SUNlite - Vol 09 No 05

Magazine Overview

Title: SUNlite
Issue: Volume 9, Number 5
Date: September-October 2017
Publisher: SUNlite
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SUNlite, subtitled "Shedding some light on UFOlogy and UFOs," features a cover image of a rocket launch trail against a blue sky, a bird on a wire, and silhouetted trees, accompanied by a quote from Richard Feynman: "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool."

MUFON Controversies and Symposium

The lead article, "Abandon ship?", discusses the recent MUFON symposium and expresses concern that the organization has "gone too far." The author notes that several prominent individuals are abandoning MUFON due to the content and speakers promoted by the leadership. The leadership's desire to provide "Hanger One" type presentations to keep members engaged is seen as a move towards sensationalism, ignoring those who seek a more "grounded" approach. The author posits that MUFON is operating as a business, prioritizing financial gain over scientific investigation, and that this approach will eventually lead to a loss of credibility.

Solar Eclipse and UFO Reports

The solar eclipse of August 21st yielded a limited number of UFO reports, with Peter Davenport of MUFON receiving only 20. Most of these reports were associated with photographs of the eclipse that contained internal lens reflections, rather than actual visual sightings of unusual objects. The article suggests that the short duration of the total eclipse (2 minutes 40 seconds) may have prevented people from observing other celestial events, unlike the 1991 eclipse which lasted nearly 7 minutes and allowed for observation of astronomical objects.

Who's Blogging UFOs?

This section reviews various online discussions and articles related to UFOs:

• IPACO Report on Aquadilla UFO Video: Rubén Lianza, a retired military pilot and member of Argentina's CEFAE, suggested the object in the Aquadilla UFO video was two heart-shaped Chinese lanterns tied together, possibly launched from a beach during a wedding. The Scientific Coalition for UFOlogy (SCU) responded with typical "bluster," and Lianza offered a rebuttal. The author notes that the SCU's promised updated report has not been released, suggesting their "peer review" failed to identify obvious mistakes.
• Curt Collins' Blog: Curt Collins' blog, "The saucers that time forgot," featured a posting about the September 3, 1952, Tucson UFO case, suggesting it was a "Moby Dick" balloon. The article also mentions that another research balloon launch from Holloman AFB may be responsible for a classic UFO case.
• Jaimie Maussan's Mummies: The revelations from Jaimie Maussan's scientists regarding mummies are discussed. The article emphasizes that the mummies were provided by tomb robbers, lacking established provenance. DNA reports by Stephen Fratpietro indicate the mummies are 99-100% homo sapiens (human), not reptilian as claimed. Radiocarbon dating was inconclusive, suggesting a range of 300-1000 AD. Peruvian archaeologists consider it a farce and believe the bodies were modified. John Perry and Mick West also suspect modification. Maussan's group is criticized for not publishing their findings in peer-reviewed journals, relying instead on "arguments from authority." Elsa Tomasto-Cagigao, a Peruvian bio-anthropologist, also believes the mummies are a fake, the result of grave robbing and alteration.
• James Clarkson's Revelations: James Clarkson revealed that Robert Powell left MUFON as science director due to the symposium's speakers. He also indicated that Jan Harzan is primarily interested in money, focusing on donations to MUFON HQ rather than science.
• Cheryl Costa's Research: Cheryl Costa claims UFOs involve off-worlders based on submitted reports. However, the article criticizes her for collecting raw reports without determining if they have solutions. One of her cited sightings, a bright fireball visible on August 13th, is identified as a likely explanation for the Oak Ridge sighting.
• The Eden Project: Scott Brando states that "UFO videos" circulating from the Eden Project are fakes, part of a publicity campaign.
• "Orb Video" on Coast-to-Coast AM: An "orb video" on the Coast-to-Coast AM website is analyzed. The photographic equipment appeared impressive, but the video itself was not. It is suggested that the "orb" was likely the International Space Station (ISS), which appeared in the sky at the time and location indicated. Rob Freeman, a MUFON investigator, disputed this explanation, claiming the orb lit up trees, but the author explains how image intensifiers can illuminate the ground.
• Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos' Blog: Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos' blog entry drew criticism for suggesting that there is no "shocking" information in the Blue Book files to support theories of alien intelligence or exotic phenomena. The author agrees, stating that if such evidence existed, it would have surfaced by now. The article notes that even the SCU appears afraid to publish their paper on the Aquadilla video in a scientific publication.

The Roswell Corner

Roswell was a nuclear nightmare? This section discusses a theory that the Roswell incident involved an unarmed nuclear device, attributed to Major Robert Friend, former head of Blue Book. The author dismisses this as speculation, noting the lack of documentation and the description of the debris field (rubber, tin foil, sticks) as inconsistent with a nuclear weapon or flying saucer, but matching that of balloon materials and radar reflectors.

