Pegasus - 1979 July

Magazine Overview

Title: PEGASUS
Issue Date: July 1979
Publisher: SURREY INVESTIGATION GROUP ON AERIAL PHENOMENA (SIGAP)
Price: 20 P

This issue of PEGASUS, the journal of the Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP), features a cover story on a visit to the USSR National Exhibition in London, highlighting Soviet space technology. The magazine includes articles on the impending re-entry of the Skylab space station, a report on the Mexico City earthquake and associated aerial phenomena, and a UFO sighting at Bramley, UK. It also contains reader letters and a review of UFO events in the first half of 1979.

A Visit to the USSR Exhibition in London

A small party of SIGAP members visited the USSR Exhibition at Earls Court between May 23rd and June 10th, 1979. The exhibition showcased Soviet space 'hardware', with displays of exploration vehicles and a simulated rocket launch. Despite the impressive space technology exhibit, the members found a disappointing lack of technical data available. The exhibition was broad in scope, also featuring Russian furs, fashion, dancers from Gorgia, and a 40,000-year-old baby mammoth. The article notes that while they were unable to find technical experts to discuss UFO activity in the Soviet Union, they did find pamphlets such as 'Getting to know the Soviet Union' and 'Leonid Brezhnev Greets visitors to the USSR National Exhibition in London'. The issue also mentions an article from 'Moscow News Weekly' about a large meteorite impact in Kazakhstan, forming the Zhamanshin crater, where unique minerals called 'impactites' and 'tektites' were discovered. Additionally, it references an article about Valentina Nikolayeva-Tereshkova, the first woman in space.

The End of Skylab

Tim Childerhouse discusses the problem of the American space station 'Skylab' returning to Earth. Launched in May 1973, Skylab was a large orbiting workshop that housed three crews. Initially, it suffered severe vibrations during launch but was repaired by the first crew through a space walk. Nine astronauts lived on Skylab until February 1974. The article details how increasing solar activity in the late seventies caused Skylab to descend lower. The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) predicted its re-entry by the summer of 1979. The Americans attempted to prolong its life by positioning it to maximize atmospheric drag, but further solar activity accelerated its descent. Predictions for higher solar indices were made by NOAA and McNish/Lincoln, but the sun's activity decreased, extending Skylab's lifetime. A maneuver planned for May 24th to place it in a high drag position was delayed until June 14th. At that time, Skylab had 59kgs of Nitrogen and 1011 kgs of Oxygen remaining. The article speculates that the 'burn in' would likely occur in the Pacific around July 15th, with the actual time of entry noted as approximately 1730 on July 11th.

Mexico's Been Jumping?

Richard Colborne explores the connection between celestial phenomena and earthly events, referencing the work of Charles Fort. He discusses a celestial event, a halo around the sun, seen in Mexico City on June 21st, attributed by experts to ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. This event coincided with an earth tremor that occurred approximately 12 hours later. Reporting on the tremor from 'Excelsior' newspaper indicated Richter scale grades of 4, 6.2, and 6.9, with the epicentre in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Colborne notes that the halo was only seen in the Federal District, while the tremor he felt seemed local. He suggests the tremor might have been triggered by sub-soil subsidence and was preceded by an unusual, sudden drop in air temperature. The article establishes that aerial activity can precede earthquakes, sometimes by hours, due to electrical pressure in the Earth's crust charging the atmosphere. During a strong earthquake in Mexico in March 1979, aerial phenomena were observed, even though the epicentre was in the Pacific. Moderate damage occurred, attributed to shock waves transmitted through rock strata. Newspapers also published colour pictures of the solar halo, which some country folk interpreted as an omen.

"For Your Interest"

This section provides brief news items:

• Manila: Multi-coloured UFOs were reported to have landed in a central Philippine valley on May 2nd, and the army is investigating.
• CIA UFO SECRETS: Ground Saucer Watch of Arizona forced the CIA to release nearly 1,000 pages of documents. These describe UFOs over Strategic Air Command's nuclear equipment in 1975, with a witness describing a 30-meter sphere with craters. It also mentions the destruction of a jet chasing a UFO over Cuba, UFOs over Air Force bases in Maimstrom (Montana), Loring (Maine), and Wurtsmith (Michigan), and a car-sized UFO buzzing a base at 300-600 meters altitude. Sworn statements from retired Air Force colonels suggest that two crashed UFOs were recovered by the Air Force in Mexico (1948) and Arizona (1953), with glimpses of 'dead aliens' about four feet tall.

