Argus - 1979 No 2-3

Magazine Overview

Title: ARGUS
Issue: Nr. 2-3
Volume: 3
Year: 1979

This issue of the UFO Gävleborg member magazine, ARGUS, addresses a publication delay and explores various topics related to UFOs, ancient history, and aviation.

Editorial

The editorial section, represented by Ove Holmgren, explains the reasons for the delayed publication of the magazine. The chairman, Eskil Nyström, suffered a severe heart attack in May, requiring a long recovery period. The editor also faced personal challenges, including moving and assisting his parents. The editorial emphasizes the difficulties faced by small organizations like UFO Gävleborg, which often struggle to operate without external support and face skepticism from authorities and the public.

To catch up on the publication schedule, the magazine will be issued as double numbers: Nr. 2-3 in September, Nr. 4 at the end of October/beginning of November, and Nr. 5-6 in mid-December. The editorial staff requests members to submit articles and other material to help fill the magazine.

Are we just an experiment?

This section delves into ancient texts and theories, questioning the origins of human existence and knowledge. It references ancient Chinese scriptures that allegedly contain advanced knowledge of atomic and space research, surpassing Western understanding. The article highlights the vast knowledge of Buddhism and Tibetan texts, which are said to contain information about the universe's origin, scientific processes, and the secret of flight. It also touches upon creation myths from various cultures, noting recurring themes of divine beings arriving in luminous objects or celestial ships.

The text explores the concept of an "egg" in cosmogenesis, appearing in myths from the Maya, Indian, Polynesian, and Melanesian cultures. It also references the Egyptian Book of the Dead, posing questions about ancient Egyptian understanding of the universe and the possibility of interstellar travel. The article suggests that ancient prophets might have possessed knowledge of time dilation and space travel, as described in scientific theories.

Prophets in Space

This part of the magazine focuses on the prophetic books of Henok and Esra, claiming they contain precise details about celestial bodies, distances in the universe, and interstellar travel. It suggests that these books were censored from the Bible but partially translated from the Ethiopian Bible. A description from Henok's book is quoted, detailing a fiery spacecraft with a crystal-like interior, described as a perfect account of a rocket launch with ice-cold air conditioning.

The article questions why ancient prophets were so long-lived, proposing that they might have undertaken interstellar journeys. A table illustrates time dilation effects during space travel, showing how a crew traveling at near light speed would age significantly less than people on Earth.

It also posits the idea that humanity might be an experiment conducted by a hyper-civilization, drawing parallels to religious narratives of divine observation. The text criticizes the Old Testament God's actions, such as the flood, as not reflecting universal benevolence.

The Flying Saucer

This section discusses the possibility of intelligent life in space and the lack of communication. It references a Harvard student's question about whether humanity is an experiment and quotes physicist Nils Bohr stating that "everything is possible, provided it is sufficiently absurd."

A photograph is presented, taken by photographer A. Hunneche in Copenhagen, showing an unexplained light anomaly. Danish UFO experts have described the image as "highly interesting."

"11,000-Year-Old Maps"

This article, excerpted from Erich von Däniken's "Forgotten Gods," discusses the Sumerians and their advanced civilization. It highlights their sophisticated astronomical knowledge, including precise calculations of the moon's orbit. The text mentions the Kujundschik tablet from Nineveh, containing a colossal number (195,955,200,000,000), which far exceeds the mathematical capabilities of the ancient Greeks. It also notes the incredibly long lifespans attributed to Sumerian kings in ancient texts.

The article proposes the theory that astronauts from other planets may have visited Sumeria, laying the foundation for their culture and civilization. It suggests that these visitors might have returned periodically to check on their "experiment." The concept of relativity is invoked to explain how these hypothetical astronauts could have aged only about 40 years over centuries of travel.

It further explores Sumerian mythology and iconography, noting that their "gods" were often associated with stars, and that depictions show planets orbiting stars. The text points out Sumerian representations that resemble atomic models and suggests that Sumerian artifacts hold profound mysteries.

What the Military Saw Outside Gotland?

This article reports on an incident where three Swedish military personnel—Sergeant Lars Olowsson and conscripts Kenneth Kurkiaho and Kenneth Berg—observed a large, bright white sphere descending into the sea off Gotland on August 23, 1979. The object was seen with the naked eye, through binoculars, and registered a strong echo on radar. The military personnel alerted the coast guard, but an investigation by the defense staff in Stockholm concluded that there was no further follow-up, suggesting possible explanations like a robot, rocket, or weather balloon.

Kenneth Kurkiaho described the object as a "brilliantly large white sphere" that was "completely white and the light was clear, not shimmering." It hovered stationary for a few minutes at an estimated altitude of 1,500 meters before descending towards the water. The radar echo was unusually strong, comparable to that of a large cargo ship.

