ACOS Bulletin - Number 3

Magazine Overview

This document is Bulletin Number Three from the Centre for UFO Studies, Australian Co-Ordination Section, dated September 1975. It serves as a newsletter to member organizations, detailing recent activities, upcoming events, and research findings.

UFOCON ONE and UFOCON TWO

The bulletin begins by reporting on the success of UFOCON ONE, a conference where ideas were shared, and the consensus was that collaboration between organizations is crucial for understanding the UFO mystery. Post-conference circulars are planned for distribution, originating from UFO Research - South Australia, and members are urged to complete and return them promptly.

Plans for UFOCON TWO are announced, scheduled for October 1976 in Mount Gambier, South Australia, coinciding with a total solar eclipse. There is hope, though not a promise, that Professor Hynek will attend and chair this event.

Presentations and Catalogues

David Buching, Research Director of UFOIC, presented and demonstrated the Panatone Colour System, which is available for purchase from UFOIC. Additionally, ACOS presented the Physical Trace Catalogue, compiled by Ted Phillips. Enquiries are being made about purchasing further copies, but organizations can borrow the existing catalogue by writing to the Centre for UFO Studies. A reservation list is being maintained for this catalogue.

The bulletin apologizes for the delay in its publication, attributing it to the conference.

Patterns in U.F.O. Reports

This section, authored by D. Seargent, delves into the research of patterns within UFO sighting reports. The author emphasizes the desirability of identifying such patterns to better understand UFOs and the mechanisms behind their reports. However, the article cautions against spurious patterns, citing examples like the 'straight line mystery' or the 'Cathie grid system,' which often prove unfounded upon closer examination. The text highlights that apparent patterns can be easily constructed from random data, potentially revealing more about the observer's mind than about the phenomena themselves.

Seargent discusses patterns in time, particularly in relation to the Lunar Cycle. Preliminary investigations involved graphing UFO reports against lunar cycle days, using data from Professor Hynek's Physical Trace Catalogue (close encounters) and a list of 167 reports compiled by U.F.O.I.C. of Sydney and Mr. Colin Norris (Australian sightings). The U.F.O.I.C. list showed peaks of activity around the first and last quarters of the moon, with a low during the full and new moons. The Hynek list showed this pattern less clearly. Both graphs tended to exhibit peaks and depressions spaced approximately six days apart.

Further analysis graphed the U.F.O.I.C. list according to the day of the month, revealing a pattern of peaks and depressions, with the highest peaks occurring late in the month (the 25th) and significant depressions between the 9th and 11th, with sharper depressions on the 3rd, 15th, and 21st.

To compare, a graph of comet discoveries from the last century, early this century, the present day, and ancient times was created. This graph also showed peaks separated by about 4-6 days, with a peak on the 22nd and 23rd, and lows on the 5th, 10th, 11th, 21st, and 29th.

A third graph examined 167 comets' perihelion times (closest approach to the sun). This graph also showed a structured pattern, with peaks on the 8th and 28th, a lower peak on the 17th, and a low period from the 22nd to 26th, with other lows on the 29th, 16th, and 11th.

The author concludes that the cyclical nature observed in these graphs suggests that any perceived 'pattern' in UFO activity, comet discovery, or lunar cycle correlation is spurious. This clustering of coincidences is attributed to random events rather than an intrinsic pattern. Seargent notes that he is not a statistician and more work is needed to draw definitive conclusions, suggesting that local or short-term patterns might require separate treatment.

Subjective vs. Objective Reporting

This section addresses the challenge of accurately determining what a witness sees during a UFO event, attributing it to the witness's pre-existing beliefs. Someone who firmly believes they saw a spaceship will interpret their experience as such, coloring their report. Two hypothetical accounts of a sighting are presented: one describing an 'orange light' travelling and changing direction, and another describing an 'orange luminous craft' doing the same, with the latter explicitly identifying it as a spaceship or flying saucer. The article points out that while both describe the same objective event, the second reporter imposes an interpretation.

Notice Regarding Report Submission

A notice clarifies that there was considerable misunderstanding at the conference regarding the type of reports to be forwarded to ACOS and the Center. The Center accepts ALL reports, regardless of whether they are Nocturnal Lights or Close Encounters, after investigation. Reports that defy explanation are classified as UFO reports. The Center is not just for 'good' UFO reports but a study center, needing every unidentified report, as even seemingly ordinary lights might hold clues to mysteries. Organizations are urged to send in any reports that cannot be explained to ACOS.

Great Words of Interest

Two quotes are featured: one from Sherlock Holmes stating, "It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment," and another from Albert Einstein, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious – it is the source of all true art and science."

Which Way do UFO's Rotate?

A brief review of the Physical Trace Catalogue revealed that a majority of reported 'nests' showed anti-clockwise rotation. Similarly, out of three reports where witnesses specified the direction of rotation of a UFO in the air, two were anti-clockwise and one was clockwise. The article suggests this might be a clue and welcomes further observations on the direction of rotation.

What is a UFO Expert?

Reprinted from a CCUFORB Newsletter (July '74), this humorous piece defines a UFO expert as someone who knows everything about many subjects but learns more and more about less and less, eventually learning everything about nothing. Such an expert then formulates a theory without looking at reports, systematically discarding evidence that contradicts their views, and writes a book to gain fame.

UFO Reports Summary

This section provides a summary of UFO reports received up to October 1975. It begins by detailing investigations in the Narrogin, Western Australia area, prompted by media reports of mysterious lights and a strange depression in an oat field. Messrs. S. Briggs and A. Fiannaca of UFO Research W.A. conducted these investigations, receiving cooperation from the police but some reluctance from residents.

The depression, noted by a farm owner (Mr. C.) around September 14th, was approximately 38 feet long and 8 feet wide, with oats flattened in a SSE direction at 162 degrees. No holes or indentations were found. Samples of oats, roots, and soil were taken. The earth's magnetic field showed no disturbance. Mr. C.'s wife reported seeing unusual lights, though he did not.

A report from Mr. V. describes observing a very bright yellow light with two or three smaller, duller lights on its sides for about 8 minutes at 0005 on September 22nd. He initially thought it was a spotlight but later discounted this. Other townspeople had also reported seeing similar lights.

Mr. E. reported seeing a bright yellowish-orange object on Mr. K's farm in mid-June at 2115. The object travelled straight, stopped, then moved up and down and left to right. It appeared cigar-shaped while moving and dome-shaped and blue with a shimmering effect while stationary, spinning clockwise. It eventually disappeared by streaking straight up at a 90-degree angle.

Mrs. E. reported a very bright blinking light on her front verandah in February at 2300. The object was about 47 degrees up from the horizon, moving up and down and left to right. It was bright yellow with smaller red lights on the sides. A friend also observed it. The sky was clear with slight wind.

Investigations by UFO Research W.A. are ongoing, with more witnesses expected to come forward. The depression area is being photographed, and soil and oat samples are being analyzed. Further details will be provided in the next bulletin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this bulletin include the importance of collaboration among UFO research organizations, the scientific analysis of UFO reports (including pattern analysis and physical trace evidence), and the distinction between subjective interpretation and objective observation. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent, evidence-based research, encouraging the submission of all reports for study, and a cautious approach to drawing conclusions, emphasizing the need for more data and rigorous analysis. There is also a clear effort to demystify the concept of a 'UFO expert' through humor and to highlight the scientific and mysterious aspects of the phenomena.