Extraterrestres, Les - Series 1 - No 09 - nov-dec 1970

Magazine Overview

Title: LES EXTRATERRESTRES
Issue: No. 9
Date: November-December 1970
Publisher: Groupe d'Études des Objets Spatiaux de France (G.E.O.S.)
Type: International Review

This issue of 'Les Extraterrestres' (The Extraterrestrials) is the ninth publication from the French G.E.O.S. organization, dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects. The cover features a striking illustration of a classic flying saucer hovering above Earth, with the title emblazoned in bold, stylized lettering. The magazine is published bi-monthly and priced at 3 French Francs in France.

Editorial Staff and Content Overview

The editorial team is led by Director General Gérard Lebat. The publication lists its full staff, including R.P. PerrinJaquet (Direction), Maurice Zagnoni (Editor-in-Chief), Jean-Michel Ferrari (Assistant Editor), Gérard Lantz (General Secretary), and Daniel Boileau (Artistic Direction). A team of collaborators, including Jacques Pottier, and translators Xavier Bertrand, Christian Cayssiols, Francis Fournier, and Bernard Delres, are also credited. The 'Sommaire' (Table of Contents) reveals a diverse range of articles.

Articles and Features

Opinion on the Habitability of Planets by Christian Huygens

This section, spanning pages 3 to 7, presents an extensive discussion of Christian Huygens' 17th-century views on the possibility of life on other planets. The article begins by noting that the question of planetary habitability was not a major concern in antiquity when the Ptolemaic system dominated. However, with the Copernican revolution, the idea that planets could host life gained traction, as similar physical laws and solar energy governed all celestial bodies. Huygens, a renowned scientist, argued that the Earth was not unique and that other planets, like Jupiter and Saturn with their moons, or Mars with its polar ice caps (as observed by Galileo), could support life.

The text highlights Huygens' response to objections, particularly those derived from religious texts that seemed to focus solely on Earth. He posits that the Bible's general terms like 'Heaven' and 'Earth' might encompass more than is explicitly stated, including other celestial bodies. He also addresses the idea that all creation is for humanity's benefit, suggesting it's illogical to assume vast, distant stars were created solely for human utility.

Huygens' treatise, published posthumously in 1724 as 'Nouveau traité sur la pluralité des mondes' (New Treatise on the Plurality of Worlds), is discussed. His arguments are presented as a logical development of the idea of multiple inhabited worlds. He examines specific planets like Venus, noting its proximity to the sun would make it much hotter than Earth, and Mars, where the temperature difference between seasons is minimal due to its axial tilt.

The article contrasts Huygens' optimistic perspective with modern astronomical understanding. While Huygens imagined planets with life forms, atmospheres, and even societies, contemporary astronomers are more skeptical. They point to factors like extreme temperatures (e.g., around 400°C on Mercury's sunlit side, or -100° to -200°C on gas giants), atmospheric composition (lack of oxygen, presence of methane and ammonia), and the absence of liquid water as significant barriers to life as we know it.

Despite these differences, the article concludes that Huygens' visionary thinking was remarkably prescient, anticipating modern discoveries about the vastness of the universe and the existence of countless star systems. The article notes that Huygens was born in 1629 and died in 1695.

NOS ENQUETES (Our Investigations)

This section features reports on UFO observations.

#### Observation of Mr. Christian Louis (Pages 8-9)

Reported by Jacques Pottier, this observation took place in Langeac (Haute-Loire), France, on September 21, 1970. The witness observed a bright, yellowish, polygon-shaped object that appeared spherical to the naked eye. Using a telescope (82mm objective, 100-200x magnification), the object was identified as a transparent pyramid with luminous edges. The object moved rapidly from east-northeast to west-southwest within about 15 minutes, covering the zenith-to-horizon distance. During the observation, it exhibited slow rotation and a slight halo. The report includes sketches of the object in different phases and notes that five other witnesses corroborated the observation.

#### Observation of Mrs. Chevalier (Page 10)

This report details an observation made in September 1967, near Agen, France. Mrs. Chevalier and her driver observed a bright, round, luminous object moving horizontally and silently above the road. They stopped the car to observe it. The object was described as having a uniform bright color, with blurred edges. After about 7-8 minutes, the object, which had remained immobile, suddenly moved away very quickly when the car's headlights were turned back on. The object's speed was compared to that of a high-altitude airplane, and its altitude was estimated at 300 meters, with a diameter comparable to the moon.

