CENAP Infoline - no 037

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: 37
Date: May 13, 1996
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of the cenap-infoline, a tri-weekly UFO information bulletin, focuses on astronomical phenomena and UFO sightings, with a particular emphasis on a new private radio observatory and recent comet observations.

TV Tips

The issue provides several television program recommendations for enthusiasts of space and UFOs:

• May 20, 1996, 20:15h on 3SAT: "Countdown-Einmal Weltall und zurück" (Countdown-Once into Space and Back).
• May 21, 1996 on RTL-2: A "SF-UFO-Night" featuring:
• "Gestrandet-SF 87" (Stranded-SF 87) at 20:15h.
• An exclusive report: "UFOS - Gefahr aus dem All" (UFOs - Danger from Space) at 21:50h.
• "Fatal Sky - Sie bringen den Tod" (Fatal Sky - They Bring Death) at 22:35h.
• A repeat of "Gestrandet-SF 87" at 0:20h.
• May 22, 1996 on RTL-2: An exclusive report: "UFOs - Gefahr aus dem Weltall" (UFOs - Danger from Space) at 0:15h, a repeat of the previous day's program.

The Sighting: A Personal Account

This section features a personal narrative by John Starr, who recounts his childhood fascination with flying saucers, which evolved into a serious interest in astronomy. He describes an early experience where a bright, luminescent object streaked across the Florida sky, initially thought to be a UFO but later identified as a missile launch from Cape Canaveral. Starr also recounts seeing what he believed were UFOs, including a fast-moving black object and unusual "shooting stars," which were later identified as an SR-71 Blackbird and satellites, respectively. A pivotal moment was seeing Jupiter and one of its moons through a telescope, which solidified his interest in astronomy over UFOs. Starr, an amateur astronomer and skydiver, now monitors alien life forms in Southern California.

Private Radio Observatory in Feudenheim

The main article, "Schüssel horcht nach den Sternen" (Dish Listens to the Stars), details the construction of a private radio observatory near Feudenheim and Wallstadt, Germany. The observatory is the project of Angelika Gehrke and Peter Wright, a couple from Feudenheim. They have erected a large, three-meter diameter parabolic dish, originally from Telekom, on a plot of land with a past military connection (a former observation and anti-aircraft fire control platform). The dish serves as a radio telescope, allowing them to detect and record radio waves from celestial objects, particularly those too faint to be seen with optical telescopes. They acquired a Stasi-surplus spy receiver with computer control and built the structure themselves over two years. The project is part of the US-based scientific association SARA (SETI Amateur Radio Association), supported by Steven Spielberg. Currently, they are awaiting electricity and water connections from the city. In addition to the radio telescope, they are also building an optical telescope and plan to offer educational programs to schools.

Photos of Comet Hyakutake

The issue includes a section showcasing "Die schönsten Fotos von Komet Hyakutake" (The Most Beautiful Photos of Comet Hyakutake). Two images are presented:

1. Comet Hyakutake, C/1996 B2: Photographed in May 1996, credited to Sky & Telescope.
2. Comet Hyakutake: An image taken by Stefan Karge (VSW Frankfurt) on March 24, 1996, between 23:30-23:40 MEZ. The exposure details are: 50 minutes, f: 2.8, 10 minutes on Ektachrome P 1600, taken at the H.-L.-Neumann-Sternwarte in Taunus.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The cenap-infoline consistently covers UFO phenomena, astronomical events, and related media. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting personal accounts, scientific developments, and media highlights related to these topics. The inclusion of a detailed report on a private radio observatory suggests an interest in amateur contributions to scientific observation and a blend of UFOlogy with mainstream astronomy. The publication also seems to encourage reader participation, as indicated by the "Focal Point" section inviting contributions on contemporary astronomy and space science issues.