Skywatch - No 20

Magazine Overview

Title: SKYWATCH
Issue: 20
Date: July - August 1976
Publisher: Manchester Aerial Phenomena Investigation Team
Country: England
Language: English

Content Summary

This issue of SKYWATCH, a publication of the Manchester Aerial Phenomena Investigation Team, delves into various aspects of UFOlogy and related phenomena. The editorial address is listed as 92, Hillcrest Road, Offerton, Stockport, Cheshire, England, with a telephone number of 061-483-4210.

Letters Section

Bryan Hartley, Mechanical Co-ordinator for B UFORA, responds to questions from Jenny Randles' newsletter. He states that the importance of UFO investigation lies in the scientific methodology to discover the source. Hartley uses short-wave radio equipment on alert 24 hours a day for detecting electromagnetic disturbances and notes interference when UFOs are near radios, affecting car electrics. He uses frequency 21 Mc/s for monitoring.

Mr. J. Garside from Glossop, Derbys., recounts a sighting from October 29th, 1954. At 18:00 hours, during dusk with a clear sky, he observed a bright glowing light moving towards Earth from the west. The light slowed down, hovered for about two minutes at a quarter-mile altitude, then climbed away in a south-easterly direction at high speed. He noted no noise and describes the light as accelerating rapidly. He wonders if this unusual occurrence could be explained.

News in Brief

This section includes a quote from TV Sci-Fi Monthly about Lake City, Pennsylvania, building a UFO-Port for the 200th Anniversary of American Independence, intended as a custom-built landing site for flying saucers. Project Director Jim Meeder is quoted as saying they want to look to the future. A re-run of the TV program "The Invaders" is also mentioned.

UFO Group Information

Essex UFO Study Group, formed in 1970, produces a bi-monthly journal with UFO sightings and articles. Contact is Mr. O. J. Goring, 5 Carlton Terrace, Gt. Cambridge Road, London, N18 1LB.

Wirral UFO Society seeks interested individuals for serious UFO study. Contact: Mr. K. Green, 760 New Chester Road, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, L62 7HD.

Back issues of SKYWATCH (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) are available for 10p per issue.

Mystery of Lights on the Marsh

An item from the Lynn News & Advertiser (March 2nd, 1975) reports on a sighting at Burnham Marshes on Thursday night, February 26th. Mrs. Rosaline Philips and her son Richard observed three vivid orange lights in the sky that appeared to land on the beach. Mrs. Philips described the lights moving across the sky in a straight line and flashing. Her initial reaction was to call the police, but then she saw a beam of light. Using binoculars, she saw three domes of light, which later became four, moving towards the beach. Her neighbour also saw the lights, and the coastguard suggested it was an RAF exercise, confirmed at Cromer with a finishing time of 6:48 p.m.

U.F.Os...... An Explanation, Perhaps?

Kenneth Stanley offers a perspective as an amateur astronomer. He believes Earth is being 'studied' by extraterrestrial beings, citing the vast number of potentially life-supporting planets in the galaxy. He questions why intelligent life would not study us if found. Stanley suggests UFOs might be observing our way of life and space travel progress. He notes that Ladbrokes cut their odds for a UFO landing on Earth before December 1976 from 1000-1 to 100-1.

From Radio Poland. On U.F.O's

This section reports that Polish scientists, like their British counterparts, dismiss UFOs as weather balloons or man-made objects, believing their origin is terrestrial. A poll by a Polish Press Agency indicated that while UFOs might be physically explainable, they are not considered to be from other planets. A sighting of a large, dimly-lit spherical object moving slowly and then shooting upward over South-Eastern Poland in the late 1960s is mentioned.

Public Relations and MAPIT

Bryan Hartley discusses the importance of public relations for UFO investigation groups. He emphasizes that for a group like MAPIT (Manchester Aerial Phenomena Investigation Team) to exist, it needs to receive UFO sightings from its local area. MAPIT has been active in publicizing its existence through local press articles in the Stockport Advertiser and Stockport Express. They are also in contact with the Manchester Weather Centre and the Civil Aviation Authority for cooperation.

Flying Saucers – True or False?

Mike Hoogetts explores the question of whether flying saucers are real or imagined. He contemplates the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence and the vastness of the universe, suggesting that millions of planets could sustain life. He questions how flying saucers might travel, possibly at light speed or through materialization, and proposes they could already be here studying humanity. He concludes that the truth will eventually be known.

Infra-Red Photography

Barry M King of the Dagenham Paranormal Research Group details the use of infra-red (I-R) photography for paranormal research. He explains how to obtain I-R filters and film, noting that I-R film can create spectacular effects, such as turning landscapes into snow-covered scenes or making grass and trees appear purple. He advises on camera precautions, such as wrapping the camera in aluminium foil, and discusses film handling, suggesting storage below 55°F. He mentions that certain I-R films can see into the far ultraviolet, visible, and near infra-red spectrums.

Sighting Section

Mr. R. Simpson, a baker and confectioner from Stockport, reported a sighting on April 7th, 1976, at 20:58 hrs in Bramhall, Cheshire. He observed two black, cigar-shaped objects. One object disappeared, while the other moved towards the south-east. He estimated the objects to be 50 feet long and at an altitude of 2500 feet, positioned one above the other. He felt the lower object was being "re-charged" by the higher one. His report was submitted to the Manchester Evening News and the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence replied, stating they would examine the report for defence implications but would not pursue research beyond that. The Manchester Airport Authority reported no radar traces, only an aircraft over Oldham. Weather conditions indicated a slight low-level inversion and possible noctilucent clouds.

Other Publications

Flying Saucer Review is highly recommended as the world's leading UFO journal, with subscription details provided.

Foresight is a bi-monthly magazine covering spiritual aspects, mysticism, philosophy, psychic development, UFOs, and world events, with subscription details also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, investigations, and the scientific and theoretical aspects of potential extraterrestrial contact. It features contributions from various individuals and groups, including personal witness accounts, expert opinions, and practical advice (like infra-red photography). The editorial stance appears to be open to serious investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for scientific methodology. There's an emphasis on public awareness and the role of media in reporting such events. The publication seems to encourage reader participation and the sharing of information within the UFO community.