LDLN - No 191

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Lumières dans la Nuit" (Lights in the Night), dated January 1980, is the 191st edition of the 23rd year of publication. It is dedicated to exploring mysterious celestial objects and related problems, with a focus on UFO phenomena and scientific perspectives.

Main Articles and Themes

The Absence of Extraterrestrials on Earth and the Perspectives of the CETI Program

This lengthy article by David W. Schwartzman, translated from the journal "Icarus," delves into the Fermi Paradox – why, given the vastness of the universe, we haven't encountered extraterrestrial civilizations. The author discusses various hypotheses, including the "Galactic Club" concept, suggesting that humanity might be under observation due to its unique developmental stage. The article critiques the reliance on radio telescopes for contact, proposing that direct surveillance by extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) is more plausible. It examines arguments from scientists like Hart and Jones regarding the probability and feasibility of interstellar colonization, concluding that while colonization might be unlikely, exploration and surveillance by ETI are more probable. The piece also touches upon the Soviet CETI program and the search for Bracewell probes.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The magazine features several detailed reports of UFO sightings:

• Pont-à-Mousson (Meurthe-et-Moselle): An investigation by the Groupe Privé Ufologique Nancéien recounts an observation on November 23, 1978, by four witnesses. A greenish, disk-shaped object with a dome and three red/orange lights was seen flying low over a field before ascending and circling the town for nearly two hours. The object emitted a low humming sound.
• Châteauneuf (Vendée): An investigation by Gérard BENETEAU describes an encounter on December 26, 1974, involving Madame Poirier and her daughter. They observed two bright white lights in a field, which then transformed into a cigar-shaped object, half orange and half blue, hovering over a nearby tree. The object moved rapidly and silently.
• Other brief mentions of sightings include cases in A Châteauneuf (Vendée), Villars de Lans (Isère), Sergines (Yonne), Blauzac (Gard), Gâvres (Morbihan), and locations in Argentina and Japan.

The Nature of Matter and Consciousness

Several articles explore the philosophical and scientific implications of UFO phenomena, questioning the nature of reality and perception.

• "Les mystérieux objets célestes" by F. LAGARDE: This article discusses the challenges of observing and interpreting UFOs, emphasizing that witness testimony, while valuable, can be influenced by psychological factors. Lagarde references the ideas of Epicurus and other philosophers on the existence of multiple worlds and the nature of perception. He argues that the scientific community's skepticism towards UFOs as extraterrestrial craft is understandable but that the phenomenon itself warrants serious study.
• "L'univers est mental, ou esprit, ou spirituel" by F. L.: This piece delves into contemporary physics, suggesting that matter is not a fixed entity but rather a construct of energy and probability waves. It explores the idea that our perception shapes reality and that phenomena like UFOs might be manifestations of this principle. The author cites physicists like Schrödinger, Heisenberg, and Bohm to support the notion that the universe might be fundamentally mental or energetic.
• "Survol prolongé d'un OVNI près de Pont-à-Mousson" by F. L.: This section provides further details on the Pont-à-Mousson sighting, including witness statements, the physical characteristics of the object, and the investigation process. It also touches upon the psychological impact of such encounters on witnesses.

Parapsychology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The magazine also touches upon parapsychology and its potential connection to UFO phenomena. The article "L'ufologue est le premier barreau d'une échelle..." by F. L. highlights the importance of observation and information gathering in ufology, comparing it to the early stages of scientific discovery. It emphasizes the need for open-minded research and the potential for future scientific understanding of these phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

"Lumières dans la Nuit" consistently promotes a scientific yet open-minded approach to the study of UFOs and related phenomena. The editorial stance is that while skepticism is warranted, the vast number of unexplained sightings and the potential implications for our understanding of the universe demand serious investigation. The magazine encourages reader participation through its "Enquêtes" (Investigations) section and emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting and analysis. The publication appears to be a platform for disseminating research, witness accounts, and theoretical discussions within the ufology community, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and the unexplained.

Other Content

The issue includes a bibliography of cited works, information on subscriptions, and a section on "Nos Activités" (Our Activities), encouraging readers to become investigators and contribute to the magazine's research efforts. The publication also extends New Year's wishes for 1980 to its readers.

This issue of "Lumières dans la Nuit" (Lights in the Night), dated the first quarter of 1980, is a French publication dedicated to the study of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and related phenomena. The magazine features a selection of books on UFOs and a compilation of recent sightings and investigations from around the world, including reports from Japan, France, Spain, and Argentina. The publication emphasizes an open-minded approach, encouraging diverse viewpoints and constructive debate.

Book Reviews

The magazine includes a significant section reviewing several books on UFOs and related topics:

