UFO-Ahanda

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Ahanda
Issue: Nr 2, Arg 2 (Year 2)
Date: 1981
Publisher: Enköpings UFO-förening (Enköping UFO Association)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-Ahanda, published by the Enköpings UFO-förening, features a cover illustration of a planet with rings, possibly Jupiter, above a cratered landscape, with the headline "Jupiter from one of its moons." The magazine contains information about the association's activities, a detailed article on the solar system, and reports on UFO sightings.

Association Activities and Meetings

The magazine announces a regular meeting for the Enköpings UFO-förening on Sunday, March 1st, at 5:00 PM in their local venue, Ulunda. The agenda includes standard items like opening the meeting, approving the agenda, reviewing minutes, reports, new members, and a coffee break.

Several "Spanings kvällar" (Investigation evenings) are scheduled for the spring: February 21st, March 7th, March 21st, April 4th, and April 18th. The April 18th event is on Easter Eve and will include a sausage grill. Meetings for these evenings will start at 8:00 PM at the Paus parking lot. The association also reminds members about their Thursday evening study sessions.

The editorial board extends a warm welcome to all members, especially encouraging those who don't usually attend to come, emphasizing that their presence is valued.

Annual Meeting and Membership

The issue reports on the association's annual meeting, where a new board was elected. A. Idebring was elected Chairman, with Jörgen Granlie as Vice Chairman, replacing Bengt Eriksson. Lennart Eriksson and Lars Brundin were newly elected to the board. Åsa Svanteson will serve as Treasurer, and Rudolf Persson, along with Ivar Karlsson, will act as radio leaders and contact persons.

A significant change for 1981 is the introduction of a family membership fee. The new fee structure is: 50 kronor for a family (two adults and children under 16), 15 kronor for individual members up to 20 years old, and 30 kronor for individual members over 20 years old. Members are instructed to fill out an application form, available at meetings or through contact with the association, to benefit from the family discount. An invoice card for membership fees is included in the magazine, with payment due by April 31st to the association's postgiro account. Membership cards will be sent out after payment is received.

National UFO Conference and Publications

Jörgen Granlie was chosen to represent the Enköpings UFO-förening at the national UFO conference in Stockholm on March 14th. Information is provided for those wishing to attend the conference's evening event on March 13th, which includes dinner and overnight accommodation. Payment of 140 kronor should be sent to Postgiro Nr. 4401983-4 for the Stockholm UFO-förening.

The magazine also promotes "UFO-Aktuelt," noting that it has surpassed 1300 subscribers and encouraging readers to subscribe, highlighting its continuous improvement. "Intern UFO-Information" is also mentioned as a publication for news and reader contributions.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

"Ivars Spalt" (Ivar's Column) features two accounts of cross-shaped UFO sightings. The first is a personal recollection from Algot, who, about 50 years prior, witnessed a luminous cross-shaped phenomenon in the sky near Lysekil on the west coast of Sweden for about 15 minutes. The second account, from a woman in Sjötorp, describes seeing a large, faint, light-green, cross-shaped phenomenon in the sky shortly after 6 AM on January 6th. The column notes the striking similarity between these two reports, separated by decades.

"Vitsen" (The Joke) is a short anecdote about a beggar being offered coffee and a sandwich, with a humorous observation about the preparation of the sandwich.

Another section discusses a potential study trip to the Uppsala observatory, with the organization promising to investigate the interest among members. A questionnaire will be distributed to gather feedback.

An urgent message from Stockholm indicates that not all attendees will be able to be accommodated at the hotel for the March 13th event, potentially increasing the cost by 20 kronor. The message expresses hope that this won't deter participation.

Solar System and Planets

A detailed article titled "Systemet/Planeterna" (The System/The Planets) provides an overview of our solar system. It lists the nine planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The article explains that planets orbit the sun in nearly circular paths, with Pluto being the exception due to its eccentric orbit. The speed of a planet in its orbit is dependent on its distance from the sun; the farther away, the slower it moves. Mercury completes an orbit in 88 days, while Pluto takes 248 years. Earth's average orbital speed is about 30 km/sec.

The planets are divided into two groups based on their physical characteristics: the Earth group (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Pluto) and the Jupiter group (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). The Earth group planets are described as smaller, lighter, and composed primarily of rocks and metals, with slow rotation and few or no moons. The Jupiter group planets are characterized by their large mass, high density, rapid rotation, and flattened poles. They are believed to consist mainly of gases like hydrogen and helium, though some scientists suggest a core of metals and rocks. The article notes that due to their lower gravity, Earth group planets have not retained atmospheres of light gases like hydrogen and helium, which are instead bound in heavier chemical compounds like water.

The article also mentions that the solar system contains numerous small planets and asteroids. Planets are further categorized as inner and outer planets based on their position relative to Earth's orbit; Mercury and Venus are the inner planets.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO phenomena, including reported sightings and the activities of a UFO research organization. There is a strong emphasis on community engagement within the Enköpings UFO-förening, with detailed information on meetings, membership benefits, and calls for participation. The inclusion of a scientific article on the solar system suggests an interest in broader astronomical and scientific topics related to the field of ufology. The editorial stance appears to be informative and community-focused, encouraging members to stay involved and informed.