Chetvertoye Izmereniye - 2002 No 04

Magazine Overview

This issue of "ЧЕТВЕРТОЕ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ И НЛО" (Fourth Dimension and UFOs), issue number 4(169) from 2002, published by the Yaroslavl Ufological Center named after F. Yu. Zigel, delves into various unexplained phenomena and space-related news. The cover prominently features the headline "AMERICAN BORDER GUARD OBSERVED A UFO SQUADRON," alongside images related to space exploration.

American Border Guard Reports UFO Squadron

On January 31, 2002, an agent of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service near San Diego, California, witnessed an extraordinary event. While on duty, his service dog became agitated, prompting the agent to look out his car window. He observed a disc-shaped object with a dome, moving slowly. Following its trajectory, he saw a formation of at least twelve, possibly up to thirty, disc-shaped UFOs, estimated to be 30-50 meters in diameter, flying from west to east. A larger, boomerang-shaped UFO led the "squadron." The agent exited his vehicle and activated his emergency lights. At this moment, the boomerang-shaped UFO accelerated rapidly, pulling away from the discs and disappearing. The "saucers," shining with white lights around their perimeter, followed suit and vanished. The agent's supervisor confirmed he submitted a written report, but the agent's name was withheld for official reasons.

Another similar sighting occurred on January 23rd near Banning, California, where a witness reported seeing 6-7 lights in a V-shape, described as an "object" over a mile wide, moving over the Morongo Indian casino and the Palm Springs airport.

UFO Squadron Raids Yugoslavian Village

On March 12, 2002, hundreds of residents in the Montenegrin village of Godijevo reported seeing giant UFOs. They heard loud explosions and, upon investigation, witnessed twenty enormous, illuminated, round objects hovering over the village, bathing it in bright light. The village is located far from any industrial sites that could cause such illumination. According to Ananova, citing the local newspaper Vijesti, the saucers suddenly "changed shape and flew away." Villagers could not determine their altitude. Yugoslavian officials stated they were investigating the residents' accounts but declined further comment.

Comet Over the Western Horizon

Immediately after sunset, a newly discovered comet, Ikeya-Zhang, became visible in the northwestern sky, slightly north of Mars in the constellation Pisces. The article notes that Mars appears as a red dot, with two bright stars to its right. The comet can be seen with the naked eye, but binoculars are recommended. It was discovered on February 1st by two amateur astronomers from Japan and China. This comet was last observed in 1661. The article also mentions a planetary alignment occurring this year, which will not repeat until 2040.

China Aims for the Moon

Chinese authorities confirmed reports of the upcoming launch of the third unmanned Shenzhou spacecraft. The Long March-2F rocket carrying Shenzhou-3 is on the launch pad at the Jiuquan spaceport. While no specific launch date was given, continuous testing of equipment and computer simulations of the launch and flight are underway. The article states that preparations are complete, and the only remaining step is liftoff. Another unmanned Shenzhou launch is planned for later this year. The first manned mission is tentatively scheduled for 2003. Chinese astronauts have been training for years and will not only pilot the spacecraft but also conduct microgravity and vacuum experiments. Following successful manned flights, China intends to actively pursue space development, including the construction of an orbital solar power station and landings on the Moon, initially unmanned and later manned.

Pioneer-10 Responded as Ordered

On March 2nd, NASA celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Pioneer-10 probe's launch by attempting to re-establish contact. Pioneer-10 has traveled far, passing Pluto's orbit in 1983 and is now heading towards the star Aldebaran at 44,000 km/h. The distance to the probe is about 12 billion km, making communication challenging, with a one-way signal taking 11 hours. A command was sent from a radiotelescope near Los Angeles, and 22 hours and 6 minutes later, a response was received by a deep space communication telescope in Spain. According to project manager Larry Lasher, the signal was strong and clear, indicating Pioneer-10 is still functional. Another communication session is planned for exactly one year later. The probe's original mission was designed for 21 months.

NASA Studies Martian Meteorites

NASA has acquired nine new meteorites from Mars, adding to its collection of 19 Martian fragments. The largest of the new finds weighs 13.7 kilograms. These specimens were recovered during two-year expeditions to the South Pole, the Sahara, and Oman between 2000 and 2001. Ron Baalke of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that extensive analysis has verified their Martian origin. Official documentation will be presented at the 33rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston.