Other Sections

• Informations Fortéennes: Likely related to the Fortean phenomenon, this section is authored by J. M. Ferrari (page 16).
• Courrier: (Page 19)
• Nos Informations: (Page 20)
• Catalogue mondial (1st part): (Page 21)
• Dossier Fragments d'O.V.N.I.S: (UFO Fragments Dossier) (Page 22)
• Littérature: (Literature) (Page 26)
• Service documentation: (Documentation Service) (Page 27)

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's core theme is the exploration of extraterrestrial phenomena, particularly UFOs, and the scientific and historical context surrounding the possibility of life beyond Earth. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting both historical scientific theories (like Huygens') and contemporary eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings. There is a clear interest in bridging scientific discourse with unexplained aerial phenomena, as evidenced by the detailed reports and the inclusion of scientific opinions on planetary habitability. The magazine aims to inform its readers about the latest findings and discussions within the UFO and astronomy communities.

Title: Informations Fortéennes
Issue: 15
Volume: 1
Date: July 17, 1970
Publisher: GEOS International
Country: France
Language: French
Cover Headline: LES FAITS MAUDITS (The Cursed Facts)

Article Summaries

Observation de Villaz-la-Sage

This section details a UFO sighting in the mountain village of Villaz-la-Sage, Switzerland. The witness, Mme GASPCZ, describes an object that was "solid" and "brilliant," comparing its light to artificial light rather than the moon or sun. The object moved in a straight line from west to south. Her husband, convinced of her sincerity, stated, "it wasn't something from Earth!" The object was described as ovoïde, metallic, with a luminous rear third, approximately 20 meters in size, and moved at high speed, ascending from 200 to 630 meters before disappearing. The observation lasted only 3-5 seconds, with the object changing from oval to round upon departure.

Images Fantastiques et Photos Insolites

This section presents several unusual cases:

• François BAY's Laboratory Incident: Photographer François BAY of Nice reported an unexplained "visit" in his laboratory on June 19, 1970. He experienced a sense of presence, followed by intense fear. He then saw a "luminous fluorescent ball" that diminished and disappeared, leaving a faint, acrid odor. He felt his life was threatened.
• Photographic Anomalies Linked to Lightning: The article discusses curious effects of lightning, specifically how it can produce "photographic images." It cites cases from Frank Edwards' unpublished work:
• Kentucky, 1865: After a severe thunderstorm, a vivid, rainbow-colored arc, about 15 cm wide, appeared in the window of Jesse Smith's farm. It was visible from the outside and remained on the glass for years, even after the end of the Civil War.
• Tennessee, 1887: Following a violent thunderstorm, an image of the deceased Grenny Osborne appeared in her window, seemingly imprinted by a lightning strike. This image remained visible for several years.
• Indiana, 1891: After the funeral of Mme Sophie Scharf, her image appeared in a window, clear and sharp for about a week, then reappeared later. Attempts to remove it were unsuccessful.

Dossier Fragments d'O.V.N.I.s

This section delves into fragments and unusual metal objects related to UFOs:

• The Mysterious Metal Block of Canada: A large metal block, found over nine years prior in the St. Lawrence River in Québec, Canada, is described. It measures approximately 4 by 6 feet (1.22 x 1.83 m) and is oval-shaped, resembling an inverted mushroom. It is composed of layers of material that have resisted cutting and breaking, is weakly magnetic, and is estimated to weigh around 3,000 pounds.
• "Les Ecureuils" Terrain: This describes a riverbank area with a steep descent to a flat, argillaceous shale bed, extending about a quarter-mile to the water. The river's tidal influence means the area can vary from dry to having up to 1.50 feet of water.

Un Mystérieux Éclair Vert : Un Météore?

Reported by the Mainichai Daily News on August 18, 1970, this incident occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii. A mysterious green flash was observed by a coast guard, pilots, and surveillance officers. It was described as resembling a "plane in distress" and was initially thought to be a meteor. However, investigations by NASA concluded it could not have been caused by the re-entry of an American capsule.

