Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 1999 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: 3/1999
Date: 1999
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt, the information bulletin for the Stockholm UFO Association (STUFO), covers the latter part of 1999 and looks forward to the new millennium. It features a mix of theoretical articles, reports on association activities, and a compilation of UFO sightings from the Stockholm region.

Editorial: God Jul och Gott Nytt År, ärade medlemmar!

The editorial expresses pleasure at the strong interest and active participation in the association's activities during the autumn. It highlights the successful 20th-anniversary celebration in Solna, which included an exhibition, book sale, café, and a lecture by the association's first chairman, Christer Nordin. The event attracted about sixty people who learned about the organization's history. Nordin's lecture provided an 'insider's' perspective on the UFO movement in the 1970s and 80s. The exhibition featured displays from UFO-Sverige and STUFO's own collection, covering local UFO events.

Following the anniversary, members visited the AFU (Archive for UFO Research) in Norrköping, an excursion that was generally well-received. The editorial also announces the formation of a new branch: the Stockholms UFO-förenings undersökningsgrupp (STUND), a group dedicated to actively investigating UFO cases reported to UFO-Sverige's central reporting office. This group was energized by a field investigation course and had already met three times to discuss cases.

The autumn's activities concluded with a visit to Uppsala Observatory instead of the previously planned Stockholm Observatory. The editorial also reminds members that the association's annual meeting will be held on February 9, 2000, and that any motions must be submitted by January 10.

The editorial ends with a festive greeting for the new millennium.

Article: UFO:n och den fjärde dimensionen

This article, translated from an article by Luis Schönherr originally published in Flying Saucer Review (FSR) in 1985 (and a reprint from 1963), explores the concept of UFOs and their potential connection to a fourth dimension. The author notes that FSR has been in publication for 30 years, outlasting many other UFO publications.

Schönherr posits that UFO phenomena may be related to a defect or manipulation of spacetime, leaning towards a physical rather than psychological explanation. A key aspect discussed is the apparent dematerialization of UFOs, where objects vanish without a trace, often silently and without any release of energy or radioactivity. The article suggests that perhaps the objects are not disappearing but becoming transparent, or that they are entering our three-dimensional space from a fourth dimension.

The article references radar echoes from UFOs, indicating they are solid objects. It explores the idea that if UFOs are manufactured, their molecular structure would need to be altered to become transparent, which is deemed difficult without destroying their function.

An alternative explanation is that UFOs originate from a fourth dimension. The concept of a fourth dimension is presented as mathematically sound and not contradictory to logic or geometry. Electromagnetic effects observed in UFO sightings are suggested to be temporary 'charges' from onboard equipment.

The article further speculates that if UFOs originate from another dimension, their presence could cause structural changes in our three-dimensional space, similar to how a submarine's passage disturbs the ocean's surface. Distinguishing between these effects might require specific experiments, but the rarity of such phenomena makes this challenging.

Gravitation is mentioned as a possible explanation for some phenomena, and reports of dematerialization have been associated with strong gravitational fields.

Several possibilities are presented regarding the origin of UFO occupants:
1. Interdimensional connection: The fourth dimension acts as a link between different three-dimensional spaces, allowing intelligent beings to manipulate materialization and dematerialization.
2. Space travelers: Travelers from outer space use the fourth dimension for faster-than-light travel, potentially as a shortcut through the universe.
3. Four-dimensional objects: UFOs are not three-dimensional but four-dimensional, and what we observe is merely a projection of their structure onto our space. Changes in their perceived shape are due to alterations in their projection angle as they move within their four-dimensional universe.
4. Time-bound space: The fourth dimension is intrinsically linked to time, making travel through time possible, akin to H.G. Wells' 'time machines'.

The article concludes that while these theories are difficult to accept, certain aspects of close encounter reports, such as beings appearing to be from different time periods, lend them credence. It suggests that UFOs appearing in our atmosphere might have traveled for a short time, implying they originate from the 'near' future due to navigational inaccuracies in time travel.

Press Clippings

"Människan är på väg mot stjärnorna" (Humanity is heading for the stars)

This article from AVISEN discusses NASA's research into interstellar travel, specifically the 'Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program'. Despite a small annual budget (400,000 SEK), the program aims to find ways to build future spacecraft capable of reaching other stars. Physicists like Lawrence M. Krauss are critical, calling the project a waste of time and resources, deeming starships impossible in practice due to immense fuel requirements. Even theoretical solutions like hydrogen bomb-powered rockets or antimatter propulsion face significant challenges, with travel times to the nearest star (Alpha Centauri) estimated at 900 years. The article also touches upon the concept of using solar sails for spacecraft, mentioning the 'Geostorms' mission planned for 2005 to study the sun.

