Skywatch - No 27 - 1973 12-19 74 01-02

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 27.
Date: December 1973/Jan./Feb. 1974.

This issue of Skywatch magazine, a quarterly publication focused on UFOs and related phenomena, presents an editorial reflecting on the current state of UFO understanding, a review of a book linking UFOs to human origins, details of a UFO proof reward, reports of sightings, and a discussion of a significant astronomical discovery.

Editorial: The Eternal Subject

The editorial reflects on the preceding three to four months, noting a lack of significant breakthroughs in UFO understanding but asserting that "they are still with us." It emphasizes that the limitations are in human perception rather than the absence of UFOs. The editorial posits that most UFO occupants are in harmony with a universal plan and behave according to their evolutionary status. This understanding, it suggests, provides the answer to why space beings do not openly communicate their superior knowledge. Using an analogy of a colony of convicts on an island, the editorial implies that humanity, as a "fallen race" separated from the greater universe, needs intellectual, moral, and spiritual education before full communication and sharing of knowledge can occur. It references the visit of the "Christed One" (Jesus) as an example of past attempts to uplift human thinking and prepare humanity for "greater life" and integration into a "galactic civilization."

Book Review: 'The Eternal Subject' by Brinsley le Poer Trench

The magazine reviews "The Eternal Subject" by Brinsley le Poer Trench, the International Chairman of Contact. The book proposes that UFOs and "Sky People" were instrumental in the creation and development of humanity and have continued to visit and interbreed with us, suggesting we are a hybrid race. The review highlights that the book covers UFO activity throughout history, including reports from Argentina where a base is rumored to be in Lake Titicaca. It also notes the book's illustrations of biblical UFO events by Kiril Terziev and its exploration of paranormal aspects like teleportation and telepathy, suggesting a common underlying energy or radiation force.

UFO Proof Reward and Case Study

The "National Enquirer" of Florida offered a $50,000 reward for UFO proof, leading to nearly a thousand reports. An interim reward of $5,000 was paid for a landing/sighting reported by Ronnie Johnson of Delphos, Kansas. The report, sent by Edward B. Camlin, details several key scientific observations:

1. Object Sighting: A luminous object hovered close to the ground, displaying pulsating colors from white, green, blue, to red.
2. Verification: Ronnie Johnson's parents confirmed seeing the saucer glide away silently.
3. Landing Site Alterations: A ring of soil showed altered chemical composition extending over a foot deep. Specifically, the calcium content was 16 times normal, and the soil contained "tiny crystals" of unknown origin, possibly crystallised Angel Hair.
4. Ground Condition: Despite heavy rain at the time of landing, the site was bone dry and remained so for days, resisting water absorption for over 49 weeks.
5. Vegetation Impact: No plants would grow in the altered soil.
6. Glowing Effects: The soil ring and surrounding tree bark glowed brightly for several days.

The National Enquirer had the soil analyzed by eleven laboratories, which found numerous unexplained phenomena. The report also notes similar properties at other landing sites, including 1,800 in Argentina and a 1954 landing in Valcuse, France. The article poses several questions about the experience of Ronnie Johnson and his dog, and the nature of the "tiny white crystals," urging readers to move beyond a "beyond just nuts and bolts" to a more profound inquiry.

Sightings Over South Africa

Several UFO sightings are reported from South Africa:

• Rosetta (September 20, 1973): Mr. and Mrs. J. van der Westhuizen observed a large, orange-coloured light moving at high speed, disappearing, and reappearing before descending.
• Durban (October 3, 1973): Six residents saw a pulsating, blue-rimmed UFO with changing internal colors that disappeared while still high in the sky. Air traffic controllers also reported radar anomalies.
• Pietermaritzburg (November 11, 1973): Ex-pilot Val Marwick watched a large white light move across the sky for about five minutes before it disappeared.

Startling New Discovery: The Orion Nebula

The magazine discusses a significant astronomical discovery concerning a vast empty space within the nebula of the constellation of Orion. Described as a "heavenly cavern" of immense size and beauty, this opening is approximately 16,740,000 million miles in diameter, dwarfing the Earth's orbit. The discovery, made possible by advanced telescopic technology, corroborates biblical descriptions and suggests a potential gateway for celestial events, possibly related to the "Holy City" descending.

