Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 2005 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-Nytt
Issue: 2/2005
Date: 2005
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of Stockholms UFO-Nytt, the information bulletin for the Stockholm UFO Association, delves into a variety of topics related to unidentified flying objects, optical illusions, and space exploration. The cover boldly proclaims "TRO INTE PÅ ALLT DU SER !" (Don't believe everything you see!), hinting at the critical and analytical approach taken within the magazine, further emphasized by an optical illusion graphic.

Contents and Articles

Editorial and Association News

The issue opens with a greeting from Inga-Lill, the contact person, dated "HEJ!" and referencing the start of autumn 2005. She mentions upcoming events for the Stockholm UFO Association, including a lecture by Jan Fjellander and a video evening. A future meeting will feature Clas Svahn. Inga-Lill also shares her personal experience planning a trip to Gotland, hoping to see the "Marteboljus" (Marbo light), which has been elusive. She reflects on her eleven years of documenting light phenomena, noting that even car headlights can create intriguing light reflections. The table of contents lists articles such as "Ufot i Carbondale, del 2" (UFOs in Carbondale, part 2), "Månens illusioner" (Moon Illusions), "Stockholmsrapporter" (Stockholm Reports), and "Pressklipp" (Press Clippings).

Membership and Subscriptions

Page 2 provides contact information for the Stockholm UFO Association (STUFO), including an address in Järfälla, a phone number, and a Postgiro account. Inga-Lill Wallin is listed as the contact person. The bulletin is published three times a year. Membership fees are detailed: 130 SEK for a full year and 70 SEK for a half-year (starting July 1st) for regular members, and 90 SEK for a full year and 50 SEK for a half-year for pensioners and full-time students. Information is also provided for subscribing to "UFO-Aktuellt" (200 SEK/year) and "UFO-Raden/Rapportnytt" (120 SEK/year).

UFOs in Carbondale, Part 2

This article, a translated and edited report by ufologist Matt Graeber, continues the investigation into the Carbondale incident of November 9, 1974. It discusses the typical duties of UFO investigators, including identifying hoaxes and analyzing physical evidence. The report contrasts the Carbondale case with the better-known Kecksburg incident and the Roswell crash, noting that ufologists were not hindered by authorities in Carbondale. Witness accounts from teenagers John Lloyd, William Lloyd, and Robert Gillette describe a flaming mass with sparks, and later a light circle in a pond. The article details the police investigation, including attempts to retrieve the object with a fishing net and the involvement of a diver named Mark Stamey. It also mentions the involvement of Robert Barry from the 20th Century UFO Bureau, who initially suggested UFOs were "fallen angels." The author, Stefan Roslund, notes that despite years of interest, few ufologists have requested the full report, which he attributes to the "paralysis" of American UFO research.

Other Investigations and Organizations

Mary Schmitt from the Isis Center in Maryland is mentioned for her 19-page report on the Carbondale incident, concluding that there was a wave of UFO activity in the area. The article also references the work of Douglas Dains, a field investigator for Dr. Hynek's CUFOS, who initially suspected the Carbondale event was a hoax but later found it fruitless to continue the investigation without further evidence.

Moon Illusions

Henrik Ball and Robert Becker contribute articles on the "Moon Illusion." Ball explains that the full moon appears larger near the horizon due to our brain's interpretation of visual cues, comparing it to how we perceive clouds or trees. Becker elaborates on this by suggesting an experiment using afterimages, demonstrating how our perception can be influenced by mental projection and context.

Stockholm Reports: December 2004 – May 2005

• This section compiles several UFO sighting reports from the Stockholm area and surrounding regions. These include:
• Synchronized blinking stars observed over Lake Mälaren.
• Four bright points moving in a group, described as UFO balloons.
• 15-20 orange glowing spheres forming a triangle.
• Nine red-yellow lights moving across the sky, likely UFO balloons.
• 15 gold-colored UFOs moving at high speed and altitude.
• A video recording of a triangular, elongated shadow.
• Four luminous objects moving horizontally.
• A falling red-blue cigar-shaped object.
• A gray hovering object resembling a square balloon.
• A bright, clear "star" that moved erratically, later identified as the planet Jupiter.

A poem by Kerstin Bredefeldt, "Vi bor i en arm i Vintergatans virvel" (We live in an arm of the Milky Way's vortex), is also included.

UFO Crossword

Page 8 features the solution to the UFO crossword puzzle from the previous issue, with the answer "Alla människor klagar över sitt minne, men ingen klagar över sitt förstånd" (All people complain about their memory, but no one complains about their intellect).

Weather Crossword

Page 9 presents a "Väder-krysset" (Weather Crossword), where numbers correspond to letters, and the solution is to be found by deciphering the grid. The phrase "Lycka till!" (Good luck!) is offered.