"Svensk motor erövrar rymden" (Swedish engine conquers space)

This article from Svenska Dagbladet reports on the development of a revolutionary electric rocket engine by the Swedish Space Corporation (Svenska Rymdbolaget) for the European Space Agency (ESA). The 'Smart-1' probe, to be assembled at Saab Ericsson Space, will be the first spacecraft to use an electric motor for propulsion, eliminating the need for traditional fuel. The motor provides a very low thrust (100 milliNewtons), suitable for long-duration missions where carrying fuel is impractical. The Smart-1 probe is scheduled for launch in 2002 using an Ariane 5 rocket and will carry instruments for lunar surface exploration.

STUND sammanträder (STUND meets)

This section details the first meeting of the Stockholms UFO-förenings undersökningsgrupp (STUND) on October 7, 1999. The group's objective is to investigate UFO reports received by the local group from UFO-Sverige's central reporting office. They aim to discuss field investigation problems and share tips. The report summarizes the cases discussed:

• Case 1999-311: A young woman saw an object over Skanstull. She agreed to an interview but did not show up. The description matched an airplane.
• Cases 1999-294 and 1999-313: Being worked on by two members.
• Case 1999-314: A phone interview with the observer was planned.
• Case 1999-332: Being investigated.
• Cases 1999-303 and 1999-288: Miguel Leon is working on these, with difficulty reaching the observer for 303. A new report, 1999-333, was also received.
• Case 1999-306: A written report was sent to Andreas after a phone interview by Erik-Gustaf Brilioth and Margaret French. A check with Tierps Astronomiska Klubb confirmed that the reported direction matched Jupiter and Saturn's positions.
• Cases 1999-293, 1999-245, and 1999-254: Members unable to attend the meeting are continuing their investigations.

OBSERVATORIEBESÖKET FLYTTAT! (Observatory Visit Moved!)

An announcement states that the observatory visit scheduled for December 9 has been moved from Stockholm Observatory to Uppsala Observatory.

Stockholmsrapporter hösten 1999 (Stockholm Reports Autumn 1999)

This section lists numerous UFO reports from the Stockholm region during the latter part of 1999. Each entry includes the date, time, location, a brief description of the sighting, and the assigned investigator or potential explanation (e.g., bolide, aircraft, planet, satellite, or undetermined).

Notable reports include:

• A strong red glow in Hägersten (990905).
• A fast-moving light in Värmdö (990906).
• A white light making sharp turns in Lidingö (990908).
• A 'star' moving in a zick-zack pattern for 90 minutes in Nykvarn (990909).
• Three orange lights playing in the sky in Bro (990911).
• An object with blinking lights, spinning and pulsating, in Sollentuna (990911).
• A triangular object with red lamps in Södertälje (990914).
• A blue light making a sudden turn in Stockholm (990920).
• A bright metallic object stationary in Flemmingsberg (991012).
• Three orange dots flying in a V-formation in Solna (991013).
• Three rectangular marks in a triangle formation on a lawn in Djurö/Vindö (991017).
• Two bright lights moving upwards and then horizontally in Kista (991021).
• A light point that repeatedly appeared and disappeared in Hässelby (991103).
• A bright area in a lake that caused a large water cascade in Lidingö (991104).
• Three fireballs moving slowly like a helicopter in Solna (991109).
• A fireball resembling a football flying low in Stuvsta (991112).
• A dark, triangular object flying westwards in Upplands-Väsby (991114).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, exploring both eyewitness accounts and theoretical explanations, particularly the concept of the fourth dimension. There's an emphasis on scientific inquiry, with reports on investigations and discussions of physical theories related to space travel and propulsion. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging active participation from members and presenting a range of possibilities without necessarily endorsing any single one as definitive. The publication also serves as a platform for promoting related books and other UFO publications.

Title: PRESSKLIPP PRESSKLIPP PRESSKLIPP PRESSKLIPP PRESSKLIPP PRESSKLIPP
Issue: 3/1999
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Date: 1999
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt features articles on space exploration and UFO phenomena. The cover highlights a revolutionary electric probe for long space journeys and Sweden's role in building the Smart-1 probe for ESA. The magazine also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm UFO Association and includes personal accounts of UFO sightings.

Smart-1: Sweden's Probe to the Moon

The magazine details Sweden's assignment from the European Space Agency (ESA) to construct the Smart-1 space probe, scheduled for launch to the moon in three years. The Swedish Space Corporation (Rymdaktiebolaget) is in charge of the design and construction. The probe's trajectory involves being released from a rocket at an altitude of 35,800 km, entering an orbit around Earth that gradually widens over approximately 15 months until it reaches a breaking point 320,000 km from Earth. It will then be captured by the moon's gravitational pull and orbit the moon at an altitude of 3,000-10,000 km for about six months.

Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Programme

Alongside regular activities, NASA is pursuing a project focused on investigating the feasibility of interstellar travel, known as the "Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Programme." Despite NASA's plans, the article notes that starships remain science fiction for the foreseeable future. The issue presents a table illustrating the inadequacy of current fuels for interstellar travel, showing the immense quantities required to reach the nearest star in 900 years. For instance, chemical rocket fuel would require more than the mass of the entire universe, while antimatter would need a train car's load.

Solar Sails for Space Travel

The article "På segeltur i rymden" (On a sailing trip in space) discusses the possibility of traveling in space without chemical fuels, potentially faster than current rockets, by using solar sails. The concept involves using the sun's radiation pressure to propel a spacecraft. The probe would turn its sail towards the sun to gain speed and exit the solar system. Once past Saturn's orbit, the sail would be furled as it would no longer be useful. After ten years, the probe could reach the heliopause, the outer boundary of the solar system, far beyond Pluto. For comparison, Voyager 1, launched much earlier, is expected to reach this point in 2019 after a 42-year journey.

The requirements for such a solar sail are stringent: it must be large (400x400 meters for a starship, 67x67 meters for a solar system probe), extremely light, thin, and strong. It needs to be foldable for rocket transport and deployable in space. Furthermore, the sail must withstand high temperatures and intense radiation, and be as reflective as possible. The material described is super-thin carbon fiber covered with an even thinner layer of aluminum, with deployable masts.

UFO-förening firar 20-årsjubileum

The Stockholm UFO Association is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The association has 54 members from diverse backgrounds, all with an open interest in UFO phenomena. Since the TV series "Arkiv X" began, the number of UFO reports has drastically increased, with UFO Sverige receiving 522 reports in the previous year and approximately 390 so far this year. Lasse Amnestål, the chairman of the Stockholm UFO Association since 1996, states that they can explain 95-97% of all reported cases. The series "Arkiv X" has apparently encouraged more people to look up at the stars and report sightings.

Members of the association include students, working professionals, and retirees, with an even distribution between men and women. They are described as ordinary people fascinated by the breadth of UFO phenomena and seeking explanations. The association organizes monthly meetings with activities like video nights and discussions on recent reports.

Unexplained Phenomena

Of the reported cases, only 3-5% are classified as "UFOs," meaning unexplained phenomena. The Stockholm UFO Association aims to ground the discussion about UFOs. They approach the subject without preconceived notions. While some may believe in extraterrestrial life, many are hesitant to discuss UFOs openly. Lasse Amnestål himself has had two unexplained observations.

In January 1979, he witnessed a bright white light outside his balcony that did not behave like an airplane. He and his brother observed the light descend towards them from 1500 meters up, becoming fainter as it approached. When it was directly overhead, they saw two red lights behind the main light, forming an elongated triangle.

In May 1980, Lasse and a friend saw an orange sphere descend from the sky and hover for 20 seconds above a power substation in Tumba. They later learned that there was a power outage in Tumba at the same time.

Investigating UFO Sightings

Lasse keeps an open mind about the nature of these sightings. He theorizes that the human brain seeks logic in every situation, which can lead to many answers. He also believes in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, citing the vast number of stars in the Milky Way. However, he has no idea if aliens are visiting Earth.

Some members engage in field investigations, often dealing with reports of light phenomena moving at various speeds. The most common explanation for such sightings is an airplane, balloon, or searchlight. Lasse uses a checklist for investigations, consulting air traffic control at Arlanda and Bromma airports to determine if known aircraft were involved. The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOA) might have reports from similar times or locations, and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) in Norrköping can provide weather data, as atmospheric conditions like small cloud formations can obscure stars or create illusions.

Recently, Jupiter's strong visibility for a month has contributed to an increase in reports.

Perspectives on UFOs

Lasse's interest in UFOs spans both the phenomena themselves and the human aspect of observations. He questions what motivates people to report things that are officially non-existent. The Stockholm UFO Association's 20th-anniversary celebration was held on Sunday, October 24th, at Hagagatan 9 in Solna, featuring video screenings, an exhibition, a book and magazine table, and coffee. All curious individuals were welcome.

Call for Volunteers

Stockholms UFO-förening is seeking active members. Those interested need only have a strong interest in UFO phenomena. The organization plans to establish working, discussion, and research groups, provided enough people volunteer. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact them via mail at Box 1067, 144 21 RÖNNINGE, or by phone to Chairman Lasse Amnestål at 08-532 544 05 (evenings preferred). They are also seeking translators proficient in French, Spanish, and Italian.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the advancements and possibilities in space exploration, particularly Sweden's contributions and the potential of new propulsion technologies like solar sails. Alongside this, the magazine delves into the persistent interest in UFO phenomena, the efforts of dedicated organizations like the Stockholm UFO Association to investigate and explain sightings, and the personal experiences of individuals who have witnessed unexplained aerial events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, seeking rational explanations while acknowledging the existence of genuinely unexplained cases and the human fascination with the unknown, both in space and in the skies above.