Anomalnye Yavleniya - 1990

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Anomalous Phenomena" (АНОМАЛЬНЫЕ ЯВЛЕНИЯ), an informational bulletin from the Kharkov Regional Section for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena in the Environment, is dated December 1990. The cover prominently features the title in bold red letters and highlights the lead story "Crop Circles" (КРУГИ НА ПОЛЕ). The publication aims to be a scientifically popular journal covering the work of ufologists and researchers of anomalous phenomena.

Table of Contents and Key Articles

"Crop Circles" (КРУГИ НА ПОЛЕ)

This section details several incidents related to crop circles and UFO sightings. It begins with an account from the "Proletarskiy" sovkhoz in the Dnepropetrovsk region, where residents reported being disturbed for four nights by UFOs, starting on May 9, 1990. The article describes a series of events involving glowing spheres and unusual formations on a lucerne field. On the evening of May 10, witnesses observed a red шар that transformed into a glowing green шар, followed by the appearance of a red шар that moved in a specific trajectory. The next day, May 11, more sightings occurred, including a red шар landing and leaving behind circular imprints and лунки. The article also mentions a large, bright, pulsating шар observed later that evening. The events are described with witness testimonies and details about the physical traces left behind.

"Appeal to Readers" (ОБРАЩЕНИЕ К ЧИТАТЕЛЯМ)

This editorial welcomes readers to the informational bulletin, expressing hope for good relations and encouraging feedback. It outlines the bulletin's purpose as a scientifically popular publication covering the work of ufologists and researchers of anomalous phenomena, including UFOs, poltergeists, clairvoyance, and telepathy. The bulletin plans to feature articles, research findings, methodological recommendations, and information on anomalous phenomena. Proposed sections include "From the History of Studying Anomalous Phenomena," "Unsolved Cases," "Translations," "Science Fiction," and "From Readers' Letters." The editorial emphasizes maintaining scientific rigor and objectivity, with materials undergoing expert evaluation. It also states that the editorial opinion may not always coincide with the author's.

"UFOs Over Lozovaya" (НЛО НАД ЛОЗОВОЙ)

This article compiles several UFO sightings reported in the Lozovaya area. It recounts a sighting on the night of August 22-23, 1990, where a resident saw a dark red шар transform into a тарелка. Other reports include a greenish glowing шар seen in childhood, an egg-shaped object emitting red light, and a prolonged object with headlights observed over a farm. A detailed account describes an object seen on August 13, 1990, which was prolonged with two protrusions, hovered, and then moved upwards and disappeared, reappearing later. The article also mentions sightings near a military unit, with a witness describing a large, hovering object resembling a фар, which later disappeared. Other reports include a semicircular object that transformed into a circle and another sighting of a similar object.

"Flying Cigar" (ЛЕТАЮЩАЯ СИГАРА)

This personal account describes a sighting on a summer evening in 1990 near the Slava Park in Dnepropetrovsk. The witness and her daughter observed a large, bright, round, silver-white object moving across the sky, changing color and pulsating. The object was described as being very bright and having a dark stripe on its underside. Two young men who pointed out the object claimed to have photographed it. The witness noted that the object moved in a way that ruled out it being an airplane or satellite.

"On the Background of Constellations" (НА ФОНЕ СОЗВЕЗДИЙ)

This is a personal account from V. N. Markin describing an unusual celestial phenomenon observed on December 25, 1984, in Izyum. The witness observed a luminous cloud on the background of stars that expanded and lost brightness. This was followed by a second similar event, during which a meteor passed through the cloud. The witness contacted a commission in Leningrad but received no explanation and hopes for local specialists to provide one.

"Strange Star" (СТРАННАЯ ЗВЕЗДА)

This is a personal account from Varstaba N. S. describing a strange star-like object seen on March 24, 1990. The object was larger and brighter than other stars, appearing to be a flattened шар. It moved up and down, then across the sky, emitting blue, yellow, orange, and white light. The object accelerated and decelerated.

