Extraterrestres, Les - Series 1 - No 21 - juillet-aout 1972

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Les Extraterrestres," the international review published by the Groupe d'Études des Objets Spatiaux de France (G.E.O.S.), is dated July-August 1972, issue number 21. The cover features a striking illustration of a flying saucer hovering over the Earth, set against a starry background, with the headline "REVUE INTERNATIONALE."

Editorial

The editorial, written by Gérard Lebat, announces a new program for the magazine, which will now appear every two months. He expresses gratitude to readers for their support during his long convalescence from fractures. Lebat highlights the introduction of a new sticker designed to raise awareness about UFOs, priced at 8 francs for 20 copies. He also mentions that the November issue will be dedicated to observations from the current year and will include a comprehensive catalog. Three significant landing incidents are briefly noted: one in Tourny (Eure), another near Lyon, and a third in the Oise region, involving dome-shaped objects.

Primhistory and Ancient Representations

The article "Notre Rubrique Primhistoire" by Franco Cellone explores the possibility of extraterrestrial representations in ancient artifacts. It discusses various prehistoric rock carvings and paintings from caves in France, Spain, Sahara, North Africa, and Scandinavia, noting figures with unusual helmets, round heads, and strange appendages. The author references the work of scholars like Bibby and Henri Lhote. The article specifically examines Celtic coins, citing the research of Philippe Franchi and Nathaniel, and the work of Dr. Rémi Cappelli and Lancelot Lengyel. One coin, attributed to the Petrocori tribe, features a figure with a helmet-like head covering and a small tree, which the author suggests could be interpreted as an extraterrestrial visitor, though he acknowledges this is his personal comparison.

Contacts with 'Ouraniens'

This section addresses the concept of contact between humans and extraterrestrials, referred to as 'Ouraniens.' It distinguishes between two types of readers: those who deny the possibility of extraterrestrial life and those who are open to it. The article references the Greenbank equation (N = R + fp+ne+fi+fi+fc +1), which suggests a high probability of intelligent extraterrestrial life in the Milky Way. It discusses the characteristics of potential extraterrestrial visitors, noting that they are often described as having human-like proportions but with variations, such as Asian features, tanned skin, or animal-like attributes like claws or scales. The article posits that the visitors' behavior is generally non-aggressive and that their advanced technology, including lenticular-shaped craft, is practical for space travel. It suggests that human fear and misunderstanding contribute to the lack of open communication.

The UFO Phenomenon Recognized as International

This article details the international scope of UFO observations reported to NICAP in 1971. Despite language barriers and geographical distances, reports came from Canada, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, England, Scotland, and Yugoslavia. The article highlights specific sightings, including:

• Canada: A strange object landing on an island in the Saint-John River (New Brunswick), a bright object observed for hours near Fredericton, two illuminated objects seen near a prison in Nova Scotia, a disc-shaped orange object seen by a UFO magazine editor, and a brilliant, round, reddish-orange object seen near Lancaster, Ontario. Two individuals also reported a slow-moving object over Lake Saint-Louis.
• England: A significant sighting in Staffordshire where police officers and civilians observed a UFO, resulting in photographs that were reportedly censored by the Ministry of Defense. Another report describes a cigar-shaped object emitting a loud noise over Worcestershire.
• Yugoslavia: Twelve observations were reported in October, including a triangular, metallic object seen through a telescope.

UFO Conferences

The magazine lists several conferences held on the UFO topic:

• Maubeuge, France: A debate organized by scouts, featuring M. Bigorne, who used a blackboard to present information and show slides.
• Digne, France: Colonel Lobet of the Gendarmerie gave a lecture on UFOs, impressing a large audience.
• Bourges, France: M. René Fouéré, secretary-general of GEPA, held a conference on UFOs.
• Saint-Julien-le-Montagne: A conference on UFOs by J.C. Dufour and M. Chasseigne, including a presentation of slides and a discussion on detector networks.

The History of Flying Saucers in Slides

This section describes a project undertaken by Editions Casadamont and G.E.O.S. France to create a historical series of slides on flying saucers. The project, which began in late 1970, aims to document the history of UFOs through visual aids. The first series, "Flying Saucers 10,000 Years Ago in Tibet," focuses on discs found in the Baian Kara Ula caves. The research involved consulting Danish, German, and Russian services due to a lack of response from Chinese authorities. The series is intended to be distributed to a wide audience, with announcements made in January 1972.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the international nature of UFO sightings, the potential connection between UFOs and ancient history (particularly prehistory and archaeology), and the ongoing debate about the existence and nature of extraterrestrial intelligence. The magazine appears to advocate for an open-minded approach to the UFO phenomenon, presenting evidence and theories that support the idea of extraterrestrial visitation, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous investigation and critical analysis. The editorial stance is one of promoting research and public awareness of UFOs, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations.

This issue of Primehistoire, dated the third quarter of 1972, focuses on UFO phenomena, scientific discoveries, and public engagement with the subject. The magazine title is 'PRIMEHISTOIRE', and it is published by Gérard Lebat.

