CENAP Infoline - no 081

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: nr. 81
Date: 29. November 1998

This issue of cenap-infoline, a German publication focused on unusual aerial phenomena and UFO research, features a prominent article celebrating the 25th anniversary of CENAP (Centrale Forschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher Himmelsphänomene) and its work. The magazine also includes reports on meteor showers and a maritime rescue incident.

25 Years of CENAP: Work Meeting in Cröffelbach with GEP

The lead article, "Mit Szene-Gurus im Clinch" (Clash with Scene Gurus), written by Richard Färber, details the meeting of CENAP and GEP in Cröffelbach. CENAP, founded by Hansjürgen Köhler and Werner Walter in Mannheim, is presented as a skeptical organization dedicated to investigating UFO sightings and debunking sensationalist claims. They have a 25-year history of being at odds with more fringe UFO groups. The article recounts CENAP's origins, stemming from disillusionment with a pseudo-religious organization that promised outlandish things to its followers. Köhler and Walter, after feeding the organization a fabricated story that was then published as fact, decided to pursue a more rigorous, scientific approach to UFO research.

CENAP, along with GEP (Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des UFO-Phänomens e. V.) from Lüdenscheid, share a similar goal of clarification and regularly meet to exchange findings. Both organizations are publicly recognized and collaborate with German air traffic control and observatories. CENAP is even recommended by the Ministry of the Interior as a point of contact for UFO sightings and advises the German Agency for Aerospace Affairs.

According to the article, CENAP has investigated around 700 UFO reports in Germany, with most cases being explained as hot air balloons, advertising zeppelins, aircraft, or, more recently, disco laser lights and occasional hoaxes. Hansjürgen Köhler is quoted stating, "Nothing remains!" This critical stance often leads to animosity from the broader UFO community. The article also criticizes the media, particularly television, for often ignoring critical explanations to maintain viewer interest, leading to the repeated resurfacing of debunked cases. A media editor reportedly explained that "critical reporting destroys the suspense."

Uli Thieme from Schwäbisch Hall is credited with organizing the meeting of UFO researchers in Cröffelbach.

Eyewitness Accounts and Investigations

Several photographs from the meeting are included, with captions identifying attendees from CENAP, GEP, GWUP, and CR-Leser (a publication). The attendees include individuals like G. Mosbleck, W. Walter, J. Garcia, B. Mosbleck, U. Magin, H. Peiniger, Roger (GEP-Mäzen), E. Wunder, R. Gehardt, J. Ickinger, O. Böß, G. Schmidt, R. Eglin (Switzerland, Alientechnology discoverer), and M. Mylosewisz.

One section, "Cröffelbach: Alientechnology in the Swiss Hardware Store?", delves into a peculiar case involving alleged alien technology. It discusses items such as brass shelf pins used as spacers between ball bearings and a pot with a star pattern as a lid, linked to Billy Meier and Semjase. A letter from Semjase to Billy's friends, written in "Swiss German," is also presented, along with a close-up of a 10cm diameter pot and a brass shelf pin. The text suggests that these items, purportedly from the Pleyades, were found in a hardware store in Switzerland.

Meteor Showers and Misidentifications

The issue also covers astronomical events, specifically the Leonids meteor shower. An article from "MORGEN" dated November 4, 1998, titled "Sternschnuppen-Wunschhimmel im November" (Meteor Shower Wish Sky in November), discusses the expected meteor shower on the night of November 17-18, noting that visibility depends on clear skies in Germany.

Another article from "MORGEN" (October 8, 1998) titled "Nachthimmel zeigt seltenes Schauspiel" (Night Sky Shows Rare Spectacle), reports on the uncertainty of a predicted meteor storm, with potential for thousands of meteors per hour or very few, depending on the prediction's accuracy.

Further reports from "MORGEN" (November 18 and 19, 1998) detail the actual Leonids event. "Blick gen Himmel vergebens" (Looking at the Sky in Vain) notes that the meteor storm occurred about five hours earlier than predicted and was obscured by daylight and clouds. "Besuch der Leoniden" (Visit of the Leonids) mentions that while astronomers in Switzerland counted up to 1000 meteors per hour, the spectacle was only visible with luck due to cloudy skies in many parts of Europe. "Sternschnuppen mit Notsignalen verwechselt" (Meteor Showers Confused with Distress Signals) highlights confusion in Norway, where people mistook meteors for distress signals from ships, alerting the coast guard. The article explains that the imprecise predictions are due to the small, unevenly distributed dust particles from the comet Tempel-Tuttle.

Axel Quetz, press spokesman for the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, explains that the Leonids stream arrived 16 hours earlier than expected, with up to 2000 meteors per hour observed over the Pacific. Otto Guthier, chairman of the Association of Star Friends, reported seeing 1000 meteors per hour from Gornergrat, Switzerland. Despite the inaccurate timing, satellite operators were relieved as their satellites were not damaged. Rüdiger Jehn of the European Space Agency (ESA) commented that comets always offer surprises and that model calculations can be wrong.

Mysterious Signals and a Rescue at Sea

A significant report from page 6, "Ostseebad Mysteriöse Signale, Fischer gerettet" (Seaside Resort Mysterious Signals, Fishermen Rescued), details an incident on the Baltic Sea. On Monday evening, two anglers near Börgerende reported seeing a long light flash that widened and split into three spheres, followed by a red flare and a red blinking light. This prompted a large-scale rescue operation coordinated by the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons (DGzRS).

Simultaneously, a second SOS call came in for two fishermen whose boat was overdue near Wismar. Their boat's outboard motor had failed, and they were found about six nautical miles northwest of Timmendorf. The fishermen were suffering from mild hypothermia.

The article notes that the MUFON-CES (Mutnal UFO Network Central European Sektion), an international organization of scientists and researchers, is seeking witnesses to the mysterious lights seen near Börgerende. However, Ulf Erler, spokesperson for the Water Police Directorate, stated there were no indications of missing persons or aircraft, and ruled out the possibility that the lights were distress flares from the rescued fishermen, as their boat did not carry such equipment. While acknowledging the anglers' report, the police could not attribute the phenomenon to any known cause and expressed skepticism about UFOs being involved.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a skeptical and investigative stance towards UFO phenomena, as exemplified by CENAP's work. There is a clear emphasis on scientific rigor and debunking sensationalism. The publication also highlights the role of media in shaping public perception and the challenges of accurate astronomical prediction. The inclusion of the maritime incident, while initially framed with a question about UFOs, ultimately concludes with a police statement of skepticism regarding extraterrestrial involvement, reinforcing the magazine's critical approach.