DIOVNI - No 13

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "Boletín Informativo" (Informative Bulletin) from the "Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomía" (CICA) in Santiago, Chile, is designated as number 13 and covers the period from July to December 1969. It is a semestral publication, distributed free of charge to organizations and individuals interested in UFO research, astronomy, and scientific investigation.

Editorial and Organizational Information

The bulletin is directed by Alberto Bernal Berk, with correspondence addressed to DIOVNI-CICA at Pedro Prado 4580-Macul, Santiago (11), Chile. The provisional headquarters for CICA's astronomy and rocketry branches is located at Alameda Bernardo O'Higgins 1435; Of.16, Santiago (1), Chile. CICA was founded in 1961 and legally recognized in 1966, affiliating with the "Liga Latino-Americana de Astronomía." The President of CICA is Sr. Fernando Bertrand López, with Sr. Sergio Guzmán Burgos as Vice President for Astronomy and Sr. Marcio Isamitt D. for Cohetería.

The "División de Investigaciones de OVNI" (DIOVNI), a sub-branch of CICA, was created by Rodrigo de la Vega in 1964. Its current Director is Sr. Juan Aguillón Mieres, with Sr. Alberto Bernal Berk as Sub-director and Srta. Carmen Martínez V. as Secretary. DIOVNI is represented in the USA by UFORC and in Spain by don Francisco Lezcano L.

The editorial states that the bulletin is a free publication for UFO research organizations, astronomical societies, scientific and educational institutions, and private investigators worldwide. It emphasizes that the opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily represent the official position of the Division, which holds no preconceived ideas about the UFO phenomenon. Readers are requested to cite the source when reproducing material.

DIOVNI's Five Years of Activity

The bulletin marks DIOVNI's five years of uninterrupted work. Despite initial opposition from some CICA sectors who deemed the activity "unscientific," the first president, Rodrigo de la Vega, established the Division. The necessary impetus was provided by Engineer Rubens Freire, a member of Uruguay's "Centro de Investigación de Objetos Volantes Inidentificados" (CIOVI). DIOVNI has conducted lectures as part of CICA's annual courses and for the cultural department of the University Technical State Institute. The "Boletín Informativo" began as a quarterly publication independent of CICA's main bulletin. Economic difficulties led to the suspension of the latter, and DIOVNI's bulletin was reduced to two issues per year, though with improved quality and doubled circulation thanks to the collaboration of don Hugel Hernández P. from the Ministry of Education and don Luis Herrera from the Imprenta.

UFO Sightings and Paranormal Phenomena

"OVNIS SOBRE MENDOZA" (UFOs over Mendoza) - Part II

This section, contributed by Antonio M. Baragiola, presents a report originally prepared for the magazine "ESPACIO." It details several cases:

• July 18, 1968: Three women (Amalia Aresqueta, Azucena Aresqueta, Mari Granada de Bariglia, and Silvia Grozona) driving near Lavalle, Mendoza, reported seeing a red-orange, incandescent, oval object about 20 meters in diameter moving at 40-60 km/h. They noted good atmospheric conditions but a slight fog. Notably, they experienced an odor like wet paper that became suffocating, and one person felt a sensation of drowsiness. They concluded it was a genuine UFO sighting.
• July 18, 1968 (Evening): Eduardo Oscar Silva, Carlos Perlino, and Daniel Fernández, while at the Meteorological Observatory in Parque General San Martín, observed a spherical, brilliant object moving from SSE to NW. They described it as having a spherical shape and being brilliant, with ambient temperatures around 10°C and clear skies. They ruled out satellites and aircraft due to its trajectory, luminosity, speed, and sudden disappearance. The observation lasted four minutes.
• July 21, 1969 (01:30 h): Four witnesses, including a private pilot, near Uspallata, Mendoza, observed an object at an altitude of over 1000 meters. They were stargazing when one object caught their attention, appearing initially like Venus. It moved erratically, making several movements before disappearing. The witnesses ruled out aircraft due to the altitude and time.

"EXTRAÑOS SUCESOS PARANORMALES" (Strange Paranormal Events)

This section, contributed by Juan Aguillón Mieres, explores unusual phenomena and their potential relation to extraterrestrial life, referencing M.K. Jessup's book "El Caso de los OVNI."

