Amskaya - No 080 - 2009 10

Magazine Overview

AMSKAYA, Issue No. 80, dated October 2009, is the newsletter of the STAR Fellowship. The cover features the title 'AMSKAYA' prominently, a star symbol, and an illustration depicting a UFO over a desert landscape with a road, alongside a smaller image of a cigar-shaped object. The issue is primarily dedicated to reporting numerous sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena, particularly orange lights, across the UK during the summer and autumn of 2009.

Editorial Stance and General Articles

The editorial, likely from the editor of 'Sky at Night Magazine' as mentioned, expresses skepticism about alien visitations, suggesting that most reported UFO sightings are likely misinterpretations of known objects. Despite this, the editorial acknowledges that odd things do occur in space and hopes that those reporting them remain curious. Patrick Moore's regular article, "The Universe according to Patrick Moore," is also featured. While Moore maintains that advanced life is unlikely in the Solar System, he concedes that some UFO sightings cannot be easily dismissed and that interstellar travel might be possible for other civilizations, though he finds space warps unrealistic. He insists there is no evidence for alien visits so far, despite mentioning Roswell.

An article titled "So you thought you saw a UFO? What you saw was probably..." provides a two-page spread with pictures of various celestial phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs, such as military aircraft, meteor fireballs, and the International Space Station. It includes disparaging remarks about witnesses, calling them "newbies" and suggesting "over-anxious witnesses might run screaming to the media."

Two items connected with 'Sky at Night Magazine' are mentioned as contradicting the "no evidence" stance: a cigar-shaped object travelling across Saturn's rings seen in a magazine CD-ROM, and an erratically-moving object photographed during a solar eclipse in Turkey, organized by 'Sky at Night Magazine'.

Reports of Orange Lights and UFO Sightings

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to reader-submitted reports of orange lights and other UFO sightings, primarily from the UK.

• Brian, Old Colwyn (October 14, 2009): Reported a noiseless, black, cube-shaped object with a single orange light, oscillating and moving slowly at an estimated 1000-1500 ft.
• Sandra Taylor, Kinmel Bay (October 14, 2009): Saw a bright orange light that changed to an oblong shape, hovered silently, then moved and disappeared.
• Barry, Wrexham (October 5, 2009): Witnessed two white lights that later appeared as segments of a circle, followed by two more, moving silently and at varying speeds.
• Kun, Ellesmere Port (September 21, 2009): Saw about 8 orange objects gliding silently and disappearing quickly.
• Soocee, Wirral (September 14, 2009): Reported eight orange lights travelling slowly along the Dee Estuary, making no noise and fading away.
• Richard, Chester (September 7, 2009): Saw a fast-moving, silent orange ball of fire that stayed at the same height and had no trail.
• Jamie, Southampton (September 7, 2009): Witnessed multiple large, orange balls of fire rising in the sky, with one going out and another being sent up.
• Wayne, Hemsworth, West Yorkshire (September 7, 2009): Saw a bright red/orange glow, described as a large cube with distorting sides, moving slowly and silently.
• J, S & K, Lancashire (September 1, 2009): Reported numerous orange glowing lights, described as vivid orange circle types with a clear fire/flame in the middle, moving at a constant speed and height with no noise.
• Mr & Mrs Cooper, West Midlands (September 1, 2009): Saw two bright lights like fireballs moving silently and extremely fast.
• Joanne, Burton, Wirral (September 1, 2009): Saw approximately 20 orange globes/lanterns travelling in sync and vanishing.
• Kristina, Cambridge (September 1, 2009): Noticed orange lights, believed to be Thai Sky Lanterns.
• Lynne, Chester (August 28, 2009): Filmed 5 orange lights moving north, silently, steadily, and quite fast, appearing blurry.
• Michelle Morris, Porthmadog (August 27, 2009): Witnessed 3 orange lights travelling in the same direction at intervals, disappearing quickly.
• Phil Coulston, Huntingdon (August 27, 2009): Saw a procession of about 15 orange lights moving silently and twinkling.
• Ian, Widnes (August 25, 2009): Saw a bright orange flashing light, like a fire ball, moving across the sky.
• Natalie, Wolverhampton (August 21, 2009): Spotted a bright orange flashing light, like a fire ball, moving erratically.
• Brian, London (August 19, 2009): Saw a strange red fire ball in the sky, lasting about 4 minutes.
• Rich King, Carnoustie (August 18, 2009): Observed a brilliant, bright light, like a ball of flame, travelling south-east silently and steadily.
• Jim and Tanya, Clitheroe (August 17, 2009): Saw a Chinese lantern-like object emerge, flicker, move slowly, then accelerate silently and disappear.
• Dean, Woodford (August 25, 2009): Reported friends spotting at least 15 orange lights that shot off into the sky at a 45-degree angle.
• Richard Mears, Newport (August 24, 2009): Saw a bright orange/red ball moving slowly, sometimes stopping, across the sky.
• Jill Willcock, Stockport (August 24, 2009): Saw orange lights in formation crossing the sky, unlike aeroplanes.
• Jill Arnold, Carmarthen (August 24, 2009): Saw five orange lights floating through the sky and disappearing.
• Joan Price, Denbigh (August 24, 2009): Observed ten spherical lighted objects passing in series, silently.

