PEGAP - 1982 no 01

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGAP - INFO
Issue: Nr. 1/1982, 3. Jahrgang
Date: January 1982
Publisher: Privaten Erforschungsgruppe aussergewöhnlicher Phänomene
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue marks the discontinuation of PEGAP-INFO due to the resignation of its club leader, Frank Gehrke, and the editor-in-chief, Philipp Rederlechner, citing a lack of time and sufficient staff. The issue leads with a strong critical stance against the claims of UFO contactee George Adamski, titled "Tatsachen gegen Adamski" (Facts Against Adamski).

Tatsachen gegen Adamski (Facts Against Adamski)

This extensive article, authored by Hansjürgen Köhler of CENAP-Mannheim, systematically debunks the accounts of George Adamski. The author argues that Adamski's descriptions of his space flights and visits to the Moon, Venus, and Mars are revealed as fantasy when compared with the findings from terrestrial space exploration, particularly NASA's extensive probe programs.

Specifically, the article refutes Adamski's claims of lunar bases, meadows, forests, and cities, citing hundreds of lunar surface photos from NASA programs that show none of these features. It also dismisses claims made by individuals like Mr. Steckling, who purportedly identified such features in NASA photos, stating these are merely magnified lens reflections and crater rim over-exposures.

Regarding Venus, Adamski's descriptions of snow-capped mountains, forests, cities, and inhabitants are similarly dismissed. The article highlights that Venus's surface conditions, with extreme temperatures incompatible with life as Adamski described, have been revealed by NASA and USSR probes. Surface photos show a desolate landscape of rocks and craters, comparable to Mars.

Adamski's alleged encounters with inhabitants of Saturn and Jupiter are also debunked, with the author pointing to NASA's Viking and Voyager probes as evidence that such encounters are fantastical.

The article further challenges Adamski's assertion that he perceived these phenomena on a different "vibration level," quoting Adamski himself stating that his "neighbors" live on the same vibrational level as humans. The piece suggests that Adamski's narratives, possibly originating from a mysterious observation, may have spiraled out of his control due to his "friends," who then capitalized on them.

Further points of contention include Adamski's 1962 special report, "My Trip To The Twelve Councellors," which allegedly included a meeting with Jesus Christ. His "successful" European tour is also questioned, with specific allegations regarding his visits to the Dutch Royal Court and the Pope being scrutinized.

Investigations into Adamski's meeting with Queen Juliana of the Netherlands revealed it was a private affair, not an official reception. Queen Juliana and her associates reportedly found Adamski "unbelievable," and he was labeled a "court jester" or "quack" in the press.

His alleged visit to Pope John XXIII is also presented as a fabrication. Accounts from his companions suggest they waited outside the Vatican, unable to confirm his meeting with the Pope, and that Adamski later showed them a gold medal. However, correspondence with the Vatican indicated that Pope John XXIII was critically ill at the time, and the medal presented by Adamski was traced to a private souvenir firm, not the official Vatican mint. A former private secretary to the Pope confirmed the medal was not from the Vatican.

The article concludes that Adamski's European trip was not successful and led to the exposure of his fabricated stories. It suggests that his friends, rather than Adamski himself, are largely responsible for the widespread belief in Venusian flying saucers.

Space Shuttle Missions

This section provides an overview of NASA's Space Shuttle program. It details the first mission of the 'Columbia' (STS-1) launched on April 12, 1981, with astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen. The mission's primary goal was to test the shuttle's flight capabilities and identify any minor flaws.

The second mission (STS-2) also involved the 'Columbia' and launched on November 12, 1981. Although planned for five days, it was cut short to three due to a fuel cell issue. Despite this, 90% of the planned experiments were completed. Key experiments included the "space arm" for satellite deployment and a "pallet" equipped with radar and infrared sensors for detecting oil and mineral deposits, as well as mapping geological structures and monitoring atmospheric pollution and ocean conditions.

Future flights are outlined, with 'Columbia' initially being the sole shuttle in use, followed by three others under construction. Each shuttle is expected to make approximately 100 return trips to Earth, with the 47m long, 8m wide fuel tank being the only non-reusable component, jettisoned at an altitude of 113 km.

The article notes a limitation of the shuttle: its relatively low orbital altitude (up to 240 km) compared to expendable rockets that can reach 30,000 km. It mentions upcoming missions, including the third and fourth test flights in March/April and July respectively, and the fifth mission in November 1982, which will carry four astronauts and deploy a satellite. Future plans include the repair of the American "Solar Laboratory" in space in 1983 and the testing of the European-developed "Spacelab" in the same year.

For 1984, NASA plans to launch a 10-ton space telescope with a diameter of 4.7m, expected to provide new insights into the cosmos. The article also mentions that one-third of shuttle flights are reserved for military purposes, a fact criticized by the Soviet Union, which is developing its own, more economical space shuttle.

The Invincibility of Israel and UFOs

This report by RH (Philipp Rederlechner) explores a perceived connection between UFO sightings and Israel's military successes. It begins by recounting the establishment of the State of Israel after nearly 2000 years of dispersion and its subsequent victories in the wars of 1948, 1956, and 1967, against overwhelming odds.

