Skywatch - No 09 - 1969 06-08

Magazine Overview

This issue of Skywatch, dated June/July/August 1969, is identified as No. 9 and is published quarterly by CONTACT S.A. The cover headline highlights preparations for the International Skywatch Day, commemorating Kenneth Arnold's famous 1947 sighting of nine 'Flying Saucers'.

Editorial: Preparing for Contact

The editorial emphasizes that preparations for International Skywatch Day involve not only physical readiness with equipment but also 'inner preparation'. It calls for a united effort of goodwill to keep the light burning by demonstrating 'belief-in-good' and a desire to manifest positive change. The editorial suggests celebrating the event with expectancy, utilizing the power of thought constructively to establish contact with spiritually evolved beings who wish to help mankind. It frames contact with beings from other galaxies as a feature of the 'New Age' and a pioneering work, linking members of CONTACT and other UFO organizations with similar groups worldwide. The piece concludes with a call to keep thoughts focused on peace on Earth and goodwill among all men.

International Skywatching Weekend

This section details the plans for the International Skywatching Weekend, which falls on June 21st-22nd, coinciding with the nearest weekend to the actual International Skywatching Day on Wednesday, June 24th. The plan includes using Friday evening for small groups to sit quietly and send thoughts to 'space visitors,' attempting telepathic links, and expressing a welcome. A continuous watch is scheduled from midday June 21st to midday June 22nd. Participants are encouraged to gather in small groups for overnight watches and to fill out a skywatching questionnaire for any observed objects. The collected information is to be sent to local headquarters or the Secretary of 'CONTACT' S.A. in Durban for correlation with international headquarters. Readers are encouraged to participate even if alone, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and attuning individual lives to their Creator in preparation for future evolution and possible contact.

Young Extraterrestrials Want to Make Contact

This article, reprinted from AWARENESS, Summer 1968 Journal of Contact, U.K., recounts the experiences of a contactee referred to as Mrs. C., a housewife living near Coventry. Her first contact with spacemen occurred in 1940, with her last encounter around 1952. The article describes her as a healthy, well-balanced person with outstanding moral qualities, considered truthful and honest. Mrs. C. recounts an incident in 1940 while walking in Meriden, near Coventry, when she stumbled upon a dome-shaped craft and its crew. The beings were tall, had high foreheads, and wore one-piece garments. The craft emitted a bluish-grey light. After walking past, she found the craft had disappeared upon retracing her steps.

A few months later, while at work, she encountered one of the crew members again. This individual, who seemed at ease and wore unusually clean overalls, recognized her. He stated that 'our war was upsetting his world.' He also asked to be taken to 'your King and Queen' and inquired about meeting with country homes, head scientists, and other leaders to discuss differences. Mrs. C. felt insignificant and unable to facilitate such a meeting, especially during wartime. She recalls he had no accent and she did not see him again at the factory.

In 1951, Mrs. C. had another visitor who identified himself as a 'Messenger' and had 'signed on' for the job. He indicated that she was to refrain from intruding on his thoughts unless she truly wanted to meet the person she had seen at the factory. Mrs. C. was bewildered, thinking he might be mad. She was taken several times to the craft, usually located on lonely grassland plots. She gained the impression that the beings had a method for erasing memory from the time of contact until boarding the craft, possibly connected to unusual watches they wore.

The interior of the craft was described as being about the size of four double bedrooms, well-lit, with meters lining one wall. A central table made of fiberglass slid into the floor. The crew members were generally similar to humans, averaging six to seven feet tall, with high foreheads, greased black hair, and smaller noses. Some wore brown or blue one-piece garments. Others were distinctly different, possessing a bluish complexion, different facial bone structure, larger mouths, and eyes with side vision. They wore either brown or blue one-piece garments.

Mrs. C. found the transfer of thoughts between the beings intriguing and a natural gift. They attempted to teach her this skill, which required deep concentration. She found she could read their thoughts when she focused without distraction. They asked her numerous questions about human life, including blood transfusions and household gadgets, and sought to understand her beliefs. They expressed that humans were immature and needed to grow. They also predicted future trouble among races before equality could be achieved, to the point where all races would be ashamed.

Despite their observations, the space friends were kind, patient, and did not intend to harm humans. Mrs. C. was told that sharing her story would not personally benefit her, but that widespread belief in the possibility of contact was necessary for success. One crew member jokingly referred to humanity as 'Wild Life,' indicating a desire to help mankind. Some crew members had joined without fully understanding the mission, but the 'driver' or leader was always aware of the purpose.