Many witnesses express confusion, stating the objects were not conventional aircraft, helicopters, or Chinese lanterns, and were often silent and moved in unusual ways.

Howard Menger and Contactee Experiences

The issue reports the death of Howard Menger, a contactee who claimed to have had encounters with space people since childhood. Menger appeared on the Long John Nebel radio show and co-authored the book "From Outer Space to You." He reported seeing his first saucer in 1932 and described encounters with both male and female space beings, discussing their technology and the history of civilizations. A photograph allegedly taken on the Moon showing a spacecraft landing near a dome-shaped building is included. Menger also claimed to have made free energy machines. The article notes his confusion about why bases he saw on the Moon have not been confirmed by astronauts.

Research in Instrumental Transcommunication and EVP

Thais Campos contributes an article on Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC), highlighting the work of Brazilian researcher Sonia Rinaldi, who uses empty TV channels and CDs with random phonemes to receive messages from the dead and potentially from extraterrestrials. These communications reportedly involve images and sentences, with some claiming to originate from other planets and use various languages. Campos also discusses his own research in paranormal phenomena and life after death.

Another section mentions the phenomenon of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and the work of Tony Wedd's friend Philip Rodgers in tape communications, noting a lack of recent reports of extraterrestrial communication via EVP.

Ministry of Defence UFO Files

A report details the release of official UFO files by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) covering the period from 1987 to 1993. These files include a boomerang-shaped object seen from an airport control tower, a woman's encounter with a man claiming to be an alien, and a triangular craft that "shot off at 500mph." One report from RAF Wattisham described a spherical object as "one of our more unusual UFO reports." The files were saved from destruction due to contamination with asbestos.

Publications and Products

The magazine advertises several publications and a CD-ROM related to UFO research and paranormal topics:

• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Explores subconscious siting of ley points, worship, and includes an appendix on Pagan religion. Also covers Jimmy Goddard's discoveries in earth energy detection, antigravity, and cognitive dissonance.
• Earth People, Space People: A booklet prepared by Tony Wedd detailing claims of extraterrestrial contact, the history of the STAR Fellowship, and evidence for life in the Solar System.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

AMSKAYA itself is available for £2 for four quarterly issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly orange lights, and the spectrum of belief and skepticism surrounding them. The STAR Fellowship, through AMSKAYA, provides a platform for witness accounts while also including editorial content that questions the validity of alien visitation claims. The issue reflects a continued interest in UFOs, paranormal research, and the investigation of unexplained events, alongside a critical examination of evidence and reporting standards. The inclusion of research into ITC and EVP, as well as the release of government UFO files, indicates a broader engagement with the study of anomalous phenomena.