Press Clippings

• This section includes several news items:
• "Kalkyl möter Ezdanitoff": Discusses the Swedish translation of the Tintin comic "Plan 714 to Sydney," highlighting the influence of ancient astronaut theories and the character Mik Ezdanitoff, inspired by Jacques Bergier.
• "SVERIGE SÖKER LIV I RYMDEN": Reports on Sweden's participation in an international project (Prisma) to search for life in space.
• "Lyckad träff på kometen Tempel 1": Covers NASA's successful mission to impact Comet Tempel 1, noting the discovery of unexpected substances and the comet's porous nature.
• "Galax blev tre gånger större": An article about the Andromeda Galaxy, stating that new measurements indicate it is three times wider than previously thought, not expanding but rather being larger than estimated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical yet open-minded approach to UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of thorough investigation, distinguishing between genuine sightings and potential hoaxes or misidentifications. The inclusion of optical illusions and discussions on perception highlights the magazine's interest in how humans interpret visual information. The "Pressklipp" section demonstrates an awareness of broader scientific and cultural contexts related to space and the unknown, integrating news about space missions and astronomical discoveries with UFO research. The recurring theme is the careful examination of evidence and the questioning of assumptions, encouraging readers to be discerning observers.

Title: DALA-DEMOKRATEN
Issue: Stockholm s UFO-nytt nr 2/2005
Publication Date: 2005-10-15

This issue features an article titled "Ufon sätter fart på fantasin" (UFOs Fuel Imagination) from Borlänge, published on October 15, 2005. The article discusses the enduring public fascination with UFOs and features an interview with Clas Svahn, chairman of Ufo-Sverige.

UFOs Fuel Imagination

The article reports on a well-attended lecture at Caoz about UFOs, indicating a strong public interest in the phenomenon. Clas Svahn, a journalist for Dagens Nyheter and an amateur astronomer, serves as the chairman of Ufo-Sverige. He states that the organization receives about one report a day from individuals who have witnessed mysterious lights.

Svahn has spent 30 years traveling across Sweden, interviewing people who have reported seeing mysterious objects in the sky. Initially driven by a curiosity about extraterrestrials, his focus shifted towards seeking more down-to-earth and scientific explanations. However, he acknowledges that not all phenomena can be easily explained, leading to more imaginative interpretations.

He specifically addressed the phenomenon of crop circles, which he investigated thoroughly. Svahn concluded that these were not the work of extraterrestrial visitors but rather of ordinary people suffering from sleep disorders. These individuals, instead of sleeping, would go out into fields with poles, measuring tapes, and ropes to create the patterns.

Despite efforts to provide prosaic explanations, Svahn notes that many people remain unconvinced. His books on UFOs have achieved high circulation but have not significantly increased public skepticism.

Public Belief in Extraterrestrials

According to Svahn, "One in four Swedes believes in extraterrestrials." This belief, he suggests, makes the idea of aliens traveling in UFOs and visiting Earth seem plausible to many.

Historical Context of UFO Sightings

Svahn began his lecture by explaining that humans have always looked to the skies for signs. Historically, these were divine signs recorded in church books. With industrialization, the phenomena became more technically complex, referred to as UFOs and meticulously documented by UFO organizations.

The First UFO Wave (1887-1887) in the USA

The first major UFO wave occurred in the USA between 1887 and 1887, with thousands of reports of flying objects. At that time, these craft were described not as saucers but as large airships.

UFOs in Sweden (1930s)

A UFO wave reached Sweden in the 1930s, particularly in Norrland, where reports of "ghost flyers" emerged. Despite intensive surveillance by the Swedish defense forces, the mystery remained unsolved.

The 1940s UFO Wave

Clas Svahn draws a parallel between this period and the Swedish submarine hunts of the 1980s, where numerous reports of foreign submarines were received, yet none could be verified. He explains that people tend to interpret phenomena based on what is most familiar to them.

He does not deny that people have seen mysterious lights hovering over treetops. However, he observes that people often resist natural explanations, preferring to believe in spaceships rather than satellites, meteors, bolides, or shooting stars.

In the 1940s, Sweden experienced a second UFO wave, with thousands of reports of "saucer-shaped rockets" flying across the sky. Most of these reports came from Norrland. There were also reports of luminous phenomena landing in lakes. The military conducted investigations into these lake incidents, but the results were null.

The Roswell Incident and Area 51

For dedicated UFO enthusiasts, these events are considered minor compared to the alleged 1947 incident in New Mexico, USA, where a flying saucer supposedly crashed and an alien was recovered. Enthusiasts believe the answer to this mystery lies within Area 51 in the Nevada desert, described as the most secret land area in the USA.

Svahn mentions that members of Ufo-Sverige have attempted to reach Area 51 but were stopped, with a high risk of being shot if they tried to enter. Area 51 is officially designated as a military zone.

Events and Organizations

The lecture series at Caoz was organized by Borlänge's youth council in collaboration with ABF.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent public interest in UFO phenomena, historical accounts of sightings in Sweden and the USA, and the ongoing debate between scientific explanations and more speculative theories. The editorial stance, as represented by Clas Svahn's views, leans towards seeking rational, scientific explanations for reported phenomena, while acknowledging the unexplained aspects that continue to fuel public imagination and belief in extraterrestrial life.