Papers d'Ovnis - 2a epoca - No 12

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'OVNIS
Issue: Nº 12, II Época
Date: November-December 1998
Publisher: CEI (Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios)
Language: Catalan (original), English (translation)

This issue of *Papers d'OVNIS* presents a diverse range of articles focusing on UFO phenomena, investigations, and historical cases. The cover prominently features a historical piece about the "Sputnik Mystery" 40 years later, highlighting the connection between the Sputnik II launch and a subsequent wave of UFO sightings.

Articles and Features

Corera, 3/Mayo/1996: ¿«OVNI» o Venus?

This article by Juan Carlos Victorio critically examines a reported UFO sighting in Corera, Spain, on May 3, 1996. The author argues that the phenomenon, observed by a local councilman, was likely the planet Venus. Astronomical data from the time confirms Venus's visibility in the northwest sky at the reported time and date, with a magnitude of -4.5. The article details the witness's account, including video footage, and explains how factors like camera zoom and atmospheric conditions could lead to misidentification. It suggests that sensationalist media coverage often distorts such events, potentially leading to exaggerated claims.

Penúltimo encuentro cercano con OVNIs

Authored by V. J. Ballester Olmos and Jaime Servera, this piece investigates a supposed 'close encounter' in Campillo de Altobuey, Cuenca, reported in November 1994. The authors detail their investigation, which involved interviewing locals and the alleged witness. However, their findings reveal the incident to be a hoax, a 'prank' orchestrated by individuals, possibly due to local rivalries or a desire for attention. The article highlights the importance of critical investigation and the need to debunk false claims within the UFO field.

Andalucía y los OVNIs triangulares

Angel Carretero explores the phenomenon of triangular UFO sightings in Andalusia, Spain, over several decades. The article notes a significant number of reports, particularly in the Campo de Gibraltar area. It discusses potential explanations, including advanced aircraft and military exercises, referencing specific sightings and the involvement of organizations like INTA and the Spanish Air Force. The author outlines a plan for further research, including mapping sightings and identifying common patterns.

Nubes lenticulares, OVNIs y mitos

Jordi Ardanuy presents an analysis of a case in Gran Canaria, initially sensationalized by the press as a UFO sighting involving lenticular clouds. The article, based on the work of Ricardo Campo, suggests that the phenomenon was a natural atmospheric event, specifically lenticular clouds, which can be mistaken for UFOs due to their unusual shapes and behaviors. It emphasizes the psychological tendency to interpret the unknown through pre-existing beliefs and myths, highlighting the role of ufologists in discerning factual observations from subjective interpretations.

OVNI: la prueba gráfica

Authored by Ricardo Baños, this article delves into the critical analysis of photographic and video evidence of UFOs. It stresses the importance of rigorous examination to detect fraud and misrepresentation. The piece outlines the CEI's methodology for analyzing visual evidence, including checking for optical aberrations in lenses, film manipulation, and identifying the object's characteristics. It discusses various types of optical distortions and their potential to create illusions of UFOs, emphasizing that conclusive proof requires careful and systematic investigation.

Hace 40 años

This section, written by Eduardo Buelta and Antonio Ribera, revisits a 1957 article they originally wrote for *Gaceta Ilustrada*. The piece focuses on the launch of Sputnik II and the subsequent period of silence from Soviet authorities regarding its activities and the fate of the dog Laika. The authors highlight the unusual lack of information compared to the Sputnik I launch and the concurrent surge in UFO sightings globally. They analyze the conflicting reports and timelines surrounding Sputnik II's mission, suggesting a deliberate obfuscation or confusion surrounding the event.

Noticias OVNI

Jordi Ardanuy provides a brief update on recent UFO news, mentioning sightings in Fuerteventura and the island of Hierro, as well as a case involving alleged humanoids on La Palma. It also references an article about a sighting in the southeast of Gran Canaria.

Other Sections

El Full del soci

This section includes information about the CEI's activities, such as the completion of a collection of UFO-related press articles published by Ediciones ORBIS. It also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the CEI's founding, recalling the reunion of founding members and past associates. A call is made for donations of historical materials related to UFO research.

Donación a la Fundación Anomalía del Archivo de Casuística OVNI del CEI Madrid

This note details the transfer of the CEI-Madrid's UFO case archive from the period 1971-1974 to the Fundación Anomalía for preservation and cataloging.

Actividades

This section lists recent CEI activities, including lectures on geophysical prospects in ancient Egypt and photographic evidence of UFOs.

La Opinión de los Socios

A call for members to share their current opinions on the UFO phenomenon.

Ayuda: Televisión

A request for donations of a color television set for the CEI's premises to facilitate the viewing of video documents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently emphasizes a critical and investigative approach to UFO phenomena. It prioritizes rigorous analysis of evidence, debunking hoaxes, and distinguishing between genuine sightings and misidentifications or natural phenomena. The CEI's stance is one of scientific inquiry, seeking to understand the UFO phenomenon without succumbing to sensationalism or unsubstantiated claims. There is also a strong emphasis on historical research and the preservation of UFO-related documentation and activities.

This issue of Gaceta Ilustrada, dated December 1957, focuses heavily on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Soviet Sputnik II mission and the death of the dog Laika, while also exploring the burgeoning field of ufology and related phenomena.