Quote

A quote from Harlow Shapley, a Harvard astronomer, is included, highlighting his preference for addressing audiences as "Fellow primates" instead of the conventional "Ladies and Gentlemen."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing mystery and presence of UFOs, the potential for extraterrestrial involvement in human evolution, the need for a broader understanding of cosmic matters, and the exploration of evidence beyond conventional scientific explanation. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider unconventional possibilities and to prepare for potential contact and integration into a larger cosmic community. The magazine also promotes a spiritual and evolutionary perspective on humanity's place in the universe.

This issue of Skywatch, identified by page number 11, delves into a variety of topics related to the cosmos, UFO phenomena, and the effects of space travel. The content spans discussions on astronomical grandeur, the nature of UFOs, a peculiar biological encounter, the physiological and psychological impacts of weightlessness, and reports on UFO sightings and activity.

Astronomical Reflections

The issue opens with a poetic description of the interior of a cavernous space, so vast that the entire solar system could be lost within it. The author expresses awe at the scale of the Orion nebula, describing it as torn, twisted masses of shining glass with irregular pillars, columns of stalactites, and millions of diamond-shining stars. This grandeur is likened to the Holy City seen by John in the Book of Revelation, leading to a reflection on the profound sense of 'Presence' that astronomers sometimes feel.

The vastness of space is further emphasized with a striking fact: the sun, if hollow, could contain over a million Earth-sized worlds. The text highlights that some stars are large enough to hold 500 million suns like ours, and that an average galaxy contains about 100,000 million stars, with at least 100 million galaxies in known space, questioning the notion of a 'small world'.

The Nature of UFOs: Biological and Cosmic Life-Forms

Page 12 reviews Ivan T. Sanderson's book "Uninvited Visitors," which posits that a significant portion of the UFO phenomenon is biological. Sanderson suggests that aerial forms photographed might be unicellular life-forms or even cosmic life-forms with their own unique patterns of existence. He also considers the possibility that extraterrestrials could construct machines along biological lines, possibly by bio-chemical means.

A Biological Encounter in Dallas

Following the discussion on biological UFOs, the magazine reports on a peculiar incident in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Marie Harris encountered a 'space thing' in her backyard, described as a jelly-like mass that pulsated and resisted attempts to kill it. It grew rapidly in size, from two cookies to 32 cookies, and despite being washed away by heavy rains, it reappeared larger and in sections before shrivelling up and dying. Scientists later confirmed that the 'thing' was a collection of spores from the atmosphere, a bacterial mutation that thrives under certain conditions.

The Hidden Effects of Weightlessness

Page 13 shifts focus to the effects of weightlessness on humans. It is noted that prolonged exposure to non-gravity can cause the etheric (bioplasmic) body to separate more easily from the physical. This separation can lead to increased sensitivity to unseen influences and a freer imagination. Upon returning to Earth, individuals might experience a disconnect between their physical grounding and mental state, potentially leading to an extended consciousness. The article warns that this state can be uncomfortable if not recognized, causing consequences such as vision and hearing changes, palpitations, and blackouts, which may not be purely physical in origin.

UFO Sightings and Flaps

Page 14, under the "NEWS FROM DATA RESEARCH" section by Derek Mansell, reports that UFO sightings in 1973 have not been vast but have included interesting cases. One notable incident on January 11th in Thame, Oxfordshire, involved the sighting and filming of a 'fireball' object with a fluorescent orange dome. The object was seen rotating at high speed, hovering, descending, climbing, and partially translucent, spinning anti-clockwise.

Further reports detail a significant UFO 'flap' that occurred in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic between August and December of 1972. This 'flap' was widely covered by media and included a variety of phenomena: sightings, landings (with and without contact), the presence of cigar-shaped objects, animal reactions to UFOs, written and telepathic messages, photographic evidence, and even a reported 'healing' by a UFO. The Dominican Republic saw the most sightings in September, while Puerto Rico was more prolific in October. The 'flap' was considered intense and dense compared to other UFO activity. The article notes that the largest number of sightings occurred after dark, with orange being a recurring color. This activity is compared to similar 'flaps' in the United States (1965-66) and Spain (1968).

Meetings and Correspondence

Page 16 provides a schedule of upcoming meetings for the next few months in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria, South Africa, for December 1973 and January/February 1974. Contact information for organizers in each city is provided, along with a general correspondence address for the Secretary in Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the vastness and mystery of the cosmos, the potential for life beyond Earth in various forms (biological, cosmic, or manufactured), and the unexplained phenomena associated with UFOs. There is a clear interest in scientific and anecdotal evidence related to these topics. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting different theories and reports without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to consider the possibilities. The inclusion of astronomical facts alongside UFO reports suggests a broad interest in the unknown, both within and beyond our solar system.