CENAP Infoline - no 064

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline nr. 64, dated August 26, 1997, is a German-language publication from CENAP, focusing on UFO-related topics and space exploration. It features a cover story on the Mars missions, a detailed documentation on the Roswell incident, and an exposé on Erich von Däniken's theories about the Nazca lines.

The Mars Chronicles - Part 4

The issue reports on the Mars rover 'Sojourner' and its mission. By August 18, 1997, 'Sojourner' had completed 1000 hours of operation, exploring numerous stones and rocks with its German-developed spectrometer. However, by August 24, the rover began showing signs of age, with weaker signals and becoming stuck on a rock. This was compounded by limited transmission capacity on the satellite, as a new Mars mission was en route. Despite these issues, scientists at NASA's Pasadena control center were satisfied, as 'Sojourner' had exceeded its planned one-week mission. The rover, along with the 'Pathfinder' lander, had been on Mars since July 4, transmitting daily images from its specialized camera, marking the first photos from the planet's surface in 21 years. The article also references an issue of Skyweek 30/1997, noting that the Sagan Memorial Station had delivered 1.2 gigabytes of data in its first 30 days, double the expected amount. Weather sensors recorded approximately 4 million measurements, the IMP camera captured 9669 images, and Sojourner's cameras took 384 images. The rover covered 52 meters and nearly circled the lander. A challenge arose in analyzing APXS spectra due to an underestimated Martian atmosphere, requiring tedious recalibration. While Sagan and Sojourner were reported as well, Sagan's batteries showed signs of aging, leading to most systems being shut down at night. The Mars Pathfinder mission was also highlighted as a major internet event, with over 565 million 'hits' on its website in the first 30 days.

Roswell Documentation

This section presents a documentation titled "50 Jahre Roswell (1947-1997) - Ein UFO Mythos stürzt ab" (50 Years Roswell - A UFO Myth Crashes Down), a 160-page A4 publication available for DM 35,-. The article includes an interview with Uli Thieme of CENAP, who explains his motivation for creating the documentation. Thieme was prompted to compile original statements and testimonies from 1947 to debunk what he perceived as false photos, dates, and quotes in other publications about Roswell, specifically mentioning books by Buttlar (alias Busacker) and Spezi Hesemann. He felt it was necessary to provide an unvarnished presentation of the original sources so that interested individuals could form their own conclusions.

Thieme describes the work as both enjoyable and frustrating. Initially enthusiastic about translating the USAF report in November 1996, he became annoyed when he had to re-translate parts of popular literature that had been manipulated. The project was so extensive that he considered abandoning it, even working on it during his vacation in Spain in May 1997. He questioned the value of sacrificing his free time when people could obtain original sources themselves and wondered why fewer people read CENAP reports compared to sensationalist UFO magazines. He also expressed frustration that figures like Buttlar and Hesemann were still treated with respect by UFO skeptics despite being repeatedly exposed as unreliable.

He continued the project due to discussions with his girlfriend and friends, realizing there was a lack of serious compilations of original Roswell testimonies in the German-speaking world. He also aimed to definitively refute the 'I didn't know' excuse regarding the Roswell debris. The documentation is priced at the lowest possible point to ensure accessibility. Thieme admits to a degree of resignation, partly due to his own past reliance on sensationalist UFO literature instead of critical analysis from the 1980s onwards. He acknowledges that he, too, was initially deceived into believing a UFO had crashed at Roswell.

Despite the challenges, Thieme still wants to engage with the UFO topic, noting that the 'circus' will continue due to financial interests. However, he will not undertake such a large project alone again, finding the work too time-consuming. He does not see himself as a UFO martyr and has other life priorities. He believes it is crucial to actively counter the UFO cult, which he sees being promoted uncritically by the tabloid press and commercial TV channels. He draws a parallel to the situation in the USA 5-10 years prior and warns that if Germany is not careful, it could face a 'Heaven's Gate' mass suicide scenario. Therefore, clear and critical discourse is essential.

Däniken Exposed: Nazca Lines as Ancient Rain Processions

This section critically examines Erich von Däniken's long-held theory that the Nazca lines in Peru are UFO landing strips. The article, titled "Däniken entlarvt: Seine Ufo-Landebahnen sind Spuren von uralten Regen-Prozessionen" (Däniken Exposed: His UFO Landing Strips are Traces of Ancient Rain Processions), by Katja Banick, presents findings from a research team led by Dr. Tony Spawforth, an archaeologist from Newcastle University. After researching the region with three scientists from Great Britain and the USA since December, Spawforth is certain that the thousands of straight lines have nothing to do with extraterrestrials.

