Orbiter - No 02 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: ORBITER
Issue: #2
Date: November, 1987
Publisher: The New England Aerial Phenomena Report

This issue of "Orbiter" delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, featuring a comprehensive directory, personal accounts of sightings, scientific speculation, and international developments in UFO research.

International UFO Directory

The lead article announces the upcoming publication of the "UFO Phenomenon Community Who's Who" directory, scheduled for March 1988. This first edition will include over 200 entries from individuals across at least 28 countries, aiming to serve as a vital resource for investigators, organization administrators, and researchers. The directory's contents will encompass participant names, education, background, activities, positions on the subject, over 150 organizations, more than 70 publications, projects, dealers, and country-based indexing. The book will be soft-covered, perfect-bound, over 100 pages, measuring 5" by 8½", with a cover price of $6.95 plus postage. Further information can be obtained by contacting Robert D. Boyd at P.O. Box 66404, Mobile, Alabama 36606, U.S.A.

New Position Offered by CAUS

CAUS (Citizens Against UFO Secrecy) has extended an invitation to Marge Christensen to assume the role of Director of Public Relations. Her responsibilities would adapt to the UFO situation and might include publishing an interim newsletter between issues of "JUST CAUSE." This position is set to become effective on January 1, 1988.

Italian Center for UFO Studies Newsletter Exchange

The Italian Center for UFO Studies is seeking to exchange newsletters with other UFO groups. Their newsletters reach over 300 Italian ufologists and include publications like "ITUFOR" (English newsletter), "Notiziario Archivio Stampa" (Italian newsclipping service), "Documenti UFO" monographs, and "Bollettino RUC" (CISU Computer UFO Network newsletter in English). Interested parties can contact the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 108, 10121 Torino, Italia, Attention: Edoardo Russo.

Radio-TV Log

Geraldo Rivera's Channel 9, WMUR-TV, featured a segment on abductions with Bruce Maccabee and Budd Hopkins as guests, aired on November 2, at 4:00 p.m.

Commentary by Marge Christensen

Marge Christensen reflects on the Public Information and Public Education (P.I.P.E.) Committee within MUFON, which was formed in 1982 and met annually at symposia. The committee achieved significant milestones, including producing slide lectures, UFO course syllabi, a field investigator's exam, and a media policy for MUFON representatives. They also initiated the first National UFO Information Week and provided materials for state organizations. However, Christensen notes that the P.I.P.E. Committee has been disbanded due to members becoming tired and losing enthusiasm, despite ongoing work needed in public information and education. She thanks the 17 individuals who worked diligently on the committee, acknowledging their invaluable assistance. Christensen expresses a desire to have made a real difference in Ufology, aiming to elevate it to a voluntary profession with high standards, accuracy, and objectivity. She concludes by stating that it is now up to others to decide whether to carry on the work, as some members will move on to other endeavors, though still related to Ufology.

Reprint: Ball Lightning Hypothesis

The newsletter reprints two letters from Mr. B.J. Burton published in the "British Journal of Meteorology." The first letter (November 1977) describes a sighting of a mysterious "very bright light" or "ball of fire" over Santa Cruz Island on three separate nights in September 1977. The object traveled at high speed, lit up the ground, and one was reported to have landed without any trace found. Theories ranged from a spirit to a flying saucer, but the report suggested ball lightning as a possibility, especially given the landing and the "ball of fire" description.

The second letter (January 1978) follows up on a request for more information from the British Office in Honiara. The Meteorological Bureau reported scattered to broken low and middle cloud, with some showers and no thunderstorms. The local meteorological staff did not see the light. The Marine Department was skeptical, suggesting reports were made when UFOs were topical. They considered it unlikely for a meteorological phenomenon to appear in the same place on three successive nights. Despite the negative content, Burton feels ball lightning cannot be entirely ruled out as an explanation for the bright object.

Sightings in Virginia

This section details multiple UFO sightings reported in Wythe County and Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday, October 14, 1987. A woman traveling north on Interstate 95 with her two children noticed multiple lights, and her car's radio stopped working, headlights dimmed, and the charge light came on. The object, estimated to be the size of a house (approx. 1,000 sq. ft), hovered about 30 ft away, displaying flashing red, blue, green, and yellow lights. After two minutes, a smaller, spherical red object approached, and both disappeared in a shower of white lights, after which the car started normally.

Another family, the Akers, observed two airplane-shaped objects accompanied by a faint humming noise, flying unusually slow and larger than a bomber. Gerald Musser described a "humongous" thing with lights all around, joined by another similar object and a reddish-orange sphere. Billie Rosenbaum and his neighbor saw similar objects. Jack and Carolyn Ellison, retired from the U.S. Air Force, observed objects maneuvering, speculating it could be a Star Wars Defense System experiment, noting the subsequent crash of a Stealth bomber.

