PEGAP - 1981 no 02

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGAP - info
Issue: Nr. 2/1981, 2. Jahrgang
Date: April 1981
Publisher: PEGAP - INPO (Private Erforschungsgrunne aussergewöhnlicher Phänomene)
Country: Germany
Price: DM 1.- / Sfr 1.- / ÖS 10.-

This issue of PEGAP-INFO, a UFO research magazine, features a prominent cover story titled "The Sun is Getting Colder" and a report on a CWUFO lecture. It also includes articles on astronomy, spaceflight, and speculative extraterrestrial life forms.

Cover Story: "The Sun is Getting Colder"

The cover highlights a report on the sun's temperature, suggesting it is becoming colder. It references observations from Skylab 3 and 4, noting large solar flares and helium clouds rising to immense heights. Dr. William Livingstone in Arizona observed that as solar flares increase, the sun's temperature decreases. The sun is described as a nuclear reactor, with energy unleashed that heats its core to over 15 million degrees. The article notes that solar flares, which occur in approximately eleven-year cycles, involve the ejection of vast amounts of matter into space. These events can be observed with specialized telescopes. The observation that larger flares correlate with lower sun temperatures is presented as a significant finding, with potential long-term consequences for Earth's climate if the trend continues.

CWUFO Lecture: "The Question of Manipulation - Belief or Disbelief in Flying Saucers"

The magazine reports on a lecture given by the CWUFO (Club für Unidentifizierte Fliegende Objekte) in Winterthur, Switzerland. The lecture, titled "On the Ground of Reality," is summarized by PH. Rederlechner. The club leader, Rolf Strasser, addressed the sensationalism surrounding UFO phenomena, particularly from media outlets like "Blick" (German "Bild"), which he claims exaggerate harmless sightings into alien invasions. Strasser discussed the various atmospheric phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs, such as meteors or ball lightning. He presented a classification of observed UFO shapes, including Saturn forms, dome forms, helmet forms, sphere forms, saucer forms, cigar forms, and cylinder forms. The lecture also touched upon the work of UFO researcher Prof. Hynek in investigating contactee cases. A specific sighting from July 4, 1980, of a cigar-shaped object over Winterthur is detailed, noting its rapid movement and widespread observation. Strasser emphasized that UFO photos are not definitive proof due to the ease of fabrication. He also discussed the challenges of research, the need for interdisciplinary knowledge (meteorology, astronomy, physics, chemistry), and the existence of various UFO research groups in Europe, distinguishing between serious and unserious organizations. He specifically mentioned the German group DUIST as a 'believer community' rather than a research group, and criticized CENAP for its harsh stance against other groups. The CWUFO's own research primarily focused on the July 4th sighting.

Spaceflight: The Space Shuttle Program

An article details the preparations and challenges of the Space Shuttle program at the Kennedy Space Center. Karl E. Kristofferson of NASA's press office highlights the aging infrastructure and the melancholy of seeing once-famous launch sites in disrepair. The article focuses on the Space Shuttle's heat-resistant tiles, which must withstand temperatures up to 1700 degrees Celsius. The precise application of these glass-fiber reinforced tiles is crucial, with only about 500 applied per week, and a total of over 30,000 on the orbiter's exterior. The program faces uncertainties regarding engine tests and the availability of skilled personnel, as many former NASA employees found better-paying jobs in industry. The article mentions the delays in the Shuttle's first flight, initially planned for March 1979, then March 1980, and now uncertain. The landing strategy for the first flight is described as cautious, using a dry salt lake near Vandenberg Air Force Base rather than the Kennedy Space Center runway. The magazine notes that the Shuttle program aims for forty flights per year, with military missions comprising a quarter of the flights. The article questions the long-term viability of the Shuttle program, especially with the increasing competitiveness of European rockets like Ariane.

Astronomy: The Sun is Getting Colder

This section expands on the cover story, reiterating that the sun's surface temperature has dropped by eleven degrees Celsius in the past year. This phenomenon is linked to sunspots and the ejection of matter into space. Dr. William Livingstone's observation that increased solar activity leads to decreased temperatures is highlighted. The article discusses the immense temperatures within the sun's core (over 15 million degrees Celsius) and the cyclical nature of sunspots, occurring roughly every eleven years. The potential impact of a continued temperature decrease on Earth's climate is raised as a concern.

Astronomy: Haltlose Warnung vor Katastrophe im All (Baseless Warning of Catastrophe in Space)

This article, a response to a report by Roland Horn about a planetary alignment in 1982 causing devastation, debunks such catastrophic predictions. It explains gravitational forces, stating that the combined gravitational pull of all planets does not significantly affect Earth compared to the Sun and Moon. The Sun's gravitational pull is 300,000 times that of Mars, and the Moon's is one million times. The article clarifies that the tidal forces responsible for tides are relatively small, and the Earth is primarily influenced by its own rotation, which causes it to bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles. The predicted planetary alignment is deemed unlikely to cause any significant natural disasters.

Astro-Biology: Life on Other Worlds: Part 4 - Extraterrestrial Intelligence

This installment explores speculative extraterrestrial life forms, moving beyond human-like depictions common in science fiction. It focuses on Isaac Asimov's concept of the "talking stone" or "Siliconeus asteroida" from his short story. This creature is described as having an oily, smooth, gray skin made of silicones, moving slowly on six sharp, stone-like legs. Its diet consists of crushed rock, processed internally through a reaction of limestone and hydrated silicates. The article notes that the creature excretes white pebbles as waste. The "horns" on its back are speculated to be antennae for rudimentary telepathic abilities. The author concludes this series, promising to revisit the topic of "Life on Other Worlds" occasionally.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena, astronomy, and speculative science. There's a clear editorial stance against sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, favoring a more analytical and research-oriented approach, as exemplified by the critique of 'believer communities' and the debunking of catastrophic predictions. The magazine aims to inform its readers about current research, astronomical events, and the ongoing debate surrounding UFOs, while also engaging with science fiction concepts related to extraterrestrial life.