CENAP Infoline - no 052

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline, number 52, dated February 16, 1997, focuses on astronomical and paranormal phenomena. The cover prominently features Comet Hale-Bopp, alongside a diagram illustrating its position in the sky. The issue also includes articles on astronaut Reinhold Ewald's upcoming space mission, the Hubble telescope's servicing, and a discussion on UFOs and the Roswell incident.

Comet Hale-Bopp

The lead article details the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp, a bright comet visible in the early morning sky. Discovered on July 23, 1995, by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp, its official designation is C/1995 01. The 'C' indicates a comet with an orbital period of over 200 years, and the number signifies its discovery sequence. The article notes that Hale-Bopp was already far beyond Jupiter's orbit at discovery, leading to hopes for a spectacular display similar to Comet Hyakutake in 1996. It is predicted to pass Earth at 196 million kilometers on March 22 and reach its closest point to the Sun (137 million kilometers) on April 1, where it will reach maximum brightness. Predicting comet brightness is difficult, with estimates ranging between Sirius and brighter stars. Hale-Bopp is expected to be visible to the naked eye from mid-January to late May. Initially seen in the eastern sky, it will move to the evening sky in the northwest by March. It will be circumpolar in Germany from March 10 to April 10.

The article explains that comets were historically seen as omens of war, famine, and plague. Today, they are sometimes interpreted as 'mother ships of aliens.' Astronomically, their appearance was surprising and unpredictable, disrupting the perceived order of the heavens. Comets are remnants from the formation of the solar system, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, originating from a cloud of interstellar dust and gas. They are often described as 'dirty snowballs' containing the primitive gas and dust mixture of our solar system. When a comet's orbit is disturbed, it can journey towards the Sun. As it nears the Sun, surface material vaporizes, forming an atmosphere called a coma. The solar wind then shapes this coma into a tail. The brightness of a comet depends on its distance from Earth and the Sun, and the size of its coma, which is influenced by the release of water vapor, gases, and dust. The nucleus of Halley's Comet was measured at 15x8x8 kilometers. Comets lose mass with each pass around the Sun, becoming smaller and dimmer over time.

Reinhold Ewald's Space Mission

A separate article on page 5 announces the launch of German astronaut Reinhold Ewald on a Russian Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 10, 1997, at 17:09. Ewald, 40, expressed curiosity about weightlessness and confidence in the Russian launch preparations. He will be conducting research on the effects of weightlessness on the human body aboard the 'Mir' space station. His family is also mentioned as being happy about his mission.

Hubble Telescope Servicing

On page 5, an article titled "Facelifting für 'Hubble'" reports on the Discovery space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Seven astronauts were involved in capturing the telescope with a robotic arm and installing two new scientific instruments, costing 555 million Marks. These instruments are expected to significantly enhance the telescope's capabilities, allowing scientists to probe deeper into the cosmos. The mission faced unexpected challenges, including a rotating solar panel that required the control center in Houston to temporarily halt the spacewalk and find an alternative way to release pressure from the airlock.

UFOs and the Roswell Incident

Pages 2, 3, and 4 delve into UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on the Roswell incident. An article titled "Space - Balls..." discusses strange metallic spheres that have reappeared in UFO circles. One such object, described as a large, metallic, hollow sphere the size of a medicine ball with screws on its poles and a weld seam, was found half-buried on a ranch in Kingsbury, Texas, on January 24, 1997. The object was investigated by the Guadalupe County Sheriff Department and the USAF.

Another report on page 3 discusses a fireball seen across five US states, initially thought to be a crashing aircraft. The USAF, through Major Steve Boylan, stated it was the remnant of a Delta II rocket used to launch a satellite in December 1996.

Pages 3 and 4 extensively cover the Roswell incident, presenting a report by Colonels Richard L. Weaver and James McAndrew of the USAF. They concluded that the Roswell saga is a hoax after declassifying extensive information. Their report, over 1000 pages long, found no evidence of the US Army or Air Force recovering a flying saucer or extraterrestrial beings, even in the personal documents of General Carl A. Spaatz. The report suggests that any mention of a flying saucer found in Vandenberg's papers was a hoax. The article notes that the Air Force Museum has a small exhibit inspired by the Roswell idea, with staff admitting they give the public what they want.

A separate section on page 4 discusses an article by Herr Hesemann in the Australian "Nexus" magazine, attempting to validate the Santilli film. The article criticizes the claims made by photo expert Colman von Keviczky, stating he was merely an employee of a photo company at the UN.

Light Phenomenon over Socorro

Page 3 describes a light phenomenon observed over Socorro on January 16, 1997, during a Minuteman II-ICBM rocket test. The launch released nine dummy warheads, and the exhaust from the rocket's fuel combined with water vapor created a colorful light display in the upper atmosphere, described as green-blue-white-pink. A similar event was reported on October 9, 1996, near Socorro after a rocket launch, which was explained by White Sands spokesperson Jim Eckles as ice crystals forming from the rocket's exhaust, breaking into pieces, and creating a prism effect.

"Talk X": A New Talk Show

Page 6 introduces "Talk X," a new talk show on Pro Sieben starting February 17, 1997, hosted by Andrea Kiewel. The show is described as a mystical talk show related to the series "Akte X" (The X-Files). It aims to focus on phenomena that defy explanation, such as mass murder by lightning strikes and alien encounters. The show's editorial team avoids terms like "esotericism" and "sectarianism," consulting with the "Frankfurter Ring" for guidance. The host, Andrea Kiewel, believes there are things between heaven and earth that cannot be explained.

Expert Opinions on Belief in the Supernatural

Page 6 also features an "Expert Opinion" section discussing whether belief in the supernatural is harmful. Walter von Lucadou, a parapsychological consultant, believes that belief in the supernatural is human but can be harmful if it leads to addiction or if one's entire life is based on it. He also notes that if the supernatural exists, one should not blindly trust it. Ranga Yogeshwar, a moderator, compares belief in things like dowsing to "humbug" and warns that irrational beliefs can harm society by undermining democracy. Hansjürgen Köhler, head of CENAP, cautions against an "ersatzreligion" and warns of families whose members have drifted into "supernatural sectarianism."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores themes of the unknown, the unexplained, and the boundaries of scientific understanding. There is a clear interest in astronomical events like comets and space exploration, juxtaposed with a deep dive into UFO phenomena, including the Roswell incident and alleged alien encounters. The magazine also acknowledges and, to some extent, engages with the growing public interest in esotericism and paranormal topics, while also presenting skeptical viewpoints and official explanations from scientific and military sources. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena, presenting both the mysteries and the attempts to explain them, and acknowledging the public's fascination with the unexplained, as exemplified by the quote from the Air Force Museum staff.