Molodoy Communist - Zvezdy priblizil - 1989 09

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Molodoy Kommunist" (Young Communist), dated September 1989, features a cover with a striking cosmic imagery and the headline "Big Problems of a Small Planet." The magazine, published by the Central Committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (TsK VLKSM), carries the ISSN 0131-2278 and is priced at 25 kopecks. The issue delves into the complex and often controversial topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena, including the famous Tunguska event.

Stars Have Approached

The lead article, "Stars Have Approached," by Vladimir Vostrukhin, explores the public and scientific fascination with UFOs. It begins by questioning why, if UFOs are alien spacecraft, they haven't made direct contact. The author uses an analogy of humans interacting with ants to suggest that perhaps our level of understanding is too different. The article critiques the lack of serious scientific investigation into UFOs, even within academic circles, noting that specialists in the field often lack concrete data and that research apparatus is not being developed. The author points out that information on UFOs is often at a similar, superficial level across various fields, including those of prominent figures like the Soviet choreographer who was discussing UFOs.

The Problem of UFOs in the USSR

The article highlights two main reasons for the current state of UFO research in the USSR. Firstly, it criticizes the prevalence of 'philistines' in science who are quick to trivialize or mock interesting ideas, especially if they cannot be monetized or used for personal gain. Secondly, it points to the historical secrecy surrounding the topic, with censorship largely controlled by figures like A. Migulin, Director of the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism and Radio Wave Propagation. This secrecy was justified by the need to hide unusual atmospheric phenomena, rocket launches, and applied experiments. However, in the space age, with numerous satellites and launches, such secrecy is no longer plausible, and the author suggests the reasons lie elsewhere.

The US 'Blue Book' Project and its Aftermath

The article then discusses the US 'Blue Book' project, which officially investigated UFO sightings from the 1960s to the 1970s. Funded by the US Air Force, it examined thousands of reports and concluded that most sightings could be explained by terrestrial phenomena. However, the article reveals that declassified Pentagon documents from more recent times suggest that 'Blue Book' was a cover operation. It indicates that the US military, including the CIA and Pentagon, have been conducting secret investigations into UFOs since the 1950s, possibly even possessing wreckage from an extraterrestrial craft. The article mentions reports of the recovery of small, green-blooded beings, which were later dismissed as misinterpretations of monkey carcasses or experimental subjects.

Soviet UFO Research: A 'Blue Book' Analogy?

In the USSR, the situation is compared to the early days of the American 'Blue Book'. A group studying anomalous phenomena at Migulin's institute primarily deals with letters from witnesses, providing standard explanations such as weather balloons, aircraft, or meteors. The head of this group, Yu. Platon, publicly attributes most unusual sightings to atmospheric optical effects or technical experiments linked to Earth's magnetic field. The article suggests that while these explanations cover 90-95% of cases, the remaining 5% remain unexplained. It criticizes the group's role as 'Blue Book' imitators, prioritizing their administrative position and the 'closed nature' of the topic over genuine scientific inquiry.

Another Catastrophe: The Dalnegorsky Incident

The article then details a specific incident in Dalnegorsky in January 1986. A fiery red glowing ball was observed crossing the sky, flying low and slowly. It approached a specific height, made a 'dip,' and then crashed into rocks, causing a bright flash and a fire. The most significant aspect of this event is the presence of physical trace evidence. Investigators found a scorched area, cracked rock, and, most notably, about thirty grams of dark, solidified droplets. Analysis revealed these droplets to be a complex alloy of lead containing numerous elements, including transuranic ones, and also an alloy of iron, chromium, nickel, and aluminum with an amorphous structure. The melted state of the rock and the unusual composition of the material, not found locally, baffled metallurgists. A burnt stump also showed signs of melting, indicating extremely high temperatures.

The 'Butterfly' Effect and the Tunguska Event

The article revisits the Tunguska event of 1908, presenting "Hypothesis-88" by Andrey Zlobin. Zlobin proposes that the event was caused by a comet nucleus, which, despite passing near the Sun, remained extremely cold internally (2-3 Kelvin). This cold nucleus, composed of ice and metal, entered Earth's atmosphere. As it heated up, the ice and surface metal evaporated, creating a plasma tail. Crucially, Zlobin suggests that the supercooled metal core of the comet would have exhibited superconductivity. As it traveled through Earth's magnetic field, an electrical current would have built up, storing energy. When the metal eventually heated up beyond its critical temperature, it would have exploded, scattering the material. This hypothesis, according to Zlobin, explains the unusual 'butterfly' pattern of fallen trees, the scorch marks, and the varying directions of the object's flight, as the superconducting current in the magnetic field could have provided lift and directional control.

