JUFOF - Issue 011 - 1980 11

Magazine Overview

This issue of the German-language magazine "JOURNAL für UFO-FORSCHUNG" (Journal for UFO Research), Volume 1, Issue 11, dated November 1980, is published by GEP (Gemeinschaft zur Erforschung unbekannter Phänomene) and costs DM 2.00. The cover features a prominent scientific graph related to excitation wavelengths, alongside article titles focusing on UFO investigation techniques, extraterrestrial life, and meteorites.

Leserbriefe (Letters to the Editor)

The "Leserbriefe" section includes a letter from Rolf Strasser of CWUFO, Winterthur, Switzerland, congratulating the journal and highlighting the interview with K.L. Veit. He also expresses a desire for the journal to publish more on meteorite research, noting that UFO researchers often encounter this topic.

Another letter, from Ernst Wunder of Cologne, criticizes the journal for limiting its book review of his work, "Wie das Weltall und die Menschen wirklich entstanden," to only the UFO chapter. Wunder argues that his book covers broader topics like astronomy, astro-archaeology, and parapsychology, and that his work emphasizes a consistent source of truth, contrasting it with scientific theories that have been proven wrong. He stresses the importance of his identified source, which he claims is always correct or points in the right direction.

The journal also invites readers to share their opinions.

Practical Instructions for Field Investigations

Securing and Measuring Suspected UFO Landing Sites

Authored by Hans-Werner Peiniger, this section provides practical guidance for investigating UFO landing sites. It details how to document a site using photographs with a scale reference and then how to set up a coordinate grid using stakes and string. A 0.20-meter spacing between stakes is recommended. A precise, scaled drawing on graph paper is to be made, marking all findings and their coordinates. Landing impressions are to be marked with lowercase letters, and fragments with numbered markers. A specific point for overall site photography is to be marked with an '&'.

The article emphasizes the importance of a "Fundortskizze" (location sketch) that allows the landing site to be precisely relocated years later, even on maps of any scale. It also advises including non-cartographic features like tree lines and bushes to aid in plotting on aerial photographs. The sketch must be verifiable, including the maximum positional error.

"Fingerabdruck" (Fingerprint) and "Hörbares Licht" (Audible Light) of a UFO

Written by Russ Reardon and translated by Jörg Wrobel and Reinhard Kloth, this article explores the potential use of a commercially available photomultiplier (PM) for identifying UFO light sources. The PM can analyze the excitation wavelength of light sources, creating a unique "fingerprint." When coupled with an audiometer, the PM can convert light emissions into tones, allowing UFO lights to be "heard" and potentially identified by their unique "songs" as colors change. The article mentions specific PM models and suppliers, as well as audiometers available from Fischer and Edmund. It suggests that integrating this technology with media like film, video, and radar could lead to breakthroughs in identifying UFOs.

Ausgegraben - Older Books on the Possibility of Extraterrestrial Life (Part II)

This section, by Dieter von Reeken, reviews older books, primarily from the 1950s and 1960s, that explored the possibility of life beyond Earth. It focuses on the "Illustrierte Klassiker" series published in Germany by Bildschriften-Verlag, which adapted American comic-style publications.

One book discussed is "Menschen auf dem Mars?" (People on Mars?), a 1962 comic-style booklet from the "Unsere Welt Illustrierte" series. The article notes that while the series aimed to explain complex topics in a simplified, visually engaging way for children and adolescents, it might present oversimplified or even misleading ideas without supplementary reading or parental guidance. The author expresses concern that such presentations, while visually appealing, could lead to a superficial understanding of scientific concepts.

The review also mentions other titles from the "Unsere Welt Illustrierte" series, such as "Fliegen, das große Abenteuer" (Flying, the Great Adventure) and "Pioniere der Wissenschaft" (Pioneers of Science), and lists some of the artists involved, including Graham Ingels and Jack Kirby.

Meteorite and What One Should Know About Them

This extensive article by W. Zeitschel provides a comprehensive guide to meteorites. It explains how to identify them, describing their characteristics and distinguishing them from terrestrial rocks. The article details three main types: iron meteorites, stony-iron meteorites (pallasites), and stony meteorites (chondrites). It describes their physical properties, including appearance, density, magnetic attraction, and internal structures like Widmanstätten figures and chondrules.

The article also discusses the process of meteorite falls, including the visual and auditory phenomena associated with them, and how to estimate the distance of a fall. It notes that meteorites have scientific value and that universities and research institutes pay for them, with prices depending on rarity, condition, and provenance. It advises against heating or cleaning fresh meteorites with liquids to preserve their scientific integrity. Readers are invited to send suspected meteorite samples for examination, with larger pieces requiring prior notification. The article also mentions tektites, describing them as glassy, silicate-rich bodies possibly formed from lunar volcanic ejecta, and lists various types based on their geographical origin.

A new meteorite book, "METEORITE - Boten aus dem Weltall mit Anhang Tektite," is advertised, featuring 84 pages, 66 illustrations, and priced at DM 10.--.

New Books

"Besucher aus der Zukunft" (Visitors from the Future) by Ernst Meckelburg

This section reviews Ernst Meckelburg's book, which proposes that UFOs are not extraterrestrial but originate from Earth's future. Meckelburg, a researcher of time, suggests that future humans, referred to as 'temponauts,' travel back in time using 'extradimensional' travel through 'hyper-space.' The review highlights that Meckelburg's theories are based on physical facts and offer a plausible explanation for UFO phenomena, even if they are speculative.

"The UFO Cults" by Weldon Burge

This book is described as examining various religious movements centered around UFO research, exposing the charlatanry of religious fanatics preying on the gullible. It is recommended for readers interested in UFO research and religious fringe groups.

"UFO's Fact or Fantasy" by Beatrice S. Smith

This book is summarized as containing brief summaries of well-known contactee reports, presented in a historical-chronological order. It also includes excerpts from the Blue Book Report and the Condon Report, offering an overview of well-known UFO incidents. The book is 44 pages long and its price is not specified.

UFO Research Directory for the 1980s

This directory is compiled with care and provides information on approximately 600 sources, including addresses of organizations worldwide, names of publications, and contact persons. It is available for $2.95 and promises updates for a year.

Other Media

"The Amazing West Hill, Pickering UFO Sightings" by Gene Duplantier

This publication details sightings by Dennis Prophet in January 1974, including information about his research van and UFO surveillance of the Pickering nuclear plant. It is illustrated and costs $1.50.

"UFO Encounters" 2-Album Record Set

This double LP features interviews with UFO witnesses, including figures like President J. Carter, Kenneth Arnold, and Betty Hill, as well as experts like Dr. J. Allen Hynek. It includes photos of witnesses and a UFO photo supplement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the practical investigation of UFO phenomena, the scientific analysis of extraterrestrial materials like meteorites and tektites, and speculative theories about the origin of UFOs and the nature of time. The journal appears to adopt a stance that encourages rigorous investigation and open-mindedness towards unexplained phenomena, while also critically examining claims and presenting diverse perspectives, including those that challenge conventional scientific understanding. The inclusion of letters to the editor and book reviews suggests an editorial approach that values reader engagement and scholarly discourse within the field of UFO research.