Onboard the spacecraft, she was shown a book with strange writing resembling shorthand and a map of the solar system. She was told to look East to find these people. A black screen displayed white lettering that self-erased. The beings desired an exchange of ideas and gadgets for trading, aiming to help humanity mature, a process they acknowledged was complex. The spacecraft contained individuals from different planets; older ones were less interested in involvement, while younger ones expressed a wish for contact. They asked Mrs. C. whom they should contact, a question that seemed to perplex both sides. The article concludes by stating that there would be misunderstandings but eventual understanding. This story is presented as a synopsis of a full report being produced by Peter Coleman, to be published shortly.

Essentials of Astronomy

This section, authored by Gregory Roberts, delves into the study of double and multiple stars. It explains that while stars appear as isolated points to the naked eye, telescopes reveal many to be binary or triple systems. The ability to resolve these systems depends on telescope aperture, magnification, and atmospheric steadiness. Initially, such stars were thought to be aligned by chance, but studies show they are physically bound by gravity. Observing double and multiple stars offers a challenge and aesthetic beauty. Examples are given, such as Beta Orionis (blue and white), Beta Scorpii (green and blue), Alpha Herculis (green and red), Epsilon Bootes (blue and yellow), and Antares (red and green), noting that color contrast can be an optical illusion.

The article also discusses stars identified as multiple through spectroscopy and the Doppler shift. Castor (Alpha Geminorum) is cited as an optical double whose components are also spectroscopic doubles, making it a four-star system. The orbital periods of these stars vary greatly, from 19 hours for Alpha Euminorum C to 401 years for Eta Cassiopeiae. Amateurs can plot the movement of shorter-period doubles over time.

Out of approximately 25,000 known visual binaries, only about 250 orbits are well-understood. Observatories like the Republic Observatory in Johannesburg have gained international recognition for their work on doubles. Only 300 spectroscopic pairs are known in detail, with an estimate that at least one in three or even two stars are part of a system. All known doubles and multiples are within a hundred light-years, suggesting an enormous number of such systems exist. Some doubles orbit so closely that their surfaces touch, with one star drawing material from the other. When stars align with the observer's line of sight and have short revolution periods, eclipsing variable double stars occur.

The section concludes by noting that planets have been found accompanying some stars, such as 61 Cygni and 70 Ophiuchi. These planets, though invisible, can be detected by their gravitational influence on the primary star, allowing for mass calculation. The next issue will discuss variable and nova stars.

Young Skywatchers: A Trip to the Moon

This narrative recounts an imaginative journey to the moon from the perspective of a young skywatcher. The narrator looks at the night sky, contemplates the 'man-in-the-moon,' and is inspired by the American astronauts' journeys. A bright star appears to grow larger and race towards them, revealing itself as a flying saucer. The craft lands, and a pilot in a yellow and brown suit emerges. The pilot invites the narrator for a ride to the moon. Inside the spacecraft, the narrator sees charts and buttons, sits on a curved bench, and is secured with a safety belt. The craft ascends, showing a view of Earth as a small blue and green sphere. The narrator learns about Saturn Scout Ships and a larger 'Mother Ship.' They are shown a laboratory with two small discs used for observation. The pilot explains that the moon has air and clouds, and its surface is similar to Earth's deserts. Viewing the moon through an instrument, the narrator sees craters as valleys surrounded by mountains and dome-like structures identified as roofs of workshops. The narrator also sees woods, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and a city on the moon, where animals and people live peacefully in circular buildings. The journey concludes with a return home.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFOs, extraterrestrial contact, and astronomy. The editorial stance is one of openness to the possibility of contact, emphasizing spiritual and mental preparation, and a belief in the positive potential of such encounters for human evolution. There is a clear advocacy for the 'New Age' and a hopeful outlook towards intergalactic communication. The astronomy section provides factual information, grounding the magazine's content in scientific observation while maintaining a sense of wonder about the cosmos. The inclusion of a 'Young Skywatchers' story suggests an aim to inspire younger generations with themes of space exploration and imagination.

This issue of CONTACT magazine, identified as Volume 11, Issue 11, published in 1969, focuses on UFO statistics and recent sightings in South Africa. The magazine aims to collect and analyze UFO reports to identify patterns.

U.F.O. STATISTICS

The magazine presents a chart of UFO reports received by Contact S.A. from 1967 to 1969. The data shows the number of reports received each month for these years, with totals for each year: 35 in 1967, 37 in 1968, and 6 in 1969. The issue notes that "so far a pattern has not emerged in South Africa for U.F.O. sightings," but expresses hope that continued charting will reveal one.

