CENAP Infoline - no 102

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue: NR.102
Date: January 11, 2000
Publisher: CENAP
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of CENAP-INFOLINE, a supplement to the CENAP-Report focusing on UFOs and related phenomena, provides a critical look at the accuracy of psychic predictions and updates on astronomical events.

Weitaus mehr Nieten als Treffer: Hellseher hatten im zu Ende gehenden Jahrzehnt nur wenig Ahnung von der Zukunft

The lead article critically assesses the predictive accuracy of psychics, astrologers, and clairvoyants regarding events in the 1990s. Based on data compiled by the "Forum Parawissenschaften" in Sandhausen, near Darmstadt, and presented by spokesperson Edgar Wunder and astrologer Peter Niehenke, the findings are stark: out of 803 registered predictions between 1990 and 1999, only 31 were accurate, resulting in a 96% failure rate. The article highlights that election results, where one of two candidates had to be chosen, offered a 50% chance of being correct, yet even these were often missed. Specific examples of failed predictions include the resignation of US President Bill Clinton (who remained in office despite the Lewinsky affair), the predicted death of Pope John Paul II (who continued to live), and the demise of heir to the throne Prince Charles. The article also notes the failure of psychics to predict the death of John F. Kennedy Junior in a plane crash, contrasting it with a prediction of him traveling in a space shuttle. Furthermore, major global events like the Kosovo War and the resignation of Oskar Lafontaine were not foreseen.

Astronomen beobachten zurzeit fasziniert ihre Geburt: Sehen wir am Himmel bald eine 2. Sonne?

This section reports on astronomical observations, focusing on the star "Eta" in the constellation "Carina," located about 7000 light-years away. "Eta" is described as a massive star, 70 times larger than our sun, that is undergoing a powerful explosion. Scientists from the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie in Heidelberg predict that this event could transform "Eta" into a supernova, potentially making it the brightest object in our sky, even visible during the day as a second sun. The star is expelling hydrogen and dust at a speed of 700 kilometers per second. The article mentions that the star "Eta" was briefly the second brightest star in the sky in 1843 before fading. The potential impact of gravitational waves from this event on the Milky Way remains unknown. The article also touches upon the return of the US space shuttle Discovery after a 5.3 million kilometer mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. The shuttle landed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, after a flight that required one extra orbit due to strong winds.

Zum Jahreswechsel falsche Ufos

This short report from the Mannheimer UFO-Forschungsgruppe CENAP addresses the expected increase in UFO sightings during the New Year's Eve millennium celebrations. CENAP, which has been monitoring and verifying reports of unidentified flying objects for over 25 years, attributes these sightings primarily to the widespread use of "Party-Gag" hot-air balloons. These balloons, typically 150 cm in diameter and red-and-white striped, are advertised as a 'Millennium Star' and can ascend to 500 meters, creating a spectacle that can be mistaken for UFOs by the public, pilots, and even trained observers.

Konkurrenz für Korou?

This brief news item discusses potential competition for the European space center in Kourou, French Guiana. A US company, Beal Aerospace Technologies Incorporated, is planning to build a private rocket launchpad for commercial satellite transport in close proximity. Negotiations with the Guyanese government are reportedly nearing completion, which would establish the first purely privately financed spaceport.

Discovery zurück

This article details the return of the US space shuttle Discovery after an eight-day mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. The shuttle landed at 1:01 AM CET in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission required an additional orbit due to strong winds at the landing site.

Ein Jahr Null hat es nie gegeben

This piece clarifies a common misconception about the start of the new millennium. The author explains that a 'Year Zero' has never existed and never will in any calendar system. Time is counted sequentially, meaning that after December 31st of the year preceding Christ's birth, January 1st of Year 1 followed. Therefore, the second millennium concluded on December 31, 2000, and the third millennium began on January 1, 2001. The author uses the analogy of a personal birthday to illustrate this point: the first year of life is Year 1, and the first birthday is celebrated at its end.

Kosmisches Schattenspiel zum Jahresanfang: Sonne, Mond und Sterne im Januar

This section provides an astronomical forecast for January 2000. It highlights a total lunar eclipse on January 21st, occurring in the early morning hours. The article details the phases of the moon, its distance from Earth throughout the month, and the visibility of planets Jupiter and Saturn in the evening sky. Jupiter is described as the brightest celestial body after the moon, moving through Pisces, while Saturn is in Aries. The article also mentions the constellation Orion, the brightest star Sirius in Canis Major, and Prokyon in Canis Minor. The "Winter Hexagon" (Wintersechseck) is described, formed by the stars Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Pollux, and Prokyon. The spring constellation Leo is noted as appearing in the east. The article also forecasts the Quadrantid meteor shower in the first week of January, with its peak expected on the night of January 3rd-4th, potentially producing up to 100 meteors per hour. Venus is mentioned as a bright morning star. Finally, it notes that Earth reaches its closest point to the sun (perihelion) on January 3rd and that daylight hours will increase by over an hour during the month.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of the unknown and the observable, with a strong emphasis on debunking pseudoscience and providing factual, scientific explanations. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical towards claims of precognition and supernatural phenomena, favoring astronomical and scientific reporting. The magazine aims to inform readers about both the limitations of human prediction and the wonders of the cosmos, while also clarifying common misunderstandings, such as the start of the new millennium. The inclusion of UFO reports, while present, is framed within a context of rational explanation, attributing many sightings to mundane causes like balloons.