The World's First Flight

This section commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first successful powered flight at Kitty Hawk, USA. The article describes the fragile aircraft, which flew for 12 seconds and covered 36 meters. It mentions that an hour later, Orville Wright's brother, Wilbur, managed a flight of 59 seconds covering 260 meters. The article briefly touches on the brothers' early interest in flight, their experiments with gliders, and their meticulous research that led to their groundbreaking invention.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of ancient history, mythology, and modern scientific concepts, particularly in relation to UFO phenomena and potential extraterrestrial influences. There's a recurring theme of questioning established historical and religious narratives, suggesting that ancient civilizations possessed knowledge beyond their time, possibly due to contact with advanced beings. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded and investigative, encouraging members to contribute and explore these often-unconventional topics. The publication aims to inform and engage its readership on matters of UFOlogy and related mysteries.

This issue of Astronomi magazine, dated 1951, features a diverse range of articles spanning aviation history, UFO phenomena, and paranormal experiences.

Historical Aviation: The Wright Brothers

The issue begins with a historical account of the Wright brothers' pioneering work in aviation. It details their early experiments, the construction of their first motor-driven machine weighing nearly 300 kilograms with an eight-horsepower engine, and the historic flight in December 1903. A blurry photograph captures Orville on the controls as Wilbur runs alongside with a stopwatch. Following this initial success, the brothers converted their bicycle workshop into a factory for airplanes and engines, continuing their experiments. By May 2, 1906, Wilbur flew 122 kilometers in 38 minutes with a 15-horsepower engine. Despite initial skepticism and ridicule in the USA, where people questioned how something heavier than air could fly, the Wright brothers persevered.

Their triumph came in Europe. Unable to find buyers in the USA for their invention, they turned to Europe. They brought their best machine, an elegant creation with a 25-horsepower engine driving two counter-rotating propellers. On September 21, 1908, they astonished the world by flying for nearly an hour and a half over Le Mans, France. Shortly after, Orville completed a 55-minute, 60-kilometer flight with a passenger. A French consortium purchased the manufacturing rights for 500,000 francs. In early 1909, Orville set a new altitude record of 400 meters and won the Michelin Prize for the longest endurance flight, lasting two hours and twenty minutes over 125 kilometers. The article concludes by noting that the Wright brothers became wealthy and secured their place in aviation history, contributing to the US Army during World War I.

Astronomy: Understanding Stars

Another section of the magazine delves into astronomy, explaining the classification of stars and the challenges of studying them. It describes O-type stars as having relatively weak hydrogen lines and strong helium lines, indicating very high surface temperatures, possibly up to 100,000 degrees Celsius. Some O-type stars exhibit emission lines, suggesting they are surrounded by hot gas clouds. The difficulty in classifying their luminosity is highlighted due to their small numbers and great distances, making parallax measurements impossible. O-type stars are not among the easily visible stars.

The article explains that stars are self-luminous bodies of varying density. Due to their immense distances, they appear as mere points of light, making their study more challenging than that of the sun. It discusses the wide variations in stellar mass, temperature, and diameter, with temperatures ranging from a few thousand to over a hundred thousand degrees Celsius. Stellar color correlates with temperature: the hottest are white and blue-white, medium stars are yellow, and cooler stars are orange and red.

Spectra are crucial for understanding stars, but obtaining good spectra, especially from faint stars, is difficult. Information gathered is limited to the star's outermost layers. To understand their inner workings, theoretical calculations are employed, involving assumptions about the star's core and working outwards. The fundamental principles governing stellar structure are determined by mass and chemical composition.

UFOs in the Press (1947-1951)

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to UFO sightings and reports from the period 1947-1951, compiled from various newspaper articles.

• December 28, 1949 (Los Angeles Times): The US Air Force declared the "flying saucer mystery" solved, attributing sightings to misinterpretations, mass hysteria, or newspaper hoaxes after a two-year investigation. An article in "True Magazine" claiming UFOs were from another planet was refuted.
• December 28, 1949 (Hollywood Citizen News): The Air Force's investigation, involving specialists and consultants, concluded that "various conventional objects" like meteors, balloons, and optical illusions were responsible for UFO reports.
• December 29, 1949 (Hollywood Citizen News): Several people reported seeing a balloon-like object, about twenty to thirty feet in diameter, flying towards the setting sun in North Carolina. Four pilots attempted to follow it, but the weather service could not confirm it was a weather balloon, though Pop Field personnel suggested it might have been.
• December 31, 1949 (Los Angeles Daily News): An editorial expressed doubt about flying saucers, stating that while intelligent beings might exist in the universe, the idea of spaceships visiting Earth was beyond reason. It suggested that Americans desired flying saucers and sensational stories.
• January 1950 (True Magazine No. 152): Donald E. Keyhoe's article "Flying Saucers Exist" claimed he had spent eight months investigating and was convinced of their reality, citing reports from Forts and the Air Force.
• January 11, 1950 (Los Angeles Times): Three meteorologists in Tucumcari, New Mexico, reported observing two peculiar objects that changed color from white to red to green and back to white, disappearing after twenty-two minutes. A second, smaller object also changed color and vanished after about an hour.

