MUFON Arizona - 1998 04 22 - Vol 07 No 04

Magazine Overview

This is the April 1998 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter newsletter, Volume 7, Issue 4. The cover headline is 'The Truth is Out There', and the main program discussed is the 'Face on Mars Caper' with the latest photos. The newsletter features a meeting announcement for April 22, 1998, detailing the program, time, and location at the National Guard Armory in Phoenix, Arizona.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, opens the newsletter by addressing the controversy surrounding the 'Face on Mars' and questioning if the American people have been duped. He urges members to attend the upcoming meeting for a slide presentation. Taylor also appeals for volunteers to lead MUFON groups in Sedona/Flagstaff and Cochise County, acknowledging the efforts of Gerda Gallob. He mentions the recent conference in Scottsdale, where he met Peter Davenport, Travis Walton, Mike Rogers, and Colin Andrews. Taylor addresses the lack of photographs in the newsletter, explaining that good quality photos are expensive to reproduce and that the newsletter barely covers its costs. He emphasizes the need for member contributions, including book reviews, articles, and photographs, and contrasts MUFON's budget with that of the MUFON Journal.

The Big Dance

This section describes an effort by Tom Taylor and the author to view high-resolution images of the 'Face on Mars' from a JPL website. They recount the process of connecting to the site, experiencing disconnections, and waiting for the image to load line by line, comparing it to the original Viking II mission.

Media Watch

Richard F. Motzer contributes a piece titled 'For the Mars Mission' which discusses the 'Face on Mars' HOAX and encourages attendance at the MUFON meeting for more details. The 'Media Watch' section lists recent and upcoming UFO-related television programs, including 'Unsolved Mysteries' on Channel 5 (Phoenix) about 'The Phoenix Lights', and HBO's 'From the Earth to the Moon' miniseries. Tom Hanks' fascination with space exploration and his comments on 'The View' are also mentioned. The newsletter provides a list of weekly radio programs like 'Dreamland' hosted by Art Bell on KFYI Radio and 'Mysteries Around Us' on KTAR Radio. It also lists weekly TV programs such as 'X Files', 'Sightings', and 'Strange Universe'. Members are encouraged to notify Tom Taylor of any additions or changes to the program listings and to ask at MUFON meetings if anyone has taped programs to share.

Calendar

The calendar section lists upcoming MUFON chapter meetings and events: Pima County Chapter meetings on April 28 and June 27; Pinal County Chapter meetings; Yuma County Chapter quarterly meetings; Maricopa County Chapter meeting on April 22; an Experiencer's Meeting on April 27; the Star Knowledge Gathering in New Mexico (May 8-10); a presentation by David Icke in Tempe (May 21); the MUFON International UFO Symposium in Denver (June 26-28); Roswell Days in Roswell, NM (July 3-5); and MUFON-AZ UFO Awareness Week in Phoenix (August 21-23).

Classified Ads

This section provides information on placing classified ads in the MUFON-AZ Newsletter, with rates for three-line ads and business-card sized ads. Ruth Hover is listed for ad prices on larger ads.

50+ Years of Arizona Sightings 1946-1997

Jim Ossipov is offering a comprehensive listing of reported Arizona UFO sightings for sale at MUFON-AZ meetings for $6.00, or by mail for $7.50 via check or money order made payable to Dimitri Ossipov.

Article Submission

An invitation is extended to members to submit articles and book reviews for the newsletter. Handwritten or typed articles are accepted, but computer diskettes in specific formats (MS Word, WordPerfect, ASCII) are preferred. Submissions can be sent to Mary Hart via mail or fax, or via internet to [email protected].

MUFON Membership Badges

Orders are being taken for MUFON Membership Badges, which are 1-4" x 3" blue badges with white print. The cost is $4.50 each, with potential discounts for bulk orders. Orders can be placed via a sign-up sheet at meetings, fax to Ruth & Harry Hover, or mail.

Mental Musings: The Year of Completion?

Dimitri "Jim" Ossipov discusses an emerging phenomenon and a shift in attitude regarding UFOs, noting the focus on credible evidence and eyewitness accounts. He provides an abbreviated list of illustrative incidents: the January 1948 'Skyhook' sighting involving Capt. Thomas Mantell and testimonies from various military personnel; the July 1954 Gososeberry, Labrador UFO sightings by British pilots; the Kaikura incident in New Zealand; and a report from Bentwater AFB, England. Ossipov also mentions a UFO Briefing Document commissioned by Laurence Rockefeller and a White House briefing involving Jack Gibbons, Bruce Lindsay, Anthony Lake, and Adm. Woolsey. He references General Phillip Corso's book 'The Day After Roswell' and Michael Wolf's book 'The Catchers of Heaven'. Ossipov notes a growing number of first-hand eyewitness reports from military personnel admitting to a planned coverup and a black budget for UFO research. He suggests that the focus is shifting from UFO sightings to ETs/EBEs and their societies. Ossipov concludes that humanity is at a threshold of a new belief structure, requiring new thinking in science, quantum physics, philosophy, spirituality, and sociology. He highlights NASA's admission of water on the moon and the possibility of life on Mars, as well as concepts like black holes and virtual reality, posing the question of whether humanity is entering a new era of transformation.