Sightings in South Africa

The issue details several specific sightings:

April 1st, 1969, 5-30 p.m.

An Unidentified Flying Object (U.F.O.) was observed over many parts of Natal and the Free State. Reported by newspapers and seen by several Contact members, the object was described by a pilot as a "solid, brilliant, silver incandescent sphere with a blue centre and fuzzy outline." A silver tail followed it, and it was seen for one second before disappearing into a cloud at 2000 ft. The estimated speed was between 3-4 thousand m.p.h., and its size was 100 ft. in diameter. Two Africans later reported seeing the object leave the cloud and head towards Moshesh's Ford.

Another report from a farm near Lindley in the Free State described the object as cylindrical, about 30 feet long, streaking across the sky with a silvery grey tail. Flames were seen belching from its back, engulfing it in fire.

In Pietermaritzburg, four girls and their matron saw a "solid and silent, large circular disc with serrated edges, light blue in colour with an orange tail."

Durban residents described a "solid, silent object emitting sparks around the disc, going through the colours of white, red, blue, yellow, orange. The tail was described as a smoke trail."

At Melmeth in Zululand, Africans reported that the object erupted into a cloud of white smoke and disappeared in a thunderous explosion, described by their employer as "terrific and as loud as a 25 lb. shell."

September 26th, 1968

Mr. Johan Jacobs of Pretoria sent in an account of an event experienced by Mr. Paul Greyvenstein on a farm near Nylstroom. While in bed, Mr. Greyvenstein's room was illuminated by a bright light. Initially thinking it was car headlights, he found the outside dark and quiet. The following morning, the factory owner, Mr. Corrie van Staden, confirmed no visitors. A servant reported that Anna and Jackson, factory labourers, had seen a "funny ghost." Anna described the light as not like a star or the moon, but "just like a welding flame," about 8-9 inches in diameter and round. The light moved straight upwards very fast and high, then returned, moved downwards through a gate, and shot up again. It later moved towards a river, lighting up the yard, before shooting away. The witnesses were frightened and locked themselves in the house.

Mystery Ball Over South Coast (April 5th, 1969)

For the second time that week, people in Natal were puzzled by a mysterious object. Hundreds at Umkomaas saw what was described as a "big red ball" appear from the direction of Port Shepstone, hover, and then descend into the sea. A local resident stated the ball appeared to drop about 3 miles off-shore, hung in the air for about 10 minutes, rested in the sea for about 12 minutes, and then disappeared. The Daily News correspondent suggested it might have been part of an electrical storm. Air Traffic Control at Durban's Louis Botha Airport noted that a Boeing flight from East London would have been passing Umkomaas around the time of the sighting. The last object seen that Thursday in South Africa was described as a blue-green flaming object.

Durban Sighting (May 27th, 1969)

Mrs. Tuck, Mr. & Mrs. Lawson, and two others saw a U.F.O. on the North Beach, Durban, for about twelve minutes. It looked like a "large car headlight, only it was oval shaped." It faded slightly and moved into the wind, then regained brightness and returned to its original position twice before veering North/East and disappearing into the distance. It was described as solid, with silver light and a haze, with no noise, far out over the sea. The Met. Office confirmed no weather balloon was in the air at that time.

Notices

The magazine also includes a section for notices, detailing upcoming events and contact information:

• Durban: International Skywatching weekend (June 21st-22nd), July 12th, August 28th, September 27th. Meeting place: The Centre, Prince of Wales Building, Smith Street, 7:30 p.m. Phone: 312714.
• Johannesburg: Meetings on the first Monday of each month at 17 Westmeath Road, Parkview, at 8 p.m. Contact Mrs. Neslie Schmuts.
• Pretoria: Meetings on the first Friday of each alternate month at the Theosophical Hall, 24 Skinner Street. Next meeting August 19th.
• Please Note: The P.O. Box number for CONTACT (S.A.) has changed to P.O. Box 743, Durban, Natal. The correspondence address is Secretary, P.O. Box 2320, Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the reporting and analysis of UFO sightings in South Africa. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent data collection and a scientific approach to understanding these phenomena, as evidenced by the statistical charts and the detailed accounts of sightings. The magazine encourages readers to submit new information and sightings. There is an underlying curiosity and openness to the unexplained, but also a desire for empirical evidence and pattern recognition.