Les Soucoupes Volantes de Scare Rocks Penang

From the Asahi Evening News of August 22, 1970, this report details an incident in Penang, Malaysia. Six students claimed to have seen a flying saucer on the ground with 7 cm tall astronauts. Two boys, T. Veerasingham (10) and A. Devaraj (12), insisted their story was true. One boy described an astronaut in yellow who kicked him, leaving a red mark.

Catalogue Mondial O.V.N.I. - Cas chiliens pour 1965

This is a detailed catalog of UFO sightings in Chile for the year 1965, compiled by Pablo Petrovitsch and published by Visiteurs Spaciaux. It lists dates, times, locations, and provinces for numerous observations.

Correspondence

• Letter from The International Fortean Organization (July 17, 1970): Ronald J. Willis, Chairman, expresses interest in GEOS International's publication and proposes an exchange of journals. They are willing to allow "Informations Fortéennes" to use information from "The INFO Journal" with proper credit, and vice versa.
• Letter to M. Lebat (July 17, 1970): Acknowledges receipt of GEOS International and expresses enthusiasm for exchanging publications and seeing increased interest in Charles Fort's work.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs and related events, often termed "faits maudits" (cursed facts). There is a strong emphasis on witness testimony, detailed case descriptions, and the collection of historical and contemporary evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of information among researchers and organizations like GEOS International and The International Fortean Organization. The publication aims to document and analyze these mysterious occurrences, treating them as serious subjects worthy of investigation.

This document is page 23 of a magazine, likely from the "Flying Saucer Review" series, as indicated by the publisher and content focus. The issue date is inferred as June, though the year is not explicitly stated but implied to be within the period when such investigations were prominent.

The Discovery of the Metal Object

The article details the discovery of two metal objects on a beach. The finder, who was improving his income by cleaning the beach, found the objects after a period of rain. The larger of the two pieces weighed approximately 800 pounds. Initially, the smaller piece was sold to a scrap metal dealer in Quebec and classified as non-ferrous metal. The large crane used for handling scrap metal could not lift the larger piece due to its low magnetic permeability, leading it to be placed in the non-ferrous material pile for eventual shipment to Japan.

CARDE Investigation and Initial Findings

News of the discovery reached CARDE (Canadian Arsenals research and development establishment). They suspected it might be part of a space capsule and retrieved it for investigation. After their research, CARDE submitted the metal to the Ottawa New Sciences Club. The club, with difficulty, transported the heavy object to Ottawa, where it remains in their custody.

CARDE's analysis yielded the following conclusions:

• X-ray analysis indicated the unidentified object was a metallic compound with a cellular unit dimension consistent with: 1. Austenitic steel 2. Meteoritic iron

• Semi-quantitative spectrographic analysis showed insufficient nickel for the material to be of meteoritic origin. The detected manganese content suggested the material was better described as steel with a high proportion of manganese. This was further supported by the metal's very low ferromagnetic nature.

• The presence of iron oxide and hydrated iron oxide on the surface was considered a normal result of steel exposure to the atmosphere. Small amounts of quartz and calcite were identified as common foreign materials.

Based on the low nickel and high manganese proportions, which were incompatible with a meteoritic origin but compatible with high-extensibility steel, the object was considered to be of terrestrial origin.

Lingering Doubts and Unusual Properties

Despite CARDE's conclusions, doubts persisted regarding the object's terrestrial origin. Laboratory experiments conducted by Wilbert B. Smith and his assistants revealed an unusual number of abnormal reactions for a terrestrial metal. Specifically, when a small piece of the metal was heated with an acetylene lamp, it caused a miniature white cloud to bloom, accompanied by extremely bright sparks, described as being like a miniature atomic bomb. W. B. Smith concluded that the manganese became exothermic.

CARDE proposed that the metal block might be foundry slag brought to the area by an ice floe. However, the facts did not support this theory. The nearest foundries were miles away from the location (identified as "ECUREUILS"), and it was June. Furthermore, the material was not a common foundry product, and it was questioned why a foundry would waste 3,000 pounds of metal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article focuses on the scientific investigation of an anomalous object, highlighting the process of analysis, the challenges in determining origin, and the unexpected properties discovered. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting unexplained phenomena and the scientific efforts to understand them, acknowledging the limitations of current knowledge and the possibility of unusual terrestrial or non-terrestrial materials. The theme of unidentified objects and their potential implications is central.