ORBITER

Magazine Overview

Title: ORBITER
Issue: #13
Date: November 1988
Publisher: The New England Aerial Phenomena Report
Country: USA

This issue of Orbiter magazine features a strong emphasis on the scientific approach to ufology, critiquing the 'contactee' phenomenon and advocating for rigorous investigation. It includes a commentary on the historical impact of contactees, reports on UFO sightings in Brazil and the US, and speculative articles on advanced technology and the nature of reality.

Commentary: The Contactee Problem

The lead commentary addresses the historical impact of 'contactees' in the early 1950s, noting how their sensational claims, often blended with occult beliefs, threatened the credibility of serious UFO research. It highlights how figures like Cpt. Ruppelt were influenced by this, leading to a reversal of their open-minded stance. The article argues that this 'fringe element' continues to affect public perception and serious research, with many stories being hearsay or fabricated. The author stresses the importance of adhering to scientific methods, respecting evidence, and avoiding 'wild and reckless areas of thought' to maintain the integrity of ufology as a scientific field.

RADIO-TV LOG

This section lists television segments related to UFOs and related topics aired in late 1988:

• Oct. 31: CBS News featured a segment on the Marfa lights.
• Oct. 31: Tempo Television aired a UFO update, reviewing "Strange Harvest."
• Nov. 7 - Nov. 11: Budd Hopkins was a guest on "Hour Magazine" on NBC-TV.
• Nov. 18: The Discovery Channel's "Yesteryear 1947" hosted by Dick Cavett included a flying saucer segment.
• Nov. 30: NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries" featured an abduction segment with Budd Hopkins.

Article Log

A log of articles and publications related to UFOs, including entries from "Critique," "Laff," "Sky & Telescope," and various "Sputnik" issues from the 1970s and 1980s.

Letters

Two letters are featured. The first, from "Wendelle," commends "Alleen" for her work in keeping a UFO center together and expresses concern about the media's lack of interest and the baffling negative views of some researchers like Walt Andrus. The second letter, from "Alleen" in Manchaca, Texas, discusses a TV appearance and the frustration with 'physical-trace people' who dismiss multiple-sighting cases, advocating for a more vocal stance against their narrow focus on physical proof.

Science Facts

Two brief science facts are included: Mercury's extreme temperature range and the date of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.

A Peek at "Stealth"

This article discusses the unveiling of the B-2 Stealth strategic bomber by the USAF on November 22, 1988. It notes that the 'flying wing' aircraft had been flying since June 1981 and that over 50 stealth fighter planes were in operation. The author suggests that the government's efforts to keep the aircraft secret might lead to the misidentification of UFO reports, particularly 'V' shape or 'boomerang' sightings, as stealth test flights. The article mentions three known crashes of stealth fighters, two of which occurred in 1986 and 1987, indicating serious problems during test flights and questioning the responsibility of testing such advanced aircraft over densely populated areas.

Wee balls of fire! Brazil eyes UFOs

This report details an incident where Brazil's Air Force investigated sightings of tiny, multi-colored balls of light streaking through the sky at 900 mph, evading fighter jets. The objects were first sighted by a private plane near Sao Jose dos Campos and were described as saturating radar and interfering with air traffic. Air Force Minister Gen. Octavio Moreira Lima stated that the objects pursued one of the Mirage III and F-5E jets for three hours. The minister admitted, "Don't ask me. We don't have any explanation." Astronomer Larry Brown suggested possible explanations ranging from atmospheric phenomena to dust from Halley's Comet.

The Mexico City News: Brazilian Jets Said to Have Chased UFOs

This article, dated May 23, 1986, reports on a similar incident where six Brazilian air force fighter jets chased over a dozen UFOs described as colored Ping-Pong balls. The objects were seen moving at speeds between 160 and 990 mph and were picked up on radar. The Air Force Minister stated, "It is not a question of believing or not." The report details how the objects were initially sighted by the president of state-run oil company Ozires Silva, leading to an alert and the deployment of fighter jets. The jets reportedly chased the objects for 30 minutes before running out of fuel. Supersonic Mirage III fighters were deployed but could not visually confirm the lights, though they were tracked on radar.