UFO Literature Review

The magazine also includes a review of UFO-related books, covering topics such as UFO mysteries, ancient astronauts, and astronomical phenomena. Books reviewed include "UFO - Gåtan" by Bjarne Håkansson, "Vimana II" by Lehel Repits, "Telepati i rymden" by H. & H. Wilkins, "På verklighetens tröskel" by L. Sjöström & M. Cristoffersson, "Vi var inte först" by Tomas Andrew, and "Hur månen föddes" by Ivan Troeng.

Astronomical books reviewed are "Himlavalvets sällsamheter" by Peter Nilsson, "Astronomi och Astrofysik" by Gunnar Larsson-Leander, and "Astronomi" by Herbert S. Zim and Robert H. Baker. A unique product, the "Stjärnparaply" (Star Umbrella), which projects a star map, is also mentioned.

Science fiction books reviewed include Arthur C. Clarke's "Mörkrets mur" (The Wall of Darkness), Clifford D. Simak's "Ring runt solen" (Ring Around the Sun), and John Wyndham's "Fripassagerare till Mars" (Passenger to Mars).

UFO Sverige's National Meeting (Riksstämman)

The issue reports on the UFO Sverige national meeting held in Köping. It highlights a significant organizational change: the Köping branch stepped down as the central group after three years due to the organization's growth and increasing bureaucracy. UFO Köping will now serve as the reporting and registration center, as well as the marketing group. UFO Sverige has approximately 2000 members in 24 local groups, supported by 100 trained field researchers. Birgitta Andersson from Enköping was elected as the new chairperson.

Presentations at the meeting included talks by Carl-Axel Jonzon on the organization's history, and Chief Engineer Harry Svensson on compelling UFO cases. Editor Jan Fjellander discussed the future of UFO organizations and the concept of "Guerin's Law" regarding the constant overthrow of theories by new observations. The meeting was described as well-attended and engaging.

New UFO "Base" and Observation in Gävle

Birgitta Andersson, a 27-year-old UFO enthusiast, took over as the leader of UFO Sverige's central group for the upcoming year. While she has not personally witnessed a UFO, her interest is deep-seated. The central group, based in Sala, will delegate tasks to the local working groups.

A UFO observation in Gävle on April 28, 1979, is described: three individuals witnessed a round, ball-shaped object moving southwest at a high speed with an erratic, jerky motion. It was approximately 100-200 meters high, silent, and about the size of a half-football. The observation lasted 3-4 seconds.

Voices from the Meeting

Several individuals shared their perspectives at the UFO Sverige meeting:

• Christer Nordin noted that while UFO observations were once met with ridicule, they are now listened to more openly.
• Jan Eriksen stated that many reported UFOs have natural explanations like meteors or weather balloons, but a portion remain unexplained.
• Solveig La Fata expressed her belief that authorities are withholding information about UFOs, citing her own psychological experiences.
• Eskil Nyström observed that UFO phenomena are becoming more accepted and that he has witnessed unexplained phenomena himself.
• C-G Porat claimed to have seen 49 UFOs of nine different types between 1952 and the present, primarily in the Stockholm area.
• Susann Nordström mentioned that her UFO group in Hallstahammar is working on an exhibition about UFOs.

"Dead UFO-nauts" Preserved in the USA

An article reports on alleged preserved alien bodies in the USA. According to a Russian source, approximately 30,000 UFO sightings have been registered worldwide, with about 800 involving sightings of "ufo-nauts" (occupants of flying saucers). It is claimed that four or five unknown spacecraft have crashed. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the bodies of these beings, measuring 110-120 cm, are preserved in the USA. They are described as human-like with large heads, Asian-like complexions, and silver suits without seams or buttons.

Crashed Craft

Jan Fjellander further reports that three UFOs allegedly crashed in the USA around 1947, 1952, and 1956, with details being classified by the American military. Unconfirmed reports of a UFO crash in Spitsbergen and another in Brazil are also mentioned. Fjellander, initially skeptical, became convinced of the existence of flying saucers after personally witnessing a large, cigar-shaped craft outside Gnesta.

"Picked Up" Individuals

The magazine discusses the most unusual UFO observations: claims of people being taken aboard flying saucers. One case involves an American woman who, under hypnosis, described the interior of a UFO, including a star map. This map, when cross-referenced with computer data, indicated the craft originated from a planet approximately 37 light-years away. Later, astronomers discovered unknown stars in the exact locations indicated on the map.