• "OVNI - NOUS NE SOMMES PAS SEULS." by Johannes Von Buttlar: This book is described as a historical overview of UFO events over the past thirty years, exploring three main phases of the phenomenon and touching upon parapsychological hypotheses. The reviewer notes that the book, while readable for a general audience, contains factual errors and lacks proper references, making it less valuable for seasoned ufologists.
• "CHRONIQUE DES APPARITIONS EXTRA-TERRESTRES" by J. Vahée: Priced at 16 F.
• "LES DOSSIERS DES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES" by Jacques LOB and Robert GIGI: A 46 F album praised for its precision, illustrations, and appeal to both young readers and researchers.
• "OVNI, DIMENSION AUTRE" by Jacques LOB and Robert GIGI: Another album from the same authors, also priced at 46 F, continuing the theme of UFOs.
• "CEUX VENUS D'AILLEURS" by Jacques LOB and Robert Gigi: A sequel to the previous work, available in comic strip format.
• "LES OVNIS : MYTHE OU REALITE ?" by J. ALLEN HYNEK: A 19 F work described as a highly scientific and valuable resource for investigators.
• "LE NOUVEAU DEFIDESOVNI" by J.C. BOURRET: Priced at 46 F, this book includes reports from the gendarmerie and texts by C. POHER, P. Guérin, and J.P. Petit.
• "A LA RECHERCHE DES OVNI" by J.SCORNAUX and Ch. PIENS: A 20 F work by two researchers who adopted a cautious scientific approach.
• "SCIENCE FICTION ET SOUCOUPES VOLANTES" by Bertrand MEHEUST: A 75 F book considered to be of great interest, placing the UFO problem at a high intellectual level.
• "FACE AUX EXTRA-TERRESTRES" by Ch. GARREAU and R. LAVIER: A 17 F research into permanent UFO flight corridors.
• "MYSTERIEUX OBJETS CELESTES" by Aimé MICHEL: A 62 F re-edition of a sought-after work, updated with a chapter on "twenty years later."
• "ALERTE GENERALE OVNI" by Léonard STRINGFIELD: A 46 F analysis of this significant work was featured in the March 1979 issue of LDLN.
• "LESOVNI DU PASSE" by Ch. PIENS: An 18 F book by the magazine's delegate for Walloon Belgium, now available again.
• "OVNI : Le premier dossier complet des Rencontres rapprochées en France" by M. FIGUET and J.L. RUCHON: A 107 F work spanning 750 pages.
• "LES HUMANOIDES" by Jean FERGUSON: A 78 F book from Canada, previously analyzed in LDLN.
• "LES OBJETS VOLANTS NON IDENTIFIES OU LA GRANDE PARODIE" by Jean ROBIN: Priced at 56 F.
• "LES APPARITIONS D'HUMANOIDES" by Eric ZURCHER: A 56 F book.
• "LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES : LE GRAND REFUS ?" by G.A.B.R.I.E.L.: A 63 F book.

Recent Sightings and Investigations

The issue compiles recent UFO-related news and investigations:

• Beaufort (Nord), France (October 16, 1954): An investigation into a case involving a humanoid and an unknown object, with ground traces. The author defends the case against claims of being fabricated.
• Floudes and La Hure, France (November 1, 1979): Witnesses observed orange-red luminous spheres.
• Santiago, Chile (November 1979): A judge and an architect reported seeing a humanoid next to a landed UFO, which then took off vertically.
• Valencia, Spain (November 11, 1979): A commercial airplane was followed by four luminous objects, forcing it to land. The objects then positioned themselves over various parts of the city before disappearing.
• Marseille, France (November 16, 1979): A large red sphere was observed in the sky.
• Homecourt, France (November 18, 1979): A military man saw a green fluorescent luminous ball with two tail fins.
• Balledent, France (November 20, 1979): A witness saw a rhombus-shaped object hovering near trees.
• Thenay, France (November 25, 1979): Witnesses observed a luminous object shaped like a red-orange saucer emitting a strong beam towards the ground.
• Cergy Pontoise, France (November 26, 1979): Three young people saw a luminous beam directed towards the ground. One of them, Frank Fontaine, disappeared and reappeared eight days later.
• Tilh, France (November 26, 1979): A witness observed a white luminous disc moving up and down.
• Le Fousseret, France (November 27, 1979): A witness saw a blue rotating light accompanied by a projector.
• Augisey, France (Night of November 26-27, 1979): Unusual traces, including a circular area with calcined earth and blackened stones, were found in a field.
• Montlileu, France (November 27, 1979): A witness saw a large cigar-shaped object with flashing red and white lights land in a field, and observed a silver silhouette moving around the object.

Special Reports and Features

• Japan: UFO Sighted and Pursued by Aircraft (August 17, 1978): An unidentified object was tracked by radar in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, and pursued by two Phantom F4/EJ interceptors. Despite radar detection, the aircraft could not visually confirm the object, which eventually disappeared from radar.
• Spain: Five Children See a UFO Near Gerena (Seville, Spain) (March 15, 1979): Children observed a red object resembling a table with yellow lights, making a strange sound, and moving close to the ground.
• USA: "Surveillance Personnel from the "SV" in Arizona" (1975): Documents obtained from the US Department of Defense indicate that UFOs were observed over important air force bases storing nuclear weapons during 1975, but they could not be intercepted and had varying shapes.
• Gâvres, Kervran, Plouhinec, Morbihan, France (January 1979): Reports of luminous objects, including a red glow and three red spheres, accompanied by power outages and strange noises.
• "LA FLORIDA" (Province of San Luis) - Argentina (February 4, 1978): A detailed account of an alleged landing and encounter with a tall, athletic occupant emerging from a disc-shaped craft. The report includes police findings on ground traces.
• Confirmation Regarding the Sinking of the "Titanic": This section addresses a previous article and confirms the existence of Morgan Robertson's book, which reportedly predicted the Titanic's sinking years before the event.

Editorial Stance and Community

"Lumières dans la Nuit" (LDLN) reiterates its commitment to publishing diverse viewpoints, stating that its editorial line is to maintain openness to all constructive and non-polemical contributions. The magazine encourages a focus on ideas rather than personal attacks, promoting calm and elevated debate. It also includes a call for investigators in the Eure region of France (Vernon, Les Andelys, Bernay, Rugles, Bourg-theroude, Etrepagny, Gaillon, and Le Neubourg) to contact M. Robert CREPIN.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of UFO sightings, encounters with alleged extraterrestrial beings, and physical evidence such as ground traces. It also delves into the historical context of UFO phenomena and reviews relevant literature. The editorial stance is one of open-mindedness, presenting various perspectives and encouraging scientific investigation while maintaining a critical eye on the information presented. The publication aims to foster a community of researchers and enthusiasts by sharing information and facilitating communication.