"On the Problem of UFOs" (О ПРОБЛЕМЕ НЛО)

This article discusses the increasing media attention to UFOs in the Soviet Union and explores the definition and nature of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). It distinguishes between the popular image of UFOs as alien spacecraft and the broader definition of any unidentified aerial phenomenon. The article emphasizes the importance of "true UFOs" – those that remain unidentified after thorough investigation – as the subject of scientific interest. It traces the historical context of the UFO problem, noting its emergence in the mid-20th century and discussing various explanations, from psychological factors to the growing human capacity for space exploration. The author, A. Beletsky, suggests a connection between the UFO problem and the evolution of human civilization, positing that new "cosmic" needs have brought UFOs to the forefront of public consciousness. The article concludes by defining the scientific problem of UFOs as understanding their nature and creating a theoretical framework for them, while acknowledging the possibility of extraterrestrial origins without definitive proof.

"Following the Trail of Selenites" (ПО СЛЕДАМ СЕЛЕНИТОВ)

This article, by A. V. Arkhipov, delves into the historical search for life on the Moon, referred to as "Selenites." It highlights that while the existence of Selenites is now widely dismissed, the question of life on the Moon was a significant topic in astronomy and popular imagination from the 17th to 19th centuries. The article mentions early attempts by Johannes Kepler and later discussions by figures like Gauss, who were interested in extraterrestrial civilizations. It notes that the hypothesis of Selenites stimulated research into the lunar surface. The author references anthologies of science fiction about the Moon and discusses ancient texts and philosophical ideas that supported the belief in lunar inhabitants, including mentions in Indian "Vedas" and Greek writings attributed to Orpheus, Plutarch, and others. The article touches upon the idea that ancient observers saw structures and cities on the Moon and that some believed in beings of different physical constitutions adapted to the lunar environment.

"Lunar World of Antiquity" (ЛУННЫЙ МИР ДРЕВНОСТИ)

This section continues the discussion on Selenites, referencing ancient Indian texts ("Vedas") and Greek writings. It mentions the legend of the Nemean Lion falling from the Moon and a belief that an egg from the Moon contained a woman. Plutarch's "Dialogue on the Face of the Moon" is cited, where he discusses the possibility of lunar inhabitants and their potential characteristics, comparing them to Earth's diverse life forms. The article also mentions the views of Pythagorean philosophers and Diogenes Laertius, who reported on lunar inhabitants and their environment. It notes that early Christian thinkers sometimes placed earthly paradise on the Moon, and that even during the Middle Ages, thinkers like Nicholas of Cusa and Giordano Bruno considered the possibility of multiple inhabited worlds, including the Moon.

"Selenites in the Telescope" (СЕЛЕНИТЫ В ТЕЛЕСКОП)

This part of the article discusses how the invention of the telescope in 1609, particularly Galileo Galilei's observations of the Moon, fueled further speculation about lunar inhabitants. Galileo described lunar features like mountains, craters, and plains, leading to interpretations of these as signs of a structured environment. The article mentions that early astronomers like Galileo, and later figures like William Gilbert and Tommaso Campanella, entertained the idea of a populated Moon.

"UFO on the Mzha" (НЛО НА МЖЕ)

This article reports on a UFO sighting near the Mzha River in the Kharkov region on January 7, 1990. Anatoly Evdokimovich Vorontsov, a fisherman, observed a reddish glowing object, about 30 meters in diameter, hovering over the ice. The object then ascended, disappeared, and reappeared, leaving a circular imprint on the ice and scorched grass. The event was investigated by P. I. Kutnyuk, a candidate of biological sciences, who took photographs of the traces. The article notes that the object's landing and departure left unusual marks on the ice and surrounding vegetation. It also mentions a strange voice heard by the witness during the event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, crop circles, and the historical and scientific inquiry into anomalous phenomena. The magazine adopts a stance of presenting witness accounts and research findings, encouraging scientific investigation while acknowledging the mysterious nature of these events. The editorial emphasizes the importance of objective reporting and expert evaluation of information. There is a clear interest in exploring both contemporary sightings and historical beliefs related to extraterrestrial life and unexplained aerial phenomena.