News Release

Sarah McClendon, White House Correspondent, reports that a community of scientists and technicians employed by the government believe Unidentified Flying Objects are actual visitors from other worlds. The article emphasizes the danger posed by government secrecy surrounding the issue, which prevents discussion and leads to fear of repercussions or being labeled as crazy.

UFO Community: Mission Impossible!

This article, written by Dimitri "Jim" Ossipov, explores the concept of a 'UFO community', questioning its definition and diversity. Ossipov describes the community as a mixture of various individuals and groups, including 'nuts and bolts' people, scientific researchers, New Agers, contactees, religious devotees, skeptics, and debunkers. He notes interests ranging from UFOs to ancient astronauts, conspiracies, crop circles, and government coverups. Ossipov highlights the constant disagreement within the community and the difficulty of untangling its dynamics. He asserts that the community should police its own affairs and that loud 'celebrities' have faded into oblivion when rejected by the community. Ossipov concludes that the UFO community is a great, unregimented mass, allowing for diverse opinions and research, and that truth may emerge from this variety, though much remains unknown.

Mars Global Surveyor Schedules Imaging Opportunities

This section details NASA's Mars Global Surveyor project, which is scheduled to image four selected sites on Mars: the Viking 1 and 2 landing sites, the Mars Pathfinder landing site, and the Cydonia region. The imaging opportunities are scheduled to occur over the next month, with specific dates and times provided for Pacific time. The article explains that the spacecraft will rotate to sweep its camera's field of view across the targets. Data transmission to Earth and subsequent processing by JPL are described, noting that raw images may contain data errors. The Mars Global Surveyor project is managed by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science, with Lockheed Martin Astronautics as the industrial partner.

UFOs: The Truth is Out There

This article discusses the ongoing efforts to uncover the truth about UFOs. It mentions that the Clinton administration received briefings on the subject, with information provided by Laurence Rockefeller to President and Mrs. Clinton and their advisors. Dr. Steven Greer also briefed the CIA Director. Clinton reportedly instructed Webster Hubbell to investigate the circumstances surrounding President John F. Kennedy's death and the existence of UFOs, but Hubbell was unable to find out. The article notes a national drive to gather one million signatures for a petition calling for open Congressional hearings for government employee witnesses. Dr. Steven Greer is dedicated to seeking disclosure of government evidence of non-human craft. Lt. Col. Philip J. Corso (ret.) is cited for his book 'The Day After Roswell', in which he claims to have been in charge of the Roswell files and that they confirm the crash of an alien spacecraft, refuting Air Force denials. Corso states that the crashed vehicle was studied and its materials were unknown, with technologies incorporated into the commercial world via front companies, contributing to U.S. aircraft design.

No More Newspaper Articles

This notice informs readers that 'The Arizona Republic' has stated it is not legal to reproduce newspaper articles, thus discontinuing this practice in the newsletter. Mary Hart does not have time to retype articles, and volunteers are sought to type and email articles to her.

Vast Water Vapor 'Factory' Found in Orion's Sword

Astronomers have reported the discovery of a vast gas cloud in Orion's sword that is producing enough water vapor to fill Earth's oceans 60 times daily. This 'factory' may offer clues about the origin of water in our solar system. The phenomenon is located about 1,500 light-years from Earth.

Alien Life 'Will Be Found by 2050'

An article from The Scotsman reports that a leading Scottish astronomer, Dr. Alistair Glasse, predicts that planet-hunting space telescopes will track down extraterrestrials by 2050. He expects an ambitious European space project to find extraterrestrial life. The Darwin Mission, involving five rockets with linked telescopes, aims to detect light from planets orbiting other stars. The project is expected to launch in 2015.

Mapping the Boundaries: Where Does Our Solar System End?

This section discusses a proposal by U.S. and German astrophysicists to map the heliopause, the boundary of the solar system, by bouncing UV radiation off it. The method aims to determine the outermost reaches of the sun's influence. Scientists plan to use instruments sensitive enough to measure reflected extra-ultraviolet radiation. The study of the heliopause is expected to help astrophysicists understand the Local Interstellar Medium.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena, encourages member participation, and advocates for government transparency regarding UFOs. There is a strong emphasis on the 'Face on Mars' controversy and the potential for a coverup. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, skepticism towards official explanations, and a belief in the importance of citizen investigation and disclosure. The newsletter also covers related topics such as space exploration, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the broader implications of UFO phenomena for humanity's understanding of reality.