Bettie Patton reported a smaller glowing sphere emerging from a larger object, which then maneuvered away. Independent witnesses largely agreed on several points: the objects were silent or had a low humming sound, could hover or fly slowly, appeared in groups of two or three with non-flashing colored lights, and were not perceived as hostile. Several witnesses believed the objects were part of a clandestine military operation. Notably, dogs did not react negatively, and the witnesses had never seen a UFO before. A follow-up report indicated the Associated Press attributed the sightings to the Tenn. Air National Guard practicing refueling missions.

How & Why: Martian Face

This section addresses a reader's query about "fly-by" pictures of the Martian surface showing what appears to be a human face. The picture, taken by a Viking orbiting spacecraft in 1976, was released by Viking chief scientist Gerald Soffen. While the mesa does resemble a face, Soffen stated it was a trick of shadow and light. U.S. Geological Survey geologist Harold Masursky notes that natural formations resembling faces are common. The scientific consensus is that the picture is amusing but not significant, though some suggest further study of the face and nearby pyramidal formations is warranted. Former astronaut Brian O'Leary urges high-resolution imagery of the region on the 1992 Mars Observer mission.

Earthquakes and UFOs

Reports suggest a correlation between UFO sightings and seismic activity, with an increase in sightings following earthquakes in specific regions like the central USA, Washington state, and Manitoba. Similar findings have been replicated in Sweden. Researcher M. A. Persinger speculates that UFO reports are associated with luminous activity resulting from tectonic stress and strain within the Earth's crust.

Scientific Speculation by Jueneman: The Anatomy of a UFO

Frederic B. Jueneman discusses his initial skepticism towards UFO studies, influenced by T. S. Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." He recounts his interest in the Ubatuba Bay incident from 1957, where fishermen collected fragments from a crashed flying disc. These fragments, analyzed by the Laboratorio da Producao Mineral, were determined to be high-purity magnesium, specifically Mg26, suggesting a technology far advanced for 1957. However, the scientific community showed little interest, and attempts to obtain further analysis were met with refusal or lack of response. Jueneman contacted Professor Feigl and Dr. Baptista, who recalled the fragments and expressed concerns about density measurements. Baptista suggested the pieces might be from a US rocket fired into the South Atlantic. Jueneman notes that political repercussions could have prevented further investigation. He later contacted Dr. James Harder, who mentioned metallic impurities consistent with AEC lab findings. Jueneman concludes that while he believes UFOs exist due to numerous sightings, he leans towards them being uncharacterized natural events rather than intelligently controlled craft. He encourages readers to form their own conclusions.

Soviet Union Acknowledges UFOs

This article reports that the Soviet Union has begun to acknowledge UFOs, contrary to previous denial. Dr. Feliks Zigel, an astronomer at the Moscow Aviation Institute, has called for a global investigation of UFOs, deeming it a "problem of prime importance." He describes the most popular Soviet UFO as a "luminous orange colored crescent." A scientific team has reportedly studied about 200 reports, including those from astronomers. Dr. J. Allen Hynek of Northwestern University suggests this Soviet announcement signals a race to solve the UFO puzzle, noting that such official statements usually imply ongoing investigations.

Nostalgia (Least We Forget)

This section features a letter from J. Allen Hynek, originally printed in "SCIENCE" in October 1966, reflecting on his twenty years of experience consulting for the Air Force on UFO reports. He addresses common misconceptions about UFO reports and reporters. Hynek refutes claims that only "UFO buffs" report sightings, stating that most puzzling reports come from ordinary people. He also asserts that reliable, stable, and educated individuals, including scientifically trained people, report UFOs, often requesting anonymity. He clarifies that while the Air Force has no evidence of extraterrestrial origins, the question remains open as long as "unidentifieds" exist. Hynek argues against the idea that publicity solely generates reports and notes that radar and cameras have picked up "oddities." He concludes that a truly scientific investigation of the UFO phenomenon has never been undertaken and cautions against temporal provincialism, urging a broader perspective for future scientific understanding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "Orbiter" revolve around the ongoing investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena. There's a strong emphasis on the need for scientific rigor and objective study, as highlighted by J. Allen Hynek's letter and the commentary on the disbandment of MUFON's P.I.P.E. committee. The magazine also covers international developments, such as the Italian Center's outreach and the Soviet Union's acknowledgment of UFOs, suggesting a growing global interest. The issue promotes the idea that UFOs warrant serious scientific attention, moving beyond mere speculation or dismissal. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging detailed reporting of sightings and fostering a community dedicated to understanding these phenomena, while also acknowledging the challenges and potential for misinterpretation.