• August 1849: An irregular mass of ice, approximately seven meters in circumference, fell near Ord, Scotland, after a thunderous storm.
• June 16, 1883: In Dubuke, Iowa, large hailstones fell, and within them, a "vigilante" reportedly found live frogs. Jessup also mentions reports of strange substances falling, such as blood, fish, worms, and snakes.
• 1117: Extraordinary phenomena were reported in Lombardy, Italy, including blood-red rains and subterranean noises that caused terror. Similar phenomena were observed in Brescia.
• 1114: Blood-red rain was reported in Germany, and in 1163, in La Rochelle, France, a waterspout lifted a sentry box and filled the streets with debris.

"OVNIS SOBRE MENDOZA" (Continued)

• July 22, 1969 (19:50 h): Several people traveling by car to Villanueva, Mendoza, observed a red object with a white center, oval-shaped, and medium in size relative to the full moon. The sky was clear. The object moved from East to West, stopped, made several movements, and then moved in the opposite direction, lasting about 20 minutes. Other people in the vicinity confirmed seeing it before the witnesses arrived. The author notes that while aircraft from the IV Air Brigade could be a possibility, the witnesses' excitement and the public's attention to UFO cases might also suggest collective hallucination.

"EXTRAÑOS SUCESOS PARANORMALES" (Continued)

This section discusses unusual weather phenomena and historical accounts:

• Rain of Blood: The text explains that red coloration in rain can be due to red earth or dust, or in some cases, a type of microscopic organism (Disceraca or uredo nivalis) found in polar regions. Historical accounts of "blood rain" are cited, with explanations ranging from cinnabar dust mixing with water to atmospheric conditions.
• Unusual Falls: The text mentions the fall of ice blocks, ice particles of various colors, and living species of low zoological category, as well as large quantities of hailstones.
• Disappearances: Cases of missing aircraft, ships, or individuals are noted as phenomena that escape scientific explanation.
• Ancient Astronomers: The observations of ancient astronomers regarding strange celestial phenomena are mentioned as continuing to intrigue modern researchers.

UFO Sightings from Various Locations (Continued)

• June 1969: A bell-shaped UFO was sighted in the "rajo 41" of the José Francisco Vergara mine in Antofagasta Province, Chile. It descended about 200 meters above the mine, then ascended and maneuvered before disappearing. Witnesses initially saw it as a sphere, which then took on a bell shape as it approached.
• June 10, 1969: On the road from Antofagasta to Tocopilla, near Mejillones, witnesses observed a cylindrical, brilliant object descend to a few meters above their vehicle. It then ascended and disappeared. The object emitted no light externally.

General Information

• Questionnaire Operation: The "Anglo-Polish Research Group" is conducting an international survey, coordinated in Chile by Juan Aguillón, with collaborators Daniel Díaz, Eduardo Cabello, and Dr. Darwin Arriagada.
• Interamerican Congress: DIOVNI has been invited to the "First Interamerican Congress on Scientific Investigations of Extraterrestrial Life" in Buenos Aires.
• Case Clarification: A case from the initial statistical file was clarified thanks to information from Antonio Cvitano-vic and others, involving an object that fell into the sea near Viña del Mar, identified as a paper balloon launched by youths.
• UFOs and Parapsychology: A series of articles in "Las Ultimas Noticias" about Julio W. Beale receiving "telepathic messages" from UFO occupants is noted as belonging to the field of parapsychology. The "Sociedad Chilena de Parapsicología" is investigating this case.
• UFO Observation Summary: Information is available for those seeking details on specific cases by contacting Juan Aguillón.
• Acknowledgments: Thanks are extended to don Hugel Hernández P. (Ministry of Education) and don Luis Herrera (Imprenta) for their contributions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, paranormal events, and unusual atmospheric phenomena, primarily from Argentina and Chile. The editorial stance is one of open investigation without preconceived notions, encouraging the free exchange of information among researchers. The publication aims to document and analyze these phenomena, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and the unexplained. There is a clear effort to provide detailed accounts, witness testimonies, and some level of analysis, while also acknowledging the limitations of current understanding and the potential for misidentification or psychological factors. The inclusion of historical cases and ongoing international research efforts underscores a broad approach to the study of these subjects.

This document is a compilation of UFO (OVNI) observations, presented as a detailed table, likely from a publication by the Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomía (CICA) in Chile. The primary content consists of two main tables: one for February 1969 and another for January 1969, followed by a table for the first semester of 1969. These tables meticulously record sightings with information such as date, time, location (city, province, country), shape, size, color, luminosity, relative speed, direction, and additional details of the observed phenomena.