Articles and Content

Recommendations for UFO Research and Public Awareness

The magazine provides recommendations for both members and the general public regarding UFO observations. Members are urged to visit the sites of observations in their region to conduct their own investigations, providing detailed reports on the causes, location, and witness testimonies. These reports will be published in the bulletin. For the general public, the magazine emphasizes the importance of using the press to raise awareness about UFOs. Readers are encouraged to write letters to local and national newspapers, mentioning 'prière d'insérer' (please insert), to highlight unusual facts or personal testimonies. This action is presented as a way to support the existence of flying saucers. Furthermore, readers are advised to write to journalists and directors of media programs to encourage their continued coverage of UFO-related topics. The article stresses that disseminating knowledge about UFOs is crucial, and the press is identified as the most effective medium.

• The key recommendations are summarized as:
• Inform the press about your observations.
• Express your interest in UFOs.
• Make known the true problem of UFOs.

Historical 'Globes de Feu'

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to analyzing historical accounts of 'Globes de Feu' (Fireballs), drawing from Monsieur Valmont de Bomare's 1769 'Dictionnaire raisonné universel d'histoire naturelle'. The text describes these phenomena as fiery balls moving rapidly in the air, often leaving a tail, and sometimes dissipating into an ash-colored cloud. Several historical observations are detailed:

• 1986, Leipsick: Kirck observed a 'Globe de Feu' with a diameter half that of the moon, which illuminated the night so intensely that reading was possible without light, and it disappeared insensibly.
• 1676, Adriatic Sea and Italy: Manatti witnessed a luminous 'Globe de Feu' that traversed the Adriatic and Italy, making noise and being observed in Livourne and Corsica.
• 1719, Boulogne: Balbus saw a 'Globe de Feu' with a diameter equal to the full moon, described as ardent camphor-colored, emitting intense light, and featuring four vents emitting smoke and flames. Its tail was seven times its diameter, and it exploded with a terrible noise.
• 1717, Quesnoy: A 'Globe de Feu' appeared in a cloud, moved with the speed of a cannon shot, broke against a church tower, and spread like fiery rain. The phenomenon repeated moments later.

The article discusses the electrical nature of these phenomena as understood at the time, contrasting them with modern understandings of atmospheric electricity. It also analyzes these historical accounts in the context of potential extraterrestrial craft, noting that some descriptions, like the one from Kirck, do not fit typical electrical discharges. The Boulogne incident is compared to a rocket, and the Quesnoy event is likened to a precision shot from an orbital station. The text suggests that these early phenomena might represent an earlier stage of extraterrestrial exploration of Earth, distinct from later concepts like the 'soucoupes volantes' (flying saucers).

Message from Earth to Extraterrestrials

This section details the 'Message from Earth' sent aboard the American 'Pioneer 10' probe, launched towards Jupiter. The message, conceived by two young American astronomers, is etched on a 15 cm by 22 cm aluminum plaque designed to withstand space travel. It includes diagrams of a nude man and woman, and a pulsar map indicating Earth's location within the galaxy. The plaque is attached to one of the satellite's antennas.

Uranus: An Extraordinary Planet

This article explores the planet Uranus, discovered accidentally in 1781 by Herschel. It notes Uranus's distant orbit, its blue-green appearance through telescopes, and the problems its orbit posed for Newtonian laws, leading to the prediction and discovery of Neptune. The article then delves into the chemical composition of Uranus's atmosphere, a subject that puzzled scientists for years. Using spectroscopy, researchers at the CNRC (Canadian National Research Council) identified spectral bands that indicated the presence of specific molecules. Initially, a band at 8260 Angstroms was suspected to be molecular hydrogen. Later, a series of bands around 7500 Angstroms, known as the Kuiper bands, remained unexplained for 22 years. Through extensive laboratory experiments involving a 100-foot long absorption tube filled with pure methane and white light, Dr. D. A. Ramsay and Dr. Barry Lutz successfully reproduced the Kuiper bands. This experiment irrefutably proved that these bands are due to methane (CH4). The analysis also confirmed the presence of gaseous hydrogen. The article concludes that Uranus's atmosphere is predominantly composed of methane and hydrogen, the most basic organic and elemental compounds, respectively.

An Unpublished Document

This section presents a photograph taken by a 14-year-old student from the Noboru Shinkawa school in Tokyo on August 24, 1971, at 1:30 PM. The photo, taken with an Olympus PEN EE 2 camera, is described as an 'unpublished document' and is an original color photograph. The magazine expresses its gratitude to Mr. Y. J. Matsumura, Director of CBA International, for providing this document.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the investigation and dissemination of information regarding UFO phenomena. It encourages active participation from its readers in reporting and analyzing sightings. There's a strong emphasis on using the media, particularly the press, as a tool to educate the public and legitimize the study of UFOs. The historical perspective, tracing phenomena like 'Globes de Feu' to modern UFOs, suggests a long-standing presence of unexplained aerial objects. The scientific approach, as seen in the analysis of Uranus's atmosphere, demonstrates the magazine's commitment to rigorous investigation, even when dealing with potentially extraterrestrial implications. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging both amateur investigation and scientific analysis, with a clear objective of bringing the 'true problem of UFOs' to light.