Approximately 20,000 meteorites fall to Earth annually, but only a few are of Martian origin. Scientific interest in Martian meteorites surged in 1996 when NASA researchers reported finding fossilized remains of ancient microorganisms in the meteorite "Allen Hills 84001."

Meteorite, Northern Lights, or "Saucer"?

There are ongoing rumors about what fell into Lake Erie near the mouth of Black River on February 13th. Initially thought to be a helicopter crash, speculation later included a meteorite, northern lights, and finally, a UFO. Coast Guard rescue vessels found nothing, though sailors reported seeing strange lights. The local newspaper "The Morning Journal of Lorain" reported "red lights or flashes" observed from three kilometers offshore. One witness reported hearing a strange rumbling sound, like a body breaking the sound barrier, which shook windows.

Mysterious Spheres Over Latin America

A wave of UFO sightings has been reported across Latin America, with a prevalence of strange black and silver spheres. On February 25th, these were first seen over Merida, Mexico. On February 26th, "several silver spheres" were observed in Tinjaca, Colombia. On February 28th, UFOs returned to Mexico, with technicians at Quernavaca airport observing a "strange object." Later that evening, engineer Enrique Aguirre and others saw 11 UFOs over Mexico City. On March 2nd, a "spectacular formation of UFOs" was visible over Mexico City for an extended period, with many being filmed. Ufologist Xavier Guevara captured a large, transparent "tube" containing smaller, sphere-like objects on video. Other witnesses filmed a large silver sphere surrounded by smaller ones. Air traffic controllers confirmed the presence of a UFO squadron over the city.

"They Were Stolen by Aliens"

In an interview, V. Azhazha discusses his work with ufology, stating that only 25% of unidentified cases are actually UFOs, with the rest having rational explanations. He notes that people who report UFOs are often considered mentally unstable. Azhazha claims to have treated 5,000 people over four years who were "mouthpieces for someone," and their experiences were linked to the appearance of unidentified flying objects. He describes landing sites with "psi-fields," scorched vegetation, and dead microfauna. He also suggests that people are abducted by aliens, estimating that at least 5% of the 90-100,000 people who go missing annually in Russia are abducted, totaling at least 5,000 per year. Children aged 4-8 are most frequently abducted, and women are sometimes used as incubators. He cites a case in the Pskov region where a fetus resembling a "screaming sea urchin" was removed from a woman. He expresses concern that scientists and politicians are not taking these issues seriously, despite ufology being recognized as a scientific specialty by the Higher Attestation Commission in 1994.

Attack in Argentina

On January 1, 2002, in the remote village of Las Palitas, Argentina, a peasant named Faustina Nolasco reported being struck by a bright light from a UFO, causing her to lose consciousness. She experienced burns on her face and head. The following day, a nearby tree was scorched, and her garden vegetables withered. Later, on March 2nd, several UFOs were seen over Santa Rosa, Argentina, described as a "very large star" and a "glowing cloud."

Video Recording of UFO in Brazil

Journalists in Brazil filmed a UFO performing "unthinkable maneuvers" without sound. Ufologists from the Brazilian Society for Extraterrestrial Research analyzed the footage and witness testimonies. Sightings of "cigar-shaped glowing objects" and "luminous points" were reported in the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco. In one instance, a lawyer and his wife observed a cigar-shaped object accompanied by twenty smaller disc-shaped UFOs. A farmer claimed to have seen a "saucer-like" object land on a rock, deploy supports, and open a hatch, after which he fired a shot and the object quickly departed.

UFO Over Primusye

Residents of the village of Varenovka in the Rostov region of Russia reported an encounter with UFOs on March 5th. Five circular objects, about a meter in diameter, hovered over the village, emitting beams of light that illuminated the area. One beam hit a car, causing it to stop and preventing the driver from restarting the engine. The UFOs remained for 15 minutes before silently departing, after which an unusual silence fell over the village. This follows a period of relative quiet since the summer of 1999, when UFOs were sighted over the village of Kuteinikovo.