Live Letters

• Terry Clark (RAE Farnborough) comments on 'lenticular clouds' featured in 'Omni' magazine, explaining they are usually elliptical or lens-shaped and formed on 'standing waves' of airflow, distinct from 'orographic' clouds.
• Sarah Arkieson, Bexhill, thanks the magazine for an article on her report about an object over Tenerife, clarifying that the object was intact when she returned, though the cloud below it had vanished.

Review of 1979 - So Far

A table of events is presented, indicating that 1979 has been a comparatively 'quiet' year for UFO events. A coding system is explained: CE1 (Close Encounter, Identifiable Shape), LITS (Light In The Sky), and UNO (Unidentified/Unusual Noise Object).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of open investigation into aerial phenomena, while also maintaining a critical perspective. The editorial notes the current 'quiet spell' in UFO activity but emphasizes the ongoing interest in man-made aerial phenomena like satellites. It encourages readers to consider natural explanations for strange lights in the sky, as highlighted by the article on the Mexico earthquake. The publication actively reports on sightings, investigations, and reader contributions, while also seeking to clarify and correct information, as seen in the 'Live Letters' section. The inclusion of 'CIA UFO Secrets' suggests an interest in government transparency and potential cover-ups related to UFOs. The overall tone is informative and investigative, aiming to present a balanced view of UFO and aerial phenomena reports.

This document contains a 'TABLE OF EVENTS' for the period January to June 1979, compiled by SIGAP (Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena). It also includes an introductory page describing the organization and its activities.

Table of Events (Jan/June 79)

The 'TABLE OF EVENTS' is a chronological listing of reported phenomena categorized by type: CE1, LITS, and UNO. The table spans from January to June 1979, with specific dates and the corresponding event type noted.

• January: 6 events recorded, including CE1 (3 times), LITS (2 times), and UNO (1 time).
• February: 2 CE1 events, 4 LITS events, and 1 UNO event were recorded.
• March: 4 LITS events were recorded.
• April: 0 events recorded.
• May: 1 CE1 event and 1 LITS event were recorded.
• June: 0 CE1 events, 1 LITS event, and 1 LITS event were recorded.

The total for the period is 18 events: 6 CE1, 11 LITS, and 1 UNO. A note indicates a 'Total at 9/7/79', suggesting this is a partial or ongoing record.

Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena (SIGAP)

The second page details the establishment and purpose of SIGAP, which was formed in early 1967. SIGAP's primary focus is investigating UFO reports in Surrey and surrounding counties, but it has contributed to studies across Southern England.

Investigation Procedure:

When SIGAP receives news of a sighting, often via their 'Hot-line' (Farnborough 41012), an established preliminary enquiry procedure is initiated. This procedure aims to eliminate obvious explanations, with over 80 percent of reports being attributed to natural or man-made phenomena.

If no immediate explanation is found, SIGAP investigators will interview witnesses and, if possible, visit the observation site. The group then utilizes the expertise of its own consultants to analyze the sighting. SIGAP also collaborates with similar organizations nationwide and often identifies patterns of activity consistent with reports from other areas.

Reporting and Collaboration:

SIGAP sends its most significant reports to the Center for UFO Studies in Evanston, Illinois, USA. This center is led by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a Professor of Astronomy at Northwestern University, who served as a consultant to the US Air Force on UFOs for 20 years.

Contact Information:

The Secretary of SIGAP is Michael G. Prewett, Esq., F.B.I.S., located at 20 Loman Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey.

SIGAP is described as a non-profit-making voluntary organization founded in 1967, dedicated to the study of unidentified flying object phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is the systematic investigation and documentation of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, aiming to distinguish genuine unexplained events from misidentifications. The organization emphasizes a methodical approach, utilizing expert consultation and collaboration with other research bodies. The publication of a 'Table of Events' suggests a commitment to data collection and public reporting of findings.