Rencontres Ufologiques - 2013 11 18 - No 016

Magazine Overview

Title: Les Rencontres Ufologiques
Issue Date: November 18, 2013
Reference: 016 - 18-11-2013
Publisher: Les Rencontres Ufologiques / Fédération Francophone d'Ufologie (FFU)
Website: www.les-rencontres-ufologiques.com

This issue of Les Rencontres Ufologiques, a private information note from the FFU and MUFON France, covers several key topics including cyberattacks on the MUFON US website, the visibility of Comet ISON, UFO investigations in Peru, and a sighting in Quebec.

MUFON US Website Under Attack

Jan C. Harzan, Executive Director of the Mutual UFO NETWORK (MUFON), reports that the MUFON US website is currently experiencing virulent cyberattacks that have made it momentarily inaccessible. The hosting provider has isolated the site on a specific server to implement a solution against this type of attack, which involves saturating the target machine with external communication requests, rendering it essentially unavailable. While the main website is affected, the CMS (Content Management System) for real-time observation management, hosted on a separate service, remains unaffected. The hosting provider is implementing filtering rules to protect the affected machines. The article notes that such attacks, while common in the commercial sector, are rarer against associations, suggesting MUFON may be disturbing certain entities.

Comet ISON Visible to the Naked Eye

The DNE (Direction Nationale des Enquêtes) has issued a communication regarding Comet ISON (C/2012 S1 ISON), discovered by Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok on September 21, 2012. The comet is now visible to the naked eye and is expected to pass very close to the sun on November 28, 2013. The DNE warns that this visibility could lead to misidentification as a UFO. The article details the comet's trajectory, noting it will be visible in the constellation of Virgo and later Leo. It will pass 1.1 million km from the sun, a distance considered insignificant on a cosmic scale. The article speculates on potential consequences due to the comet's unknown composition (rock and ice) and the sun's powerful gravitational force, including the possibility of fragmentation. The comet is described as a relatively small one compared to historically observed great comets.

Germany's Secrecy on UFO Documents

This section clarifies an error in a previous article regarding Belgium's public UFO archives. It states that the mention of the Belgian army having communicated its archives to Sobeps (now Cobeps) was erroneous. Patrick Ferryn, president of Cobeps, confirms that while there was a "good collaboration" with certain Air Force services, particularly through Major General Wilfried De Brouwer, this did not involve a transfer of Air Force investigation reports.

Three UFOs in the Sky Over Toulouse?

A resident of Toulouse reported a mysterious photo taken on a Friday night, showing three luminous points distinctly visible in the night sky. The photographer, Sébastien Bousquet, captured the image near midnight. The article also references a previous unexplained aerial phenomenon in Toulouse in June, described as a "whale's tail" shape.

Interview with Patrice Gouez: UFOs in Clermont

Patrice Gouez, a 41-year-old IT professional from Clermont, coordinates the work of three investigators affiliated with MUFON France in the Picardy region. He has also created a website called "Ovni-Beauvais" to study UFO phenomena in the Oise department. Gouez expresses frustration that the subject of UFOs is often trivialized, leading to a lack of serious consideration. He emphasizes the importance of scientific investigation and the need to differentiate between UFOs and extraterrestrials, advocating for a cold, logical approach to maintain ufology's credibility. He notes that while the subject has been banalized, national space study centers are interested. Gouez aims to build a database and knowledge network, stating that in 60 years, progress on the subject has been limited. His group plans to collect local testimonies and conduct investigations, including analyzing potential biological traces left by unexplained phenomena. He acknowledges that preconceived notions and fear of ridicule prevent many people from reporting sightings.

Peru's Army Hunts UFOs

The article reports that the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has relaunched its Department of Investigation (Difaa) to study anomalous aerial phenomena, particularly luminous spheres observed in Huanuco. The FAP aims to centralize information nationally and ensure airspace sovereignty. An eight-member multidisciplinary advisory committee, including a mathematician, sociologist, philosopher, and archaeologist, has been formed to assist in determining the origin of these phenomena. Experts estimate that about 5% of cases remain unexplained, though this does not automatically imply extraterrestrial origins. Commander Julio Chamorro believes most people have encountered an "abnormal" phenomenon but remain silent due to fear of being labeled as crazy. The article also touches upon the global interest in Peru concerning ufology and mysticism.

UFO in Quebec

On November 9, 2013, around 2 PM in Quebec, a woman and her family observed a strange object while driving north on Autoroute Duplessis. The object, described as metallic, spherical, and rotating horizontally, was estimated to be 4-6 meters in diameter and devoid of wings. It appeared at an altitude of approximately 85 meters, passed over their vehicle, and then sped towards the South Shore of Quebec. The witness was certain it was an unknown craft, not an airplane or helicopter. The article notes that past UFO sightings have occurred near airports and suggests investigating whether radar could have detected this object.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Les Rencontres Ufologiques focuses on current events in ufology, including technological threats (cyberattacks on MUFON), astronomical phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs (Comet ISON), official investigations into UAP (Peru), and eyewitness accounts of unidentified aerial phenomena (Toulouse, Quebec). The editorial stance promotes serious, sensible research and information sharing within the ufological community, encouraging participation and contribution from readers. There is a clear emphasis on scientific investigation and critical analysis, as highlighted in the interview with Patrice Gouez, who advocates for a rational and evidence-based approach to the study of UFOs, separating them from speculative or sensationalist claims.