Note on a Manifestation of Electricity at Ringstead Bay, on the Coast of Corset, on August 17th, 1876

This historical account, communicated by H. S. Eaton, describes a remarkable display of electricity witnessed by Mrs. and Miss Warry. While walking near the cliff edge, they observed numerous globes of light, the size of billiard balls, moving independently and vertically, appearing to elude grasp. These luminous spheres had a soft, superb iridescence with variable tints. The phenomenon lasted for over an hour, with numbers fluctuating from twenty to thousands. No noise accompanied the display. The event occurred during hot, dry weather, with frequent sheet lightning preceding a severe thunderstorm.

Note on an Appearance of Luminous Bubbles in the Atmosphere

Communicated by Rev. A. Bonney, this account details an observation from January 1871. A lady in Remenham observed a group of air bubbles, similar in size and shape to colored India rubber balls, rising from a snow-covered area. These bubbles displayed a range of colors, from rose to violet, and moved up and down within a limited area. The appearance lasted about two minutes and was witnessed by a maidservant as well. The article draws a parallel between this and the Brazilian report, noting the similarities in descriptions of luminous spheres and potential interaction.

Flying Saucers: Are They US?

Authored by Donald A. White, this article presents a speculative theory that flying saucers might not be extraterrestrial but rather craft from Earth's future. The author dismisses the idea of alien visitors due to the vast distances and the lack of detected signals. Instead, he proposes that advancements in fusion power, computers, and technology could enable future humans to travel through time. The article explains that time travel forward is possible by approaching the speed of light, and while direct physical travel to the past is paradoxical, 'seeing' into the past is feasible due to light's travel time. The author suggests that 'flying saucers' could be future human craft, observing Earth's development and potentially intervening due to humanity's destructive potential. The article also touches upon the concept of 'black holes' and 'white holes' as potential gateways in space-time. The author concludes that by understanding fusion and time travel, future humans could become the 'saucer people' observing their past.

Science Facts

Two science facts are presented: the protective layers of U.S. astronaut spacesuits and the location of major volcanic eruptions in recent centuries.

Artificial Intelligence

A brief definition of artificial intelligence is provided.

The Far Side by Gary Larson

A comic strip by Gary Larson.

Alien-signals policy set by scientists

This article, drawing from the Toronto Globe and Mail and Quincy Patriot Ledger, discusses a proposed nine-point international agreement among scientists regarding the discovery of potential extraterrestrial signals. The agreement aims to prevent political pressure and ensure a rigorous verification process. Key points include seeking all alternative explanations first, verifying signals with other scientists, and notifying the United Nations before any public announcement. The concern stems from signals that defy conventional explanation, with the possibility of them being tied to Earth-origin technologies or being truly alien.

Shades of Gulf Breeze

A brief note comparing a poor copy of 'GB photos' to the original, suggesting a resemblance.

Flying Saucers (Popular Science April 1960)

This short piece debunks a report of flying saucers over the Municipal Airport at Akron, Ohio, attributing the sightings to inadvertent trick photography showing reflections of ceiling lights in a restaurant window.

OZARK UFO CONFERENCE

An announcement for the first UFO conference at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, scheduled for April 14-16, 1989, listing several speakers.

UFO REPORT XMAS 1

This section details a UFO sighting report from the night before Christmas in Braintree, MA. The report, submitted by R.E. Fowler, describes a UFO with a driver named Quazgaa and his crew, who performed a strange procedure on the witness, Merlyn. The account is written in a narrative, poetic style, reminiscent of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a scientific and evidence-based approach to ufology, contrasting it with the sensationalism of 'contactee' narratives. There's a clear editorial stance favoring rigorous investigation, critical thinking, and the application of scientific methodology. The issue explores the potential for advanced human technology, including time travel, as an explanation for UFO phenomena, alongside the more traditional extraterrestrial hypothesis. The importance of distinguishing between genuine phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes is a recurring theme, as is the concern over government secrecy and the potential politicization of scientific discoveries.