NASA Studies Martian Meteorites

NASA has acquired nine new meteorites from Mars, adding to its collection of 19 Martian fragments. The largest of the new finds weighs 13.7 kilograms. These specimens were recovered during two-year expeditions to the South Pole, the Sahara, and Oman between 2000 and 2001. Ron Baalke of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that extensive analysis has verified their Martian origin. Official documentation will be presented at the 33rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston.

Approximately 20,000 meteorites fall to Earth annually, but only a few are of Martian origin. Scientific interest in Martian meteorites surged in 1996 when NASA researchers reported finding fossilized remains of ancient microorganisms in the meteorite "Allen Hills 84001."

Meteorite, Northern Lights, or "Saucer"?

There are ongoing rumors about what fell into Lake Erie near the mouth of Black River on February 13th. Initially thought to be a helicopter crash, speculation later included a meteorite, northern lights, and finally, a UFO. Coast Guard rescue vessels found nothing, though sailors reported seeing strange lights. The local newspaper "The Morning Journal of Lorain" reported "red lights or flashes" observed from three kilometers offshore. One witness reported hearing a strange rumbling sound, like a body breaking the sound barrier, which shook windows.

Mysterious Spheres Over Latin America

A wave of UFO sightings has been reported across Latin America, with a prevalence of strange black and silver spheres. On February 25th, these were first seen over Merida, Mexico. On February 26th, "several silver spheres" were observed in Tinjaca, Colombia. On February 28th, UFOs returned to Mexico, with technicians at Quernavaca airport observing a "strange object." Later that evening, engineer Enrique Aguirre and others saw 11 UFOs over Mexico City. On March 2nd, a "spectacular formation of UFOs" was visible over Mexico City for an extended period, with many being filmed. Ufologist Xavier Guevara captured a large, transparent "tube" containing smaller, sphere-like objects on video. Other witnesses filmed a large silver sphere surrounded by smaller ones. Air traffic controllers confirmed the presence of a UFO squadron over the city.

Marina Lukonina Helps Many!

This section features testimonials from individuals who have been healed by Marina Lukonina, a practitioner of a unique healing method, possibly related to Japanese Reiki. Patients report recovery from various ailments, including tumors, blood diseases, and "curses." One testimonial includes an analysis of a substance expelled during a massage, which was identified as superficial skin tissue, suggesting the effectiveness of Lukonina's specialized massage technique.

Russian Encyclopedia of UFOs

The magazine advertises the "First Russian Encyclopedia of UFOs," a comprehensive work with 15 thematic sections, over 1200 articles, and multimedia content. It also promotes a "Video Encyclopedia of UFOs" featuring over 110 UFO filming clips from 1950-1999.

Fiery Balls Over Telewhiskers

On February 6, 2002, in Puerto Rico, a witness named Luis Marrero observed a large fiery ball, estimated to be at least 180 meters in diameter, hovering near giant television antennas. Two smaller, luminous spheres detached from the main object and descended vertically. The large sphere then disappeared. The witness noted that the antennas' lights were off, suggesting a possible power disruption.

Near Chukreevka, a Meteorite Fell

An article discusses a mysterious object that fell near the village of Chukreevka in 1990. Researchers suggest its nature might be similar to the Tunguska event. The object, described as a fiery ball, crashed without sound, leaving behind slag fragments. While some speculated it was a crashed UFO, others, like V.N. Krupko of the Omsk Planetarium, were more cautious. Analysis of the fragments revealed unusual concentrations of calcium and potassium, suggesting a non-meteoritic, possibly cometary, origin. The article also touches upon the Tunguska event, proposing a cometary nucleus as a possible explanation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO sightings from around the world, with a particular focus on reports from Russia, the USA, and Latin America. It presents ufology as a legitimate field of study, often citing scientific recognition and research. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, while also acknowledging the need for rational explanations for some events. There is a recurring theme of alleged alien abductions and their impact on individuals and society. The magazine also keeps readers informed about developments in space exploration by various countries, suggesting an interest in the broader context of humanity's interaction with the cosmos. The inclusion of personal testimonials for healing services indicates a willingness to explore alternative or paranormal phenomena beyond just UFOs.