CISU Sicilia - No 08 - ottobre 1998

Magazine Overview

This issue of CISU SICILIA, number 8, dated December 1998, is a periodic bulletin from the Regional Coordination for Sicily of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies (CISU). It features an editorial by Antonio Blanco, regional coordinator, discussing the current state of ufology and the challenges it faces.

Editorial: Ufology at a Crossroads

Antonio Blanco's editorial highlights that despite decades of opinion polls showing a public belief in UFOs as extraterrestrial spacecraft, official documents and analysis suggest a more complex reality. Initially, governments suspected Soviet technology, but public opinion shifted towards the ExtraTerrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). This shift was influenced by early science fiction, astronomical speculation about Mars, and popular culture like Orson Wells' 'War of the Worlds' broadcast. Blanco argues that the ETH, while popular, relies on unproven assumptions and that the debate has stagnated, stuck between opposing viewpoints. He suggests that the human tendency to seek realities different from everyday life, possibly fueled by the New Age movement, contributes to the enduring appeal of the ETH. He criticizes the lack of progress in ufological research and the tendency to focus on sensationalism rather than rigorous investigation.

UFO News Sicilia

This section provides a summary of UFO-related news and events from the second half of 1998.

Iridium, the New UFOs

The launch of the Iridium satellite constellation has led to numerous UFO sightings. The satellites' reflective surfaces cause bright flashes when reflecting sunlight, which observers mistake for UFOs. The article mentions the development of software to help identify these satellite flares and refers to an in-depth article by Francesco D'Agostino.

Two New Websites on UFOs

Two new Italian websites dedicated to UFOs are highlighted: UFO-On-Line (ufo.it), one of the most comprehensive, and CISU-On-Line (arpnet.it/ufo) and UFOData-Net (ufodatanet.org). Two new sites originating from Sicily are also presented: CISU Sicilia (geocities.com/Area51/Station/2537), offering regional UFO history and a database of sightings, and UFO-CTLine (members.xoom.com/ufoctline), a personal homepage.

Project Origins

Salvatore Foresta and Antonio Rampulla continue their research into early ufology, focusing on newspaper archives. They report a recent discovery of a 1954 article in 'Giornale dell'Isola' about 'flying discs' over Taormina. The article, along with accompanying photographs, reveals that the famous images were a photomontage created by a local photographer, Giuseppe Grasso, to sensationalize the news. This finding confirms recent accounts suggesting the images were fabricated.

Anonymous Sightings

A report of an "silver disc" seen flying near Catania airport was received anonymously. Due to the lack of verifiable details and the witness's reluctance to provide contact information, the sighting could not be investigated further.

A False Photographic Case

A newspaper in Caltanissetta published a photo of a 'flying disc' taken by a 15-year-old student. However, upon investigation, the student provided only six photos, not thirty as reported, and requested money for copies. The published image appeared to be a fake, likely a cutout pasted onto glass. Subsequent attempts to get more information were met with silence from the witness's family.

The UFO of Mezzojuso and Other Investigations

This section revisits the Mezzojuso sighting from September 28, 1997, where witnesses observed a black, ovoid vehicle. The article clarifies inaccuracies reported in the press and confirms the witnesses' credibility and the case's high strangeness index (97PA01). The investigation, coordinated by Antonio Blanco, suggests the object was unusual. Another investigation by Sebastiano Pernice concerns a luminous object reported in Palermo on December 23, 1978, shortly before the Punta Raisi air disaster. The witness's belief in a connection is noted, but the report is considered modest, possibly influenced by the emotional impact of the disaster.

Close Encounters (IR.3 Type 'E')

Salvatore Foresta discusses the classification of close encounters, particularly Type 'E' encounters, which involve the presence of animated entities but no UFO. He notes that Italian UFO cases are disproportionately of Type 'E' compared to other countries. A case from Catania in 1962 involving two postal workers who reported seeing a strange, luminous being is presented. While the witness later downplayed the event, the author suggests it might have been a prank or a misinterpretation due to panic, rather than an extraterrestrial encounter.

Atmospheric Optical Phenomena: Or, When Nature Masquerades as a UFO

Pietro Torre's article explores atmospheric optical phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs.

Introduction

Torre emphasizes the importance of understanding natural phenomena and human technology before considering UFOs. He notes that much about military technology remains classified, but natural phenomena are more accessible.

Testimonies from the Past

He cites ancient Roman texts describing phenomena like multiple suns, halos, and arcs around the sun, attributing them to natural causes. He also references Antonio Mongitore's 18th-century work on Sicilian natural history, which includes celestial observations.

Sun Dogs: A Case from Our Times

Giuseppe Santangelo's 1970 observation of a bright ring around the Sun with a smaller, luminous object is presented as a likely parhelion (sun dog). Torre notes that parhelia are common in Sicily, especially during sirocco winds, and shares two personal observations of parhelia.

Halos and Other Easily Observable Celestial Optical Phenomena

Parhelia are described as phenomena occurring around the sun (or moon) at specific angles, often appearing as 'sun dogs'. Halos, luminous circles around the sun or moon, are also common, especially in conditions with water vapor. The article mentions that these phenomena can be particularly striking at high altitudes. It also touches upon coronas (around the moon) and sun pillars (vertical columns of light). The author refers to William R. Corliss's 'The Book of Natural Mysteries' for more anomalous cases.

Conclusions

Torre concludes by questioning how many UFO reports might actually be misinterpretations of natural atmospheric phenomena, especially by witnesses unaware of these optical effects. He suggests that such misidentifications could be inflating the UFO database.

Opinions: Exobiology and Fantarcheology

This section presents the results of a survey conducted among 200 middle school students in Palermo.

Survey Results

The survey, conducted over four astronomy meetings, revealed that 10% of students believed life exists only on Earth (for religious reasons). 37% were convinced that thousands of planets with similar characteristics to Earth exist but did not express an opinion on life. The remaining 53% were certain that life exists on other planets, citing arguments such as the vastness of the universe, potential evidence in prehistory, history, and the Bible, and the rapid technological advancement of humanity suggesting other civilizations could travel between planets.

Discussion on Extraterrestrial Life and Fantarcheology

The article discusses the students' beliefs, noting that the idea of extraterrestrial visits in prehistory and history is a common theme in popular, often unauthoritative, literature. It recommends William H. Stiebing Jr.'s book 'Ancient Astronauts' for those interested in fantarcheology. The section also introduces Frank Drake's equation, used to estimate the number of technological civilizations in the Milky Way, highlighting that the equation's outcome heavily depends on the estimated lifespan ('L') of such civilizations. The author contrasts a short lifespan (around 100 years) with a long one (millions of years), showing how drastically the number of potential contacts changes.