SOUTH LINES U.F.O. STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER

Magazine Overview

This document is the October 1969 issue, number 19, of the "SOUTH LINES U.F.O. STUDY GROUP NEWSLETTER". It is a handwritten and typed publication covering topics related to UFO sightings, astronomical phenomena, and scientific speculation. The cover features a hand-drawn illustration of flying saucers and the group's name and date.

Fireball Observed at Lincoln

The newsletter reports a fireball sighting on Tuesday, August 19th, 1969, at 9:28 PM in Lincoln. The observer, Mr. W. Kackson, described it as starting as a faint streak like an ordinary meteor, but within five seconds, it swelled to the size of a football. It was intensely white with a broad, jagged tail, giving off green flashes and white sparks, like melting sealing wax. The object appeared to disappear or burn out behind Jarvis House in the Birchwood estate. Mr. Kackson noted that although he had seen many meteors, this was the first "fireball" he had witnessed.

UFO Sighting in Lincoln

Peter Hammerton reports a UFO sighting by a resident of Westcliffe Street, Lincoln. The object was initially noticed moving slowly across the background of stars, not appearing like a plane or a star. The observer's interest heightened when the object stopped near a bright star. It then reversed direction, returned to its initial sighting point, and after a brief period, accelerated away at considerable speed. The informant was non-committal about the cause, but the reporter agreed that no known phenomena could explain the sighting.

Flying Saucer Found

A 3 ft. flying saucer, described as giving off whining noises, was found on September 27th by a motorist near the Bath and West show ground at Shepton Mallet, Somerset. The saucer, made of tin, contained an elaborate wiring system and battery. The police took possession of it until forensic experts examined it. Two days later, on September 29th, the saucer was returned to its builder, Mr. Edward Jaggers, of Havyatt Manor, Glastonbury. Mr. Jaggers, who built the saucer, which weighs about a hundredweight, stated that it took off while he was experimenting with it.

Other Articles and Letters

"Matter Of Space"

A brief mention of a conversation about space exploration where a child, Michael, expressed relief that people do not live on the moon, fearing it would be crowded when it's only a quarter moon.

Night Rainbow

Mrs. D. Barrie from Okehampton, Devon, reports seeing a perfect rainbow in the sky at about 9:30 PM during a bright moonlight and light drizzle. The only difference from a daylight rainbow was the absence of color, giving it a silvery tinge. The newsletter notes that moonlight rainbows are rare but are caused by sunlight reflected from the moon.

Sun Blast Scorched The Moon

This section discusses a scientific article by Professor Thomas Gold of Cornell University. Based on close-up color photographs from the Apollo 11 astronauts, Professor Gold suggests a huge explosion on the sun raised its heat intensity significantly, causing elements on the moon's surface to melt and cool into a glass-like glaze. He estimates this event occurred within the last 100,000 years. Professor Gold believes this solar explosion also affected the upper atmosphere of Earth, Venus, and Mars, but that Earth's atmosphere protected its surface, with the ground temperature rise being much less significant than on the moon.

Palm Trees At The South Pole?

America's National Science Foundation is preparing to fund a $7 million expedition to Antarctica to search for evidence of ancient reptiles. A team of 17 scientists will excavate a mountainous area largely free from snow during the south polar summer. The search is prompted by the discovery of a fossilized jaw-bone of a labyrinthodont, an ancient fresh-water amphibian, near the U.S. permanent base. This find suggests Antarctica may have once been joined to South America or Africa, supporting the theory of continental drift.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on unexplained aerial phenomena, UFO sightings, and related scientific or speculative topics. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting witness accounts and scientific theories for consideration by its readers. The inclusion of diverse topics, from local sightings to astronomical events and paleontological discoveries, suggests a broad interest in the unusual and unexplained.