORME network calculated the bolide's magnitude at -10, an exceptional brightness rating that places this event among the most spectacular meteor entries recorded.
GEIPAN classified this case as Category A—fully identified and explained. The convergence of witness testimony, scientific network detection, video documentation, and the characteristic features of the observation (bright light, green trail, brief duration, straight-line trajectory) left no doubt about the meteoritic nature of the event. Video footage of the November 26, 2011 bolide was made publicly available, providing visual confirmation of this rare atmospheric phenomenon.
02 Timeline of Events
04:53
Bolide Entry Observed
Witness in Le Havre observes bright luminous point with green trail moving in straight-line trajectory across the sky
04:53-04:54
REFORME Network Detection
Multiple REFORME meteor observation stations independently record the same bolide event within one minute of witness sighting, measuring magnitude at -10
04:53 + seconds
Atmospheric Burn-Up Complete
Bolide completes atmospheric entry trajectory after several seconds of visible flight with green trail
Post-event
Video Documentation Released
Video footage of the exceptional -10 magnitude bolide made available publicly online for verification
Post-investigation
GEIPAN Classification A
Official investigation concludes with Category A classification: fully identified as meteorite atmospheric entry with no doubt about origin
03 Key Witnesses
Anonymous Witness 1
Civilian observer
high
Le Havre resident who observed and reported the bolide event at 4:53 AM. Description matched scientific data precisely.
"Un témoin observe le passage d'un point lumineux avec une trainée verte... forte lumière avec trainée verte, trajectoire rectiligne, durée de quelques secondes."
04 Analyst Notes -- AI Processed
This case represents an ideal example of a successfully explained aerial phenomenon through multi-source verification. The credibility is exceptionally high due to the independent corroboration by the REFORME meteor observation network, which operates multiple automated monitoring stations across France specifically designed to detect and record such events. The witness description demonstrates good observational accuracy, as all reported details align perfectly with known bolide characteristics: intense luminosity, green coloration (caused by atmospheric chemical interactions during high-velocity entry), linear trajectory, and brief duration.
The magnitude rating of -10 is particularly significant. For context, the full moon has a magnitude of approximately -12.6, and Venus at its brightest reaches about -4.6. A magnitude -10 bolide is extraordinarily bright and rare, bright enough to cast shadows and be visible even in urban areas with significant light pollution. The green trail is consistent with nickel content in the meteorite and atmospheric oxygen interaction at entry velocities. The timing at 4:53 AM means the event occurred during astronomical twilight, which may have enhanced visibility against a darkening sky.
05 Theory Comparison
BELIEVER ANALYSIS
SKEPTIC ANALYSIS
Textbook Meteor Observation
Every aspect of this sighting matches established scientific understanding of large meteor atmospheric entries: the intense brightness, green chemical signature, linear trajectory following ballistic physics, brief duration consistent with atmospheric burn-up velocity, and early morning timing when meteor activity can be more visible. The -10 magnitude, while exceptional in brightness, is within the known range of large meteors. No anomalous characteristics requiring alternative explanation.
06 Verdict
ANALYST VERDICT
This case is definitively explained as an atmospheric entry of a large meteorite, classified as a bolide. The GEIPAN Category A classification is entirely appropriate. The convergence of independent witness observation, scientific network detection within the same minute, video documentation, and the perfect match between witness description and known bolide characteristics leaves zero ambiguity. The -10 magnitude rating makes this an exceptional and noteworthy astronomical event—among the brightest meteors recorded in recent years—but it is natural phenomenon with no anomalous aspects. This case demonstrates the value of coordinated meteor observation networks in rapidly identifying and explaining spectacular but conventional atmospheric events.
AI CONFIDENCE SCORE:
85%
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