Massive orb over Manchester city centre, Tuesday evening - multiple witnesses

Right, so I'm not usually one to post these things, but I've had about 15 messages from mates asking if I saw it too. Around 8:15pm Tuesday (4th of this month) there was this absolutely massive glowing orb hovering above the city centre. I was heading to the pub in Deansgate and it was just... there. Bright white-orange colour, completely silent, and it didn't move for a good three minutes before just vanishing upwards.

My mate Dave got some footage on his phone but it's a bit grainy. The thing is, I checked the airport websites and there's no explanation for it. No drones registered, no balloons. I've looked at everything online and I genuinely can't find a mundane explanation.

Did anyone else see this? I'm mainly posting because if it was just me I'd assume I'd had one too many, but there's clearly something here.

Which pub were you heading to? I was in the Printworks around that time and didn't see anything. Have you checked if there were any military exercises on? The RAF sometimes does drills over the North West.

Post the footage, mate. Even if it's grainy we might be able to enhance it or get an expert opinion. I've got a mate who works with video analysis and he owes me a favour.

Ah yes, the 4th. I was in Stockport and saw something similar-ish but it was more of a moving light. Could've been the same thing? Either way, more people need to keep their eyes on the skies. We're completely blind to what's happening up there.

Chinese lantern innit. Always Chinese lanterns with these things. Or a weather balloon. Very boring explanation but it's always one or the other.