DIOVNI - No 05

Magazine Overview

This document is the fifth issue of the "Boletín Informativo" (Informative Bulletin) from the "División de Investigaciones de Objetos Volantes No Identificados" (DIOVNI), a division of the "Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomia" (CICA). Published quarterly, this issue covers October-November-December 1966 and is identified as Volume II, Number 5. The publication is based in Santiago, Chile.

Editorial

The editorial notes that DIOVNI is celebrating its second anniversary of investigative work. The organization's early activities involved collecting UFO-related incidents that occurred in Chile before the division's creation. Many of these cases, previously unreported, have been gathered with the help of expanding the number of investigators and collaborators across the country. The editorial emphasizes the importance of disseminating these findings to foreign societies, particularly American ones, for their studies. CICA has established contact with astronomical institutions and scientific organizations in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain, and France, collaborating with researchers like Joan Veillequez and Aimé Michel. They are awaiting responses to letters sent to institutions in Argentina, the United States, France, and Mexico. The division also conducts statistical research, which has revealed that UFO sightings are not confined to northern Chile but are also frequently observed in the southern regions, contrary to earlier beliefs. These southern cases will be published in future issues.

Scientific Notes

Jupiter's Radio Emissions

Since 1955, Jupiter has presented a puzzle to radio astronomers due to its powerful radio-electric emissions, reaching up to 1,000 Megawatts. While at least four emission zones exist, they cannot be linked to any visible surface features. These emissions occur in persistent groups lasting five to ten minutes, sometimes up to two hours, with frequencies between five and forty megacycles per second. It is speculated that Jupiter might be a giant radio station due to its strong magnetic field. The University of Chile's Radioastronomy Station is actively studying these emissions. Some researchers suggest solar storms as the cause, with emissions reappearing days after the storms. Although the signals resemble ocean waves, there is no evidence to confirm they are natural. Observers believe they cannot be artificial because they do not appear to be a code, and the energy required for such a transmitter would be immense, comparable to the consumption of hundreds of cities like New York; only the Sun rivals it in intensity.

Lunar Luminescence

For many years, luminescence has been reported in lunar craters like Plato, Theaetetus, and Aristarchus. While various explanations exist, some audaciously suggest it indicates extraterrestrial life. The luminescence in Aristarchus, on the eastern limb of the Moon, varies. Soviet scientists propose that processes within the crater cause this phenomenon, suggesting that the Moon's interior might be hot. Cracks in the crater could be releasing molecular hydrogen, requiring significant heat. The luminescence of lunar rocks has been attributed to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, similar to how some terrestrial minerals containing radioactive elements exhibit luminescence. These phenomena might explain lunar occurrences.

UFO Cases

International Cases (Third Quarter 1965)

• Erie, Pennsylvania, USA (August 3): Two reporters claimed to have seen and photographed an object resembling a star moving rapidly near a beach. On July 31st, two youths had previously seen another metallic, silver object that reportedly landed in a state park, leaving two triangular tracks.

National Cases (Chile)

• Tongoy (August 1): Five students from the School of Engineering at the University of Chile observed a large, intermittently red object with a thick trail at 11 PM. The object emitted no noise and crossed the horizon in 45 seconds. Half an hour later, the same object reappeared, now without lights and trail, moving in the opposite direction and taking another 45 seconds to cross the horizon.

Testimonies of UFO Presence in Antiquity (III)

This section, authored by Eduardo Cabello Anex, continues the historical review of UFO sightings.

Post-Christ Cases

Several observations are recorded from the first ten centuries after Christ. In 457 AD, objects resembling globes were seen over Britain and France. Additionally, "burning globes," luminous crosses, and fireballs were observed. A 16th-century drawing from Rothenburg, Germany, depicts an oval figure leaving a trail, resembling a UFO. Biblical inscriptions and drawings from Nuremberg, Germany, in 1561 also show various objects observed near the Sun.

Astronomical Observations and Potential Intramercurial Planets

The search for intramercurial planets, like the hypothetical "Vulcano," was driven by perturbations in Mercury's orbit, later explained by relativity. Astronomers observed planetary-shaped objects crossing the solar disk. During a solar eclipse on July 29, 1878, extraordinary and inexplicable observations were made by James C. Watson and Lewis Swift. Watson reported two red, disc-like planetary objects, one at 2.4 degrees from the Sun and another at over 4.5 degrees west. Swift observed similar disc-like objects in different locations. Other astronomers, including Dr. C.H. Peters, demonstrated that these observations did not correspond to intramercurial planets.

Chilean "Balls of Fire"

Chilean skies have also witnessed UFO phenomena. Family letters from between 1815 and 1821 mention "flying saucers," which ancestors called "balls of fire." A letter from a Mercedarian father describes great concern among families and the populace due to the appearance of reddish, smoky balls crossing the skies of Santiago like firebirds, interpreted as divine omens. This account provides evidence that ancestors were aware of the enigma of Unidentified Flying Objects.

The article concludes by stating that the final part will cover "Balls of Fire" observations from recent centuries.

Cases Published in Bulletins 4 & 5 (Location Map)

A map is provided showing locations in Chile, including Ancahuasi, La Serena, Coquimbo, Tongoy, Ovalle, and Punta Arenas, along with a hydroelectric plant.

Photo Captions:

• Photo 1: The "Red Spot" of Jupiter, initially thought to cause the planet's radio-electric emissions, was later dismissed (Scientific Notes).
• Photo 2: Copernicus crater on the Moon, which has shown a strange luminescence at times, leading to various conclusions (Scientific Notes).
• Photo 3: An object observed by Rodrigo de la Vega, president of CICA, in 1960, photographed by a journalist from a Santiago newspaper.

Organizations

Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomia (CICA)

Founded on September 5, 1961, CICA has legal status and is affiliated with the "Liga LatinoAmericana de Astronomia." Its leadership includes President Rodrigo de la Vega Letelier, Vice-president of rocketry Fernando Bertrand C., and Vice-president of astronomy Huguel Hernández P.

División de Investigaciones de Objetos Volantes No Identificados (DIOVNI)

This department of CICA was created on December 11, 1964. Its directors are Juán Aguillón Mieres (Director) and Alberto Bernal Berk (Sub-director), with Carmen Martínez Villagra as Secretary.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of UFO phenomena, both contemporary and historical, with a focus on cases from Chile and international reports. The editorial stance is one of serious scientific inquiry, aiming to collect, analyze, and disseminate information about UFOs. There is a clear emphasis on collaboration with other scientific institutions and a commitment to exploring the subject from multiple angles, including astronomical observations and historical records. The publication aims to inform the public and fellow researchers about the ongoing efforts to understand these unexplained aerial phenomena.