"Not Crazy"

Chief Engineer Henry Svensson recounted several UFO observations in the Skövde area in March 1976, including a cigar-shaped UFO seen by six police officers and other witnesses. He lamented that authorities are uninterested or dismissive of UFO reports, with institutions like FOA (Swedish Defence Research Agency) labeling UFO researchers as "crazy."

Life After Death: The Larzon Family

A prominent article details the experiences of the Larzon family in Tureholm, who claim to have evidence of life after death. They report phenomena such as walking sticks moving on their own, furniture being overturned by unseen forces, and their villa becoming a meeting place for spirits of the deceased. The family claims to receive messages from spirits, including those of famous figures like Selma Lagerlöf and Axel Munthe. They have documented these experiences in two binders.

The article describes how Göthe Larzon, who possesses the ability to see the invisible, began receiving messages through automatic writing. A message purportedly from Axel Munthe indicated that a "begging monk" was hidden in a stone in their home. The family is investigating this claim. The article also touches upon Göthe Larzon's childhood experiences of seeing spirits and his later encounters after marrying Siw.

Göthe recounts an incident in Huddinge in 1972 where a walking stick he had carved began to move on its own, terrifying his family. This was followed by other inexplicable events, such as chairs tipping over and objects falling from drawers. Göthe states that he has been told by spirits that he is a suitable medium to convey their messages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine exhibits a strong interest in the unexplained, particularly UFO phenomena and paranormal events. The articles on the Wright brothers provide a historical counterpoint, grounding the issue in scientific achievement. However, the bulk of the content leans towards the mysterious, with detailed accounts of UFO sightings, investigations, and personal testimonies of encounters with the unknown. The magazine appears to adopt a stance of open-minded inquiry, presenting evidence and personal experiences without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging the skepticism and the need for further investigation, especially concerning official secrecy surrounding UFOs. The inclusion of the Larzon family's experiences with life after death suggests a broader interest in phenomena that challenge conventional scientific understanding. The editorial tone seems to encourage readers to consider these possibilities and to engage with the ongoing exploration of these subjects.

This issue of NU magazine, identified as issue number 20 and dated September 28, 1977, delves into two distinct yet potentially related phenomena: the existence of life after death and reports of UFO sightings.

Life After Death and Spirit Communication

The first major section features personal testimonies from individuals who believe in and claim to experience communication with the deceased. The narrator, a man working as a service man at OK, describes his normal life with his wife who works at Pkbanken. He states that unusual events have led him to share his experiences with colleagues, inviting them to his home in Svartsjölandet to witness phenomena firsthand. He asserts that there is something inexplicable awaiting after death.

Siw, another individual, contributes to the discussion by stating that they have sufficient evidence to believe in life after death. She explains that a person lives on in thoughts and memory, and that the soul exists in a place millions of light-years away, capable of traveling back at the speed of thought to appear to those who can perceive it, like Göthe.

Göthe explains that departed spirits often remain around us and visit regularly, though only a few can see them. He notes that it is easier to contact spirits of those who died suddenly, while those who died from severe illness require a healing period before contact is possible.

Göthe also claims to have had contact with beings arriving in flying saucers from another solar system, whom he calls "Imbas." He attempted to sketch one of these beings, initially estimating its height at 110 cm, but later measured the distance to the sofa and concluded the being was approximately 90 cm tall. The sketch shows a slender, helmeted figure.

The article highlights instances where people have sought contact with deceased friends and relatives through Siw and Göthe. They describe how details about objects brought by spirits, their clothing, and birthmarks have been accurately relayed to the grieving families, who confirm the accuracy of these descriptions. The narrator concludes by stating that after periods of doubt and self-questioning about hallucinations, he is now convinced his visions are not products of fantasy.

UFO Sightings in Spain

The second article, titled "Tefatsbas i Spanien?" (UFO Base in Spain?), sourced from Gävle Dagblad on September 28, 1977, reports on numerous sightings of flying saucers in Huesca, northern Spain.

On a Saturday, three "luminous unidentified flying objects" were reportedly seen hovering over Huesca. On the following Monday, several people claimed to have witnessed a formation of four flying saucers.

One particular incident involved a teacher from an art school in Huesca who reported a flying saucer hovering over his house in the evening. The craft emitted a strong light that reportedly left him "paralyzed with fear."

These sightings have led some locals to believe that a UFO base has been established in the Pyrenees region of Huesca. Local residents have reportedly conducted several expeditions in an attempt to find this alleged base.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of NU magazine appears to focus on phenomena that challenge conventional understanding of reality, specifically the afterlife and extraterrestrial visitation. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry and validation of personal experiences, presenting anecdotal evidence as compelling proof for these extraordinary claims. The magazine encourages readers to consider the possibility of life beyond death and the presence of non-human intelligence, using personal testimonies and reported sightings as its primary evidence.