February 1969 Observations

The February 1969 table lists numerous sightings from various locations including Pirassununga (Brazil), Lins (Brazil), Seo Paulo (Brazil), Madridejos (Spain), Toledo (Spain), Itaperuna (Brazil), Chihuahua (Mexico), Almendralejo (Spain), Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Valparaíso (Chile), Fords Meadow Road (USA), Beloit (USA), Jamersville (USA), Tudela (Spain), Navarra (Spain), C. Dubuque (USA), Clintonv. (USA), Iowa (USA), Galeno (USA), Telemark (Norway), Lérida (Spain), San Juan (Peru), Lima (Peru), Al NW de Madrid (Spain), Sanquesa (Spain), Pamplona (Spain), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Estación Alegre (Brazil), Sumate y Sullenz (Italy), Pamplona (Spain), Befiolas (Spain), Whitehorse (Canada), Córdoba (Spain), Sagunto (Spain), Lins (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), La Palma (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Pitrufquén (Chile), Michigan (USA), Bocaiuva (Brazil), Illapel (Chile), Wolf Lake (USA), Montevideo (Uruguay), Kinterville (USA), Campiron/caconde (Brazil), and Brasilia (Brazil).

Observed objects are described with shapes like luminous discs, cones, irregular shapes, fireballs, oblong objects, wheels, yellow lights, globes, elongated objects, very luminous objects, multi-colored discs, orange circular objects, luminous large-sized objects, circular objects with yellow halos, white objects with three lights, luminous objects with green and white lights, and white and blue rays. Colors range from reddish and orange to yellow, white, green, blue, and multi-colored. Some objects are described as having high or low speeds, moving towards the North, South, East, or West, or exhibiting behaviors like stopping near the ground, hovering, or disappearing.

January 1969 Observations

The January 1969 table, identified as 'CUADRO RESUMEN...(2) ENERO', continues the detailed logging of UFO sightings. Locations include Palmerstown North (New Zealand), Foldens Corners (Canada), Prince Williams (USA), Skultorp (Sweden), Strasbourg (France), Grafton/Hardim (USA), Enfield (USA), Springfield (USA), Ville uay (Argentina), Malta, Bardajoz (Spain), Calahonda (Spain), Socos (Chile), Coquimbo (Chile), Carmades (Canada), Yukon (Canada), Villemer (France), Valleview (Canada), Alberta (Canada), Paris (France), Carstairs (Canada), Revesltake (Canada), Veneto (Italy), Cremona District (Brazil), Lew Westminter (Canada), Malaga (Spain), Jerez y San Lúcar (Spain), Stratford (USA), Lingira (Chile), Ovalle (Chile), Chale (UK), Isla de Wight (UK), Indianapolis (USA), Ceuta (Spain), Lonquimay (Chile), Atherfield (UK), Brook (UK), Sunrise Valley (Canada), Tukón (Canada), Yarmouth (UK), Carstairs (Canada), Alberta (Canada), C.Cabeza de buey (Spain), and Brasilia (Brazil).

Descriptions in January include cigar-shaped objects, silver cigars, luminous objects, star-like objects, flying wheels, 200-400 feet long objects with green and red lights, imprecise shapes, reddish cigars, luminous discs, yellow lights, red and white objects, luminous globes, red and blue discs, and fireballs. Behaviors noted include radar capture, stopping, ascending, descending, rapid movement, and disappearing. Some entries mention sounds or unusual phenomena like electromagnetic effects.

First Semester 1969 Observations

The table for the first semester of 1969, 'CUADRO RESUMEN DE OBSERVACIONES de OVNIS 1er semestre de 1969', covers January and February. Locations include Goodyear lake (USA), Price George (Canada), Mt. Benson (Canada), Linkoping (Sweden), Muchas ciudad (USA), Albacete (Spain), Tarma (Peru), Contamana (Peru), Callao (Peru), Svelvesbu (Sweden), Placencia (Spain), Yuste (Spain), Cáceres (Spain), Bluefield (USA), Fraser Lake (Canada), Greenville (USA), C.Bluefield (USA), Durtal (France), Taradale (New Zealand), Portugalete (Spain), Bilbao (Spain), Bridgeza (New Zealand), Porto Alegre (Brazil), Carey/Bowling G (USA), Kenora (Canada), Pivra (Peru), Niigaya (Japan), Chiba (Japan), Michigan (USA), Villa Foguer (USA), Surrey (UK), Sarthe (France), C. la Fléche (France), Alcantarilla (Spain), Murc. (Spain), Lugo (Spain), Paris (France), Cerro Quiñe (Chile), Linar. (Chile), Baz.sur-Loire (France), Sar. (France), and Chacabuco (Argentina).