More of the same old nonsense: Tony Bragalia is criticized for attempting to revive his UFOlogical career with exotic stories about the Roswell Slides, claiming "insiders" were allowed to view an alien body. He is also accused of distorting the truth and twisting quotes into "Bragalia Facts."

Another Balloon Sighting

On August 17, the author observed a new "star" in the sky near Maryville, Tennessee, which binoculars revealed to be an extended object. Photographs taken over 30 minutes showed the object drifting SSW and fading. The author estimates its initial magnitude was -1, fading to +3. Based on its movement and appearance, and comparing it to photographs of the sun, the object is concluded to be a balloon reflecting the sun, likely at an altitude of 18-20 km. The author suspects it was a test flight for one of the balloons being launched for the upcoming eclipse.

September 23, 1951 and July 23, 1951 March AFB

This section analyzes two related incidents involving F-86 jets attempting to intercept unidentified objects near March AFB, California.

• September 23, 1951: The chronology describes an F-86 jet intercept of an unidentified object in apparent orbit at 50,000 feet. The object was described as silvery and circling, and the jets were unable to reach its altitude.
• July 23, 1951: A similar radar-visual sighting of a silvery object circling high above aircraft at 50,000 feet is noted. The source for both cases is attributed to USAF intelligence reports and Donald Keyhoe's book, "Flying Saucers from Outer Space." However, the article points out that the Blue Book files do not mention the July 23rd event, and Keyhoe's description of the September 23rd event was mistakenly applied to July 23rd by some editors. The author concludes that the July 23rd date is a double entry and should be deleted.

Blue Book Investigation: Ruppelt's account of the September 23rd incident is detailed. Six F-86s attempted to intercept a "silver airplane with highly swept back wings" at altitudes estimated up to 55,000 feet. The object appeared to speed up as the jets approached and eventually vanished. Ruppelt attempted to explain the event as a weather balloon launched from Long Beach, plotting its path against the UFO and F-86s. While the paths coincided at one point, he could not definitively prove it was a balloon, noting that the balloon had burst about ten minutes before the F-86s lost sight of the UFO.

Another solution? The author suggests the event sounds more like a large research balloon than a weather balloon. Such a balloon, illuminated by the rising sun, could appear as a "teardrop shape" and be interpreted as an aircraft with swept back wings. The estimated altitude of 50-55,000 feet could have been higher. Holloman AFB is identified as a major source of research balloons in 1951, with one balloon launched on September 21st reaching 96,000 feet before being lost. The article notes that stratospheric winds in September typically blow west, but shift east in the fall. Examining recent balloon launches confirms that balloons launched before September 23rd would likely drift west, away from Long Beach.

Solved? The author concludes that the weight of evidence suggests the Holloman research balloon is the most likely source for the March AFB incident. The case is deemed not "best evidence" and should be discarded.

The 701 Club: Case 2175 - October 19, 1952

This case, described by Don Berlinner, involves a sighting by the crew of a USAF C-50 transport plane approximately 500 miles south of Hawaii at 6:58 p.m. Witnesses reported a round yellow light with a red glowing edge, estimated at 100' in diameter, flying at 300-400 kts for 20 seconds. The sighting occurred over the open ocean.

The Blue Book file: The case file is noted as being uninformative, consisting of a single teletype message describing the incident and an unrelated message. The primary message details the C-50 aircraft's flight from Hickam AFB to Travis AFB and the sighting, which occurred at position 12°17' North, 155°35' West. The object was described as a bright circular yellow light with a reddish edge, estimated at 123 feet in diameter, and was observed for about 20 seconds, traveling at an estimated 300-423 knots. It was seen off the port wing, heading southwest.

Potential solution? The author questions the reported latitude, suggesting it should be 22°17' North, placing the plane northeast of Honolulu and on a track towards California. The event, occurring about an hour after sunset, is proposed to be a fireball meteor, given its estimated duration and straight course. The author believes the case should be removed from the "unknown" list and categorized as a probable meteor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of SUNlite consistently adopts a skeptical yet analytical approach to UFO phenomena. The recurring theme is the critical examination of evidence, often debunking sensational claims and attributing sightings to mundane explanations such as balloons, atmospheric phenomena, or misidentifications. The magazine criticizes organizations like MUFON for prioritizing entertainment and sensationalism over scientific rigor. The author's stance is that most UFO reports, when thoroughly investigated, lack credible evidence of extraordinary or extraterrestrial origins, and that the pursuit of such phenomena often involves self-deception. The editorial apologizes for the minimal content in this issue due to time constraints.