The author posits that God has guided his chosen people through these conflicts. He notes that UFOs have been increasingly observed during these Middle Eastern wars, with their appearance becoming more frequent since 1947/48.

A Bible passage from Matthew 24:31 is quoted, referring to angels gathering the chosen people. The author then questions whether these UFOs are materializations from the angelic world and if there is a link between the angelic order in the universe and UFOs.

A press report from Cape May is cited, humorously suggesting that "God and his UFOs, piloted by angel pilots, helped Israel win the wars." Robert Barry, director of a radio station's UFO bureau, presented this theory, citing instances where UFOs allegedly aided Israeli forces, such as an incident where 100 Egyptian soldiers surrendered to 100 Israelis, reportedly due to being attacked by thousands of Israelis and 100 tanks.

The article acknowledges the possibility that negative spiritual entities could mimic such phenomena, suggesting that most UFO sightings might be manifestations of a negative, invisible world. It concludes that UFOs are likely not objects from this world but materializations from either the positive or negative spiritual realm.

"Saure Gurken"-Zeit (Pickle Time)

This section, written by Roland Horn, discusses the phenomenon of increased UFO sightings during periods of low public interest, often referred to as "Saure Gurken"-Zeit. The author suggests that psychological factors, such as a lack of other activities, lead people to report more UFOs, whether due to hoaxes, misinterpretations, or genuine confusion.

The Nighttime Blinking

A report from Lindau describes strange, large blue light spheres observed over Lake Constance. Investigations with flight control and meteorological experts failed to provide a definitive explanation, ruling out conventional aircraft signals, stars, or even electronic lightning due to the duration of the observed lights. Similar observations had been reported in the region weeks prior.

PEGAP, represented by Philipp Rederlechner, also encountered UFO reports during this period. Rederlechner received a letter from Klaus Trippel of CENAP regarding the Lindau sighting. His attempts to gather more information from the Südkurier newspaper and the Lindau police were met with limited success. He was advised to contact the St. Gallen police in Switzerland, as the incident occurred on the Swiss side.

Further inquiries with the St. Gallen police, including the city and cantonal police departments, yielded no official records or information about the UFO case. Officers stated they had no knowledge of such an event, no press reports, and could not provide private information without a written request to the police command.

The End of the World Postponed

This article reports that the predicted day of doom, associated with a rare planetary alignment on a Wednesday, passed without significant catastrophic events. Despite the alignment, which theoretically could have caused severe earthquakes and tidal waves, news agencies reported no more incidents than usual.

The article criticizes occult believers and certain religious groups who promote doomsday prophecies, attributing their beliefs to a "lust for doom" and a desire to escape earthly life. It mentions that some astrophysicists had theorized about the potential for natural disasters due to the planetary alignment, but these theories were later retracted or modified.

The piece suggests that these doomsday fears are often fueled by social and religious dissatisfaction, personal hardships, and a general sense of existential anxiety amplified by the current global situation and technological advancements.

Constellation of the Month: Pisces

This section delves into the constellation Pisces, tracing its origins from the Sumerians to the Babylonians and Greeks. It explains how the Greeks incorporated Pisces into their mythology, associating it with Aphrodite and Eros transforming into fish to escape danger. The constellation was placed in the sky by Zeus as a tribute to the fish that protected the gods.

The article details the naming of the main star, Alpha, as Alrescha, meaning "the rope," referencing how the two fish are depicted as tied together by their tails. It also mentions the star Alpha as a physical double star, along with Psi and Zeta, which can be observed as double stars through binoculars. A unique astronomical feature within Pisces is the van Maanen star, a white dwarf discovered in 1917 by Dutch astronomer Adriaan van Maanen. Pisces reaches its highest point in the sky around 8 PM in late November.

White Dwarfs: The Oldest Stars

This part of the constellation section explains the nature of white dwarf stars. These stars appear brighter than expected due to their relatively high surface temperature, despite being close to Earth. Their diameter is about one-hundredth that of our Sun, indicating extreme density. A thimbleful of white dwarf matter would weigh as much as an adult human, and the van Maanen star alone would weigh a ton.

White dwarfs are described as the remnants of stars that have reached the end of their life cycle. All stars up to about 1.4 solar masses are expected to eventually become white dwarfs, including our Sun, which will first expand into a red giant before entering this phase. After millions of years, a white dwarf cools down and becomes a dark, extremely dense black dwarf.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance is critical of unsubstantiated claims, particularly those made by UFO contactees like George Adamski, emphasizing the need for verifiable facts and scientific evidence. It shows a strong interest in space exploration and astronomy, providing detailed accounts of NASA missions and celestial bodies. The issue also touches upon the intersection of belief systems, including religious interpretations of historical events and alleged UFO phenomena, and the psychological aspects of belief and fear, such as doomsday prophecies. The editorial team appears to prioritize factual investigation and rational analysis, while acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena and the public's fascination with them.