The Sputnik II Enigma and Laika's Fate

The lead article dissects the contradictory statements made by Soviet officials and scientists regarding the Sputnik II mission and the fate of Laika. Initially, there were optimistic reports about Laika's survival and return, with statements from figures like Dr. Semionov, Prof. Blagonravov, Dr. Batzkin, Belitsky, Prof. Chevanov, and Prof. Chernigovski. However, these were followed by admissions of Laika's death, with explanations ranging from planned euthanasia to unforeseen circumstances. The article highlights a significant discrepancy: while some reports indicated Laika had food for eight days and the mission was planned for a longer duration, Moscow later admitted the mission had effectively ended after seven days.

Crucially, the article posits that something significant and unexpected occurred between the third and fifth day after Sputnik II's launch. This event is linked to a simultaneous increase in UFO sightings worldwide. The disappearance of Sputnik II from tracking systems after the seventh day is emphasized, noting that it was a larger object than its predecessor and should have been more visible. The article questions the Soviet Union's subsequent silence on the matter and their revised plans for future space launches, suggesting they encountered something grave and unexpected in space that forced them to reconsider their ambitions.

The "Sputnik II bis" and Extraterrestrial Powers

The article introduces the concept of a "Sputnik II bis," an object whose reported orbital path and timing, as announced by Moscow, do not align with the known trajectory of the actual Sputnik II. This leads to speculation that the object observed might be something else entirely, possibly an extraterrestrial craft. The author suggests that an "intelligent power of Space," benevolent in nature, may not have tolerated the presence of a living Earth creature in its domain. This power is described as imposing its law, with its actions potentially including the interception or destruction of Sputnik II, as suggested by fragments falling to Earth. The article draws a parallel to the earlier Sputnik I, which also had associated UFO sightings.

Soviet Statements and Global Implications

The article interprets Soviet leader Kruschev's comments about the US launch failure as potentially more than just political maneuvering, suggesting it might indicate a deeper awareness of extraterrestrial powers. The author concludes that humanity should set aside its internal conflicts and take note of this "warning" from space, implying a need for global cooperation to face these unknown forces.

Ufology in Russia: Revelations from a Russian Ufologist

The magazine features an interview or report on Russian ufologist Vladimir Azhazha, who claims that one in ten humans has been abducted by extraterrestrials. Azhazha's book, "The Other Life," details numerous UFO sightings and alleged sexual contacts with aliens. He recounts attempts to bring his research to the attention of Soviet authorities, which were met with suppression. The article mentions that Admiral Vladimir Chernavin, former commander of the Soviet Navy, was the first military figure to study UFOs. It includes accounts of military detections of UFOs, such as a 200-meter disk observed by Igor Máltsev, Chief of Staff of Anti-Aircraft Defense troops, and another incident in the Samara region involving an anti-aircraft radar detecting an object with lights.

Azhazha describes various alien forms and suggests they use humans for experiments, extracting sperm and ova, and sometimes causing pregnancies that result in "monsters." He also discusses methods, including hypnosis, to help abductees recall their experiences. The article includes a testimonial from Irina Rumiántseva and a case involving a 10-year-old girl named Inna, who was warned about "green and short" extraterrestrials.

UFO Sightings and Incidents

Tarragona, Spain: Unusual lights in the sky caused alarm and confusion among residents, with many calling the police and media. The lights were eventually attributed to circus spotlights reflecting off the clouds due to atmospheric conditions.

China: A Chinese fighter jet intercepted a UFO near Beijing but was ordered not to fire. The object, described as mushroom-shaped with rotating lights, evaded the jet. Numerous witnesses on the ground also reported seeing the phenomenon.

Mexico: A radio station in Jojutla, Morelos, broadcast a dramatization mimicking Orson Welles' 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio play. This caused widespread panic, with residents believing aliens were invading and flooding the radio station with calls reporting UFO sightings and even landings.

Awards and Conferences

Fundación Anomalía Awards: The article lists several awards given by the Fundación Anomalía. Pere Redón Trabal received the "Cuadernos de Ufología" award for his dedication to studying UFOs. The "Premio Internacional Zurich" was awarded to Professor Erling Strand for his research on unusual atmospheric phenomena in Hessdalen, Norway. The "Ricardo Caruncho" prize went to Juan Antonio Fernández Peris for his explanation of the "Manises case" sighting. The "Beca Universitas" was awarded to José María González Infante for cataloging the epistolary work of Manuel Osuna.

Second National Conference on Extraterrestrial Enigmas: Held in Torremolinos, Spain, this conference featured discussions on extraterrestrial bases on Earth and secret services' involvement with anomalous phenomena. An exhibition of alleged UFO photographs was also presented.

"Irrational America" Cycle

The Instituto de América in Santa Fe, Granada, hosted a series of conferences titled "Irrational America," aiming to provide critical and rational responses to superstitions. Topics included whether extraterrestrials built the statues of Easter Island, astronauts in the Mayan world, and the Nazca lines as potential extraterrestrial landing strips. Specialists in anthropology, archaeology, and astrophysics participated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery and potential danger posed by unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs) and extraterrestrial intelligence, the perceived secrecy and contradictory nature of Soviet space program information, and the public's reaction to these phenomena, ranging from panic to scientific inquiry. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, highlighting inconsistencies in official reports and exploring the possibility of advanced, non-human intelligence influencing or observing Earth. There is a clear emphasis on the need for global awareness and potential cooperation in the face of these unexplained events. The inclusion of the Orson Welles-style radio hoax in Mexico serves to illustrate how easily public perception can be manipulated by sensationalized information, even in the context of genuine UFO reports.