Instead, the lines are identified as remnants of a gigantic ritual rain procession. They were created approximately 1400 years ago when the Nazca people suffered a severe drought. Analyses of glaciers in the mountains indicate that there was no water in the region between 550 and 600 AD. David Brown, a British archaeologist, explains that the Nazca people were dependent on water from the higher regions of the Andes. During droughts, thousands would migrate towards the Andes to implore the rain gods in temples for water. These recurring, ritual processions left behind the massive tracks.

The article also includes a quote from Erich von Däniken, who dismisses the new theory as "complete nonsense," asserting that it has never rained in the region and that people created underground water systems. He maintains his stance that the lines could be related to extraterrestrials, suggesting they might have left descendants. He argues that extraterrestrials could have any appearance and that humans might be their creation. When asked about evidence, Däniken states, "No, but it's logical to dismiss this great riddle as non-existent."

Another article, "NAZCA - die belegte Ballon-Theorie" (Nazca - The Proven Balloon Theory), discusses the work of Jim Woodman. His 1977 book, "NAZCA - Mit dem inka-Ballon zur Sonne" (Nazca - With the Inca Balloon to the Sun), proposed that the Nazca drawings were not landing sites for gods, as Däniken claimed, but takeoff points for dead Incas returning to the sun. Woodman's theory is based on ancient balloon depictions and the discovery that Inca cotton fabrics were denser than modern ones. He identified smoke pits in circular depressions, used to smoke fresh balloon envelopes to make them denser. Woodman theorized that heated air lifted the balloons, and the sun's heat further inflated them at higher altitudes, causing them to drift over the ocean. He found evidence of Jesuit priests observing ancient Andean hot air balloons and successfully tested a model in Lisbon. Woodman collaborated with the USA's leading hot air balloon manufacturer to build a replica, using materials similar to Inca designs. He also involved the world champion hot air balloonist and received support from Maria Reiche, a renowned researcher of the Nazca desert. The article concludes that the Nazca lines demonstrate that ancient Peruvians could fly in balloons, not that gods landed there.

Science & Technology: The Perseids

This section discusses the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs annually when Earth passes through the debris trail of comet Swift-Tuttle. The Association of Friends of the Stars (VdS) advises observers to find a dark location away from city lights. Meteors are described as small ice and rock fragments entering the atmosphere at speeds up to 72 km/sec. The Perseids are part of a meteor stream, meaning the debris is spread along an orbital path. The article humorously recounts a personal experience of trying to watch the Perseids, highlighting challenges like light pollution from a neighbor's balcony and the discomfort of lying on a hard surface. The author also describes being startled by a shadow, which turned out to be a cat, diminishing the excitement of the meteor shower. A telephone information service for stargazing positions is provided: 0581-72 033.

MORGEN: "übrigens" (By the Way)

This short piece humorously discusses the perceived negative influence of the full moon on people's moods and behavior. It suggests that people tend to blame the moon for their grumpiness. The article cites Edgar Wunder from the Society for the Scientific Investigation of Paranormal Phenomena, who states that over 400 investigations have shown the moon has no demonstrable effect on human behavior, such as causing accidents, increased births, or changes in voting patterns. The author questions why people still feel bad-tempered despite this scientific evidence.

MORGEN: "Bauer baute Irrgarten ins Maisfeld" (Farmer Built Maze in Cornfield)

This brief news item reports on Nigel Carter, a farmer in Abingdon, England, who created the world's largest corn maze. He invested DM 30,000 to have a 6000-meter-long labyrinth cut into his cornfield while the plants were still short. Visitors pay nine Marks for entry and are equipped with maps and flags for assistance. The maze will be harvested in October.

MORGEN: "Steine im Anflug" (Stones Approaching)

Astronomers in Pasadena, California, have discovered seven previously unknown asteroids with diameters exceeding one kilometer. This brings the total number of near-Earth objects that could potentially hit Earth to 99. Eleanor Helin from the research team assures that there is no immediate danger. However, scientists have only surveyed about ten percent of the sky for asteroids.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical stance towards sensationalist claims, particularly in the UFO field. It prioritizes factual reporting and the presentation of original sources, as seen in the Roswell documentation and the debunking of Erich von Däniken's theories. There is a clear effort to distinguish between genuine scientific inquiry and what the publication terms 'UFO charlatans' and 'sensationalism.' The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting critical thinking and skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, while still acknowledging the public's interest in topics like space exploration and unexplained phenomena. The magazine encourages readers to seek out verifiable information and form their own informed opinions.