TUFOIC Newsletter - No 093 - February 2003

Magazine Overview

This issue of the NEWSLETTER from the TASMANIAN UFO INVESTIGATION CENTRE, dated FEBRUARY 2003 (Edition 93), provides a review of the year 2002 and an analysis of the organization's historical logbook.

Year in Review 2002

The year 2002 is described as one of the Centre's most forgettable since its inception over 35 years ago. Sightings were limited, comprising mainly a few lights in the sky. Calls to the Centre were down, and there was little mention of UFO phenomena in the local press. One notable incident involved a video of orange lights over Launceston, which was suspected to be a 'garbage bag balloon'. A more interesting case was a January photograph taken at Sorell, showing a bright light beneath dark clouds, which was not noticed by the photographer at the time. Follow-up on aircraft movements was not possible due to a time delay. A possible explanation suggested was circling light aircraft from a nearby airfield.

Most of the year's 65 reports were attributed to misidentification of astronomical objects. Only four cases remained unidentified: one each from January and February, and two from May. For unknown reasons, few cases from Tasmania were submitted via the UFOnetwork Hotline. The Centre received a large amount of information from around the world, particularly a 'deluge of UFO reports on the Internet,' though the value of overseas sightings was questioned due to a lack of scrutiny and rational explanations being reported as UFOs.

Membership remained stable, and for the first time in years, meetings were held every two months. Attendance was good, and the meetings were described as full of interest and relaxed discussion. Future meeting dates for 2003 were listed: February 27th, April 24th, June 26th, August 28th, October 9th, and December 11th.

Sightings

2002. January 14th. 9.10pm. Launceston.

A witness, Mr P, reported observing a round dark blob moving slowly from the north-west towards a bank of dark cloud over the city for about six minutes. Air traffic control reported no movements in the area at that time. The object became stationary before entering the cloud, and a solid red light appeared below it. It then moved up through the cloud and was lost from sight. Mr P waited for 20 minutes for its reappearance without success. He also observed a commercial flight heading north through the same cloud. The evening sky was bright, creating a contrast with the dark cloud.

2002. January 30th. 8.50pm. Sorell.

Mr Shad took photographs of the sunset clouds using his digital camera. Upon inspecting the pictures later, he noticed a bright spot of light below the clouds to the south-west. The spot was described as round and white with a suggestion of a light patch above, standing out against the middle layer of orange clouds. Nothing was noticed at the time of photography. Due to the time delay, follow-up on aircraft movements was not possible. The sharp and clear nature of the spot suggested little movement, making an astronomical explanation remote. However, due to the lack of visual observation, the case was logged as having insufficient information.

2002 February 23rd. 10.42pm. Mountain River.

A resident, Mr D, and his partner observed three star-like lights moving through the Orion constellation towards the south-east, gaining elevation. They later saw the lights over the Longley area in a triangle formation. A shooting star then crossed the sky, and almost immediately, the three lights shot straight up and disappeared in seconds. The following morning at 3.50am, Mr D spotted the same formation of three lights in the southern sky moving east. Again, a shooting star preceded the lights' immediate upward departure.

2002. May 14th. 5.24am. Lauderdale.

Two reports from Kingston and Lauderdale on the same morning were potentially connected. Mr R was walking on Lauderdale beach when he noticed a distinct circle of white light, about 10-12 meters across, on the beach, seemingly connected to a beam up into the sky. He briefly saw a stationary object above trees and houses to his left. The object then moved over the beach, causing the circle of light to disappear, and proceeded out over Frederick Henry Bay before disappearing. Mr R had the impression the UFO turned away from him. The sighting lasted about 6 seconds, with no noise noticed. The object was described as torch-like, tapering towards the rear, with no flashing lights. The witness estimated its size as about 3 moon widths. He recalled passing another early walker who asked if he had seen the object lit up like a house and making a faint 'sizzing sound'.

Meanwhile, a Kingston witness reported a strange light source in their garden that lit up the patio. The sun umbrella on the patio appeared to be spinning and flapping, and the light flickered before going out. The witness initially thought it might be the moon and wind, but inspection revealed the moon was not out and the conditions were calm.

2002. May 17th. 9.15pm. New Norfolk.

Two witnesses in New Norfolk observed a bright, white light in the south-west sky that changed color to red and orange. It remained stationary for three to four minutes before spectacularly shooting off towards the north-west and disappearing in seconds. The case remains unexplained.

TUFOIC TASMANIAN STATS 2002

The statistics for 2002 show: 4 Unidentified, 27 Astronomical, 8 Aircraft, 10 Satellites, 1 Meteorological, 5 Balloons, 1 Ground Lights, and 9 Other, totaling 65 reports.

TUFOIC LOGBOOK

An article discusses TUFOIC's logbook, initiated in 1969 by Keith Roberts, which contains records dating back to the group's formation in 1965, covering approximately 38 years of reports. This database was compared with the RAAF's continuous record, which ceased in 1980. Similarities include an increase in reports during 1973-78 and a decline in unexplained sightings in 1979-80. Differences noted are TUFOIC's higher unexplained rate, especially in earlier years, and the RAAF's peak years around 1967-69, which are not mirrored in Tasmanian figures. These differences are attributed to variations in collecting sightings, the RAAF covering all of Australia, and differing investigative procedures.

The logbook indicates that stranger events are often reported to UFO groups rather than public authorities, with many interesting cases surfacing years after the event. The overall UFO percentage of reports investigated over 38 years is 18.8%, with recent years showing a 50% decrease below the average. Astronomical explanations account for about 35% of sightings, followed by aircraft (13%) and satellites (9%). Approximately 10% of cases have insufficient information for a conclusion.

The busiest year recorded was 1976 with 193 reports, while 1984 and 1990 had the lowest number of calls (46). The year with the highest number of unidentified UFO sightings was 1974 with 58, contrasting with the 4 unexplained events in 2002.

STOP PRESS

A 'Stop Press' section reports a series of resignations from the Centre: President Bill Kelly, Ian Porritt (Network), and Alis Jacob (Publication Distribution) all resigned for personal reasons or due to moving away. Meetings in February and April were scheduled to review the situation and fill the vacant executive positions.

PUBLICATIONS

A list of publications available from TUFOIC is provided, including:

• Cressy Document ($3.00)
• Maatsuyker Island ($3.00)
• North-East Tasmania ($3.00)
• Landings Catalogue ($3.00)
• Mysterious Melodale ($4.00)
• TASCAT (database printout) ($3.00)
• Annual Reports ($2.00)

Prices include surface mail postage. Payment options for Australia (money order, bank cheque) and Overseas (international money order, bank cheque) are listed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO sightings within Tasmania, providing detailed accounts of individual cases and statistical analysis of reported phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent investigation and record-keeping, aiming to categorize and understand UFO reports. There is an emphasis on distinguishing between misidentifications and genuinely unexplained events. The 'Stop Press' section highlights the challenges faced by the organization, including member resignations, while the publications list indicates a commitment to documenting and disseminating information on UFOlogy, particularly concerning Tasmanian cases. The overall tone suggests a dedicated group striving to maintain its records and operations despite internal challenges.