The Implications of Superconductivity and UFOs

Zlobin's hypothesis reconciles both natural and artificial origins for the Tunguska event: it could be a natural comet fragment or the result of a catastrophic failure of a spacecraft with superconducting engines. The article notes that the idea of using superconductivity for flight was considered by F. A. Tsander shortly after the Tunguska event. The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity may make such technologies feasible in the future. The article concludes that the laws of the universe are the same for all, suggesting that Zlobin's hypothesis offers a unifying explanation.

The Drive for Openness and the Future

The article questions why UFO enthusiasts strive to make the topic public. It suggests various motivations, from prestigious hobbies to a desire for contact and even world domination. However, it emphasizes that the majority are honest researchers who believe that the problem of UFOs cannot be solved through secret government operations. They advocate for joint international efforts. The article ends on a note of urgency, stating that the increasing frequency of UFO sightings indicates that "the stars have approached our planet," and that the future now depends on humanity's ability to unite and confront this reality.

Illustrations

The issue includes illustrations by Leningrad artist Nikolai Potapov, who reconstructs UFO sightings based on eyewitness accounts. These include:

• Illustration 3: A UFO observed on a railway near Petrozavodsk in 1987, described as a 'saucer' that affected the locomotive's speed and fuel consumption.
• Illustration 4: Depicts the object as seen from the locomotive cabin.
• Illustration 8: A view from a station platform of a bright glow and a red disk approaching.
• Illustration 5: A sighting in Viljandi, with an object described as resembling something familiar to the viewer.
• Illustration 6: The famous 1977 UFO sighting over Petrozavodsk.
• Illustration 7: A giant 'saucer' seen near Nalchik in 1968.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery of UFOs, the scientific and societal challenges in investigating them, and the potential implications of extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for greater openness and international cooperation in UFO research, criticizing the secrecy and dismissiveness prevalent in the Soviet scientific establishment. The magazine highlights specific incidents and scientific hypotheses, such as Zlobin's theory on the Tunguska event, to stimulate discussion and encourage a more serious approach to these phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on the need for collective human intelligence to understand these events, suggesting that the increasing number of sightings signals a critical juncture for humanity.

This document is the back cover of a magazine issue, identified by the index number 70546 and a price of 25 kopecks. The original language appears to be Russian, as indicated by the text "Цена 25 коп.". The cover art is a collage of three distinct illustrations, suggesting the magazine's content relates to UFOs, space, and unexplained phenomena.

Cover Art Analysis

The cover features a dark, grid-patterned background that evokes a sense of space or a digital interface. Three illustrations are presented vertically:

1. Top Illustration: Depicts a swirling, colorful celestial body, possibly a nebula or a galaxy, with shades of blue, yellow, and white. This image sets a cosmic theme.
2. Middle Illustration: Shows a classic disc-shaped UFO hovering above a landscape. The UFO is emitting a bright beam of light downwards, illuminating the ground. The scene includes trees and possibly buildings, suggesting a terrestrial encounter.
3. Bottom Illustration: Features a solitary human figure standing in a dark, mountainous landscape, looking towards a very bright, luminous phenomenon. The light source is intense and appears to be hovering or emanating from the ground, casting a glow on the surrounding terrain. This illustration conveys a sense of mystery and observation.

Numerical markers (5, 6, and 7) with yellow arrows are overlaid on the images, pointing to specific elements. These likely correspond to captions or discussions within the magazine's articles, guiding the reader to particular points of interest or evidence related to the depicted scenes.

Themes and Tags

The primary themes evident from the cover art are UFOs and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). The imagery also suggests broader themes of space, extraterrestrial encounters, and the unknown. Associated tags include "UFO", "flying saucer", "alien", "extraterrestrial", "space", "celestial", "night sky", "forest", "lights", "disc", "observation", and "mystery".

Key Information

• Price: 25 kopecks
• Index Number: 70546
• Visual Content: Cosmic imagery, UFO sighting, human observation of unexplained phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Based solely on the cover, the magazine appears to focus on UFOlogy and related mysteries. The use of dramatic illustrations and numerical callouts suggests an approach that aims to present cases, evidence, or theories related to aerial phenomena and potential extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance is likely one that explores and presents such topics to its readership, possibly with an investigative or speculative tone.