Descriptions include luminous lights, discs, luminous objects, round discs of various sizes, quadrangular orange objects, inverted plates, multi-colored objects, orange objects, round and luminous objects, luminous spheres, golden objects, circular objects, luminous fireballs, ampoule-shaped objects, objects with red, green, blue, and yellow lights, and objects with a 4-meter circumference, red and blue. Some sightings are accompanied by notes such as 'followed two girls', 'high speed towards South', 'low speed, elevated', 'disappeared horizontally', 'fell to the ground', 'intermittent signals', and 'falling to the ground; satellites?'.

Circular and Editorial Content

Page 4 contains a 'CIRCULAR' addressed to physics and mathematics teachers and advisors of astronomical groups in Chilean secondary schools. It references an article in the Spanish magazine ASTRUM (No. 17-18) by Pedro Mateu Sancho concerning the 'updating of astronomical-astronomical education for the average degree student'. The circular notes that while Spain's situation is described, recent Chilean study programs also show a limited increase in Universe studies, insufficient for preparing students for the future. It suggests that the scientific curiosity sparked by space achievements should be leveraged to introduce astronomy, astronautics, and related sciences at an elementary level.

The Centro de Investigaciones en Cohetería y Astronomía (CICA) aims to collaborate through its OVNI Division's semestral publication. Future issues will include pages on basic astronomy, astronautics, and rocketry. CICA is described as an organization dedicated to the study, experimentation, investigation, and dissemination of astronomy, rocketry, and related fields, comprising professionals and university students. It highlights successful experimental rocket launches (95% success rate) and astronomical work including a star atlas and Mars map. CICA has also built its own observation instruments, including a 310 mm reflector and a 410 mm mirror.

Page 5 elaborates on CICA's activities. Previously, a quarterly bulletin (500 copies) was distributed globally. CICA believes UFOs warrant scientific study without prejudice. The entity is sustained by member contributions. Until 1967, CICA was based at the Ministry of Education, but a relocation led to reduced activities and the suspension of the bulletin. The OVNI Division's publication continues as a semestral, lower-circulation informative bulletin. CICA has improved its printing quality thanks to the Ministry. They plan to include information on other scientific aspects studied by CICA. The creation of a youth department, intended as an initiation into the institution's activities, was postponed due to difficulties. CICA offers collaboration through lectures and its bulletin, providing scientific orientation for those studying basic rocketry, provided safety rules are followed.

CICA seeks opinions from those leading astronomical centers to define publication topics for their programs. They have prepared a guide with the Ministry of Education covering topics like the description of the sky, the universe, astronomical coordinates, history of astronomy, the solar system, stars, nebulae, cosmogony, rocketry, and UFOs. They intend to publish summaries of these chapters, focusing on those not commonly found in books, starting with the next issue, planned for early the following year. The issue also features a reduced version of CICA's first Star Atlas from 1965 on page 15, showing stars of magnitude 0 and 5.

Page 6 displays the two celestial charts from the 'ATLAS ESTELAR PARA EL EQUINOCCIO DE 1950,0' by CICA, based on Rodrigo de la Vega L.'s catalog and drawn by Francisco Palacios M. in 1965. The atlas includes stars visible to the naked eye under normal circumstances, with smaller circles representing 5th magnitude stars and larger circles representing 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and 0th magnitude stars.

Page 7 contains contact information for CICA, including its provisional headquarters at Alameda Bernardo O'Higgins 1435, Office 16 (5th floor), Santiago (1), Chile, with a phone number of 87477. It also provides correspondence details for DIOVNI at Pedro Prado 4580-Macul, Santiago (11), Chile.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, astronomical education, and the scientific investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena. CICA's editorial stance is clearly in favor of a rigorous, scientific approach to studying UFOs, emphasizing the need for evidence-based analysis without preconceived notions. They also aim to promote astronomical and astronautical knowledge, particularly among young students, by making complex topics more accessible through their publications and educational outreach.