UFO Allehenda - 2001 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO ALLEHANDA
Issue: Nr 3 2001
Publisher: Enköping-Sala UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO Allehanda serves as the member magazine for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, providing current information to its members. It is published three times a year.

Contents

Life on Mars

The magazine reports on research by Hungarian scientists who, after studying 60,000 photographs from the Mars Global Surveyor Probe, have concluded that there is life on Mars. They observed large, dark patches appearing each spring around the planet's south pole. Evolutionary biologist Tibor Ganti explained that these patches are caused by organisms that live by photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight absorbed through a thick ice layer that insulates them from the extreme cold. When the ice melts in summer, the organisms dry out. The scientists suggest these could be similar to organisms found in Earth's tundras and may be remnants of life that existed on Mars billions of years ago. Further spectral analysis is needed to confirm the presence of photosynthetic matter. The European Space Agency (ESA) is interested in this discovery and plans to send a probe to Mars in 2003.

New Module for the ISS

Russia has launched a new module for the International Space Station (ISS). The module, named Pirs, was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and is intended as a docking section for Russian cosmonauts during space expeditions. It will also carry supplies and scientific equipment for French cosmonaut Claudie Haignere, who is scheduled to travel to the ISS with Russian cosmonauts Viktor Afanasiev and Konstantin Kozejev.

Why a UFO Association?

An article by Mats Nilsson discusses the long history of UFO sightings, tracing them from biblical interpretations as omens to modern 'flying saucer' reports. He highlights the evolution of explanations for these phenomena, from 'ghost flyers' and 'ghost rockets' in the 20th century to Kenneth Arnold's famous 'flying saucers'. The article notes that in Sweden, before the term 'UFO' became common, sightings were often reported to the military, airports, police, and newspapers. UFO-Sverige was founded in Motala in 1970. Nilsson emphasizes the need for a unified organization to address UFO phenomena seriously and combat the stigma associated with 'saucer watchers'. He states that a functioning organization exists, but public awareness of UFO-Sverige is still limited.

Pyramids Outside Cuba

Researchers using sonar equipment believe they have identified a seventh city outside Cuba's coast, located on a plateau 700-800 meters below the surface. The sonar images reveal what appear to be pyramids, roads, and buildings. An engineer named Paulina Zelitsky described the discovery as exciting, noting that they are the first to see the seabed around Cuba at such depths. The team suspects that the formations are not natural due to their planned and symmetrical architecture. Further investigations are planned in collaboration with the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Geographic Society.

News from Hessdalen

Jörgen Granlie reports on the ongoing research in Hessdalen, Norway, a valley known for numerous UFO observations since the early 1980s. The Project Hessdalen, initiated in 1983 through collaboration between UFO-Sverige, UFO-Norge, and the Association for Psychobiofysics, aimed to study these phenomena. Field investigations were conducted in 1984 and 1985 using advanced instruments. In 1993, a new project, Project Hessdalen, was launched, involving researchers from eight countries, including plasma physicist Professor Boris Smirnov and astrophysicist Dr. Massimo Teodorani. An automatic monitoring station was developed, starting in 1994 and becoming operational in August 1998. The station uses a black-and-white camera and a computer to analyze images, triggering a video recorder and sending an alarm image to the internet if a light phenomenon is detected. However, the system has weaknesses, including a slow response time for the video recorder and an inability to detect faint or small light phenomena. The project has registered 264 'interesting images,' with 79 unexplained (UFOs) and 69 identified as known phenomena like aircraft. A particularly interesting recording from December 4, 1999, captured a luminous phenomenon that varied in intensity and movement, with a smaller light merging into it.

Italian researchers from the Institute for Radioastronomy (IRA) have visited the Hessdalen monitoring station. Dr. Stelio Montebugnoli, head of CNR-IRA, was introduced to the project by Dr. Massimo Teodorani. An agreement was signed in late 1999, allowing Italian researchers to bring specialized equipment to Hessdalen in the summer of 2000. They measured electromagnetic radiation and detected a phenomenon with a Doppler measurement indicating a speed of 100,000 km/sec, one-third the speed of light. The Holtålen municipality plans to establish a 'Norsk UFO-Senter' (Norwegian UFO Center) as an experience center and tourist attraction, with an estimated cost of 6 million kronor.

The Hessdalen project is currently facing financial difficulties, impacting its expansion and completion. The Høgskolen i Østfold has been the primary funder, but economic constraints have led to reduced contributions. The latest expansion of the station cost 250,000 kronor.

Club Activities

The magazine includes a section on the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening's activities. It mentions a Christmas party to be held at Ulunda on December 15, 2001, featuring traditional Christmas food and a Lucia celebration. Members are encouraged to bring a cheerful mood and a gift for an auction.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, scientific investigations into potential extraterrestrial life, and the activities of local UFO organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, aiming to provide members with information and foster a community for discussion and research. There is an emphasis on scientific methodology and collaboration, as seen in the Hessdalen project's international partnerships. The magazine also highlights the importance of community engagement through events like the Christmas party.