UFO Mail - No 005 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 5
Date: 9. juli 2002
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on a significant astronomical discovery and ongoing UFO-related research and resources.

New Planetary System Found

The lead article announces the discovery of a new planetary system that closely resembles our own solar system. After 15 years of observations, a team of leading planet hunters has identified a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star, 55 Cancri, at a distance comparable to Jupiter's orbit around our Sun. This is a notable finding, as most previously discovered exoplanets orbit much closer to their stars and often in highly elliptical paths.

Dr. Geoffrey Marcy, a professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, and astronomer Dr. Paul Butler from the Carnegie Institution of Washington, led the discovery. Marcy highlights that this new planet's orbit is at a similar distance to Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, contrasting with other discovered planets that orbit much closer to their stars in elongated paths. The team is financed by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

It was known since 1996 that the star 55 Cancri, located in the constellation Cancer, hosted at least one planet. This previously known planet is a massive gas giant with a mass slightly less than Jupiter's and an orbital period of 14.6 days, orbiting at a distance of only one-tenth of the Earth-Sun distance. The newly discovered planet is one of three planets orbiting 55 Cancri, which is located 41 light-years from Earth and is approximately five billion years old.

The new solar system consists of three planets. The newly discovered planet orbits 55 Cancri at a distance of 5.5 Astronomical Units (AE), placing it close to Jupiter's orbit in our solar system. The other two planets are also comparable in size to Jupiter or Saturn but have orbits closer to the star, with one at 14.4 million km and the other at 36.8 million km.

An Astronomical Unit (AE) is defined as the distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 149.6 million km. The newly discovered planet orbits at 5.5 AE, while the distance from our Sun to Jupiter is 5.2 AE (about 824 million km). The new planet takes approximately 13 years to complete an orbit (compared to Jupiter's 11.86 years), and its mass is about 3.5 times that of Jupiter.

Dr. Butler notes that while no planet has yet been found that perfectly matches an Earth-like planet in our solar system (with a near-circular orbit and a mass close to Earth's), this discovery brings them closer. He believes they will find more such planets among the 1,200 stars they are currently investigating.

Dr. Greg Laughlin, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has analyzed the data. His calculations suggest that a planet the size of Earth could potentially survive in a stable orbit between two gas giants. However, the existence of such a planet near 55 Cancri remains speculative for now.

Dr. Charles Beichman from NASA's Origins Program emphasizes the necessity of missions capable of finding Earth-sized planets, such as the Space Interferometry Mission and the Terrestrial Planet Finder.

Dr. Debra A. Fischer believes this planetary system is the best candidate for direct photography once the Terrestrial Planet Finder is launched later this decade.

As of this report, Marcy, Butler, Fischer, and their team have discovered a total of 13 new planets. This includes the smallest planet ever found in an extrasolar system: a planet orbiting the star HD49674 in the constellation Auriga, at a distance of 0.05 AE. Its mass is about 15% of Jupiter's and 40 times that of Earth. The total number of known planets outside our solar system now exceeds 90.

Source: NASA News, June 13, 2002.

Travel Tip: Norsk UFO-senter in Hessdalen, Norway

The magazine includes a travel tip for those visiting Sør-Trøndelag, Norway, recommending a visit to the "Norsk ufo-senter" (Norwegian UFO Center) in Ålen, Holtålen Kommune. The center opened its first exhibition on June 27th, focusing on the light phenomena in Hessdalen.

Since 1981, Hessdalen has been the site of numerous interesting observations of light phenomena that have garnered international scientific attention. Project Hessdalen, led by Erling Strand, has established an advanced monitoring station there that records all light phenomena in the area around the clock. The project's work and video recordings can be followed online at http://hessdalen.hiof.no/.

Contact information for the Norsk ufo-senter is provided: Eva Nordfjell at tel. 72 41 76 54, email: [email protected], and websites www.holtalen.com/norskufosenter.htm or www.nufos.no.

UFO Books Online

This section provides resources for reading classic UFO books online for free, as paper editions are long out of print. It suggests checking www.powells.com for antiquarian copies.

Two specific books are highlighted with links:

• UFOLOGY: New Insights from Science and Common Sense (1973) by James M. McCampbell. Link: www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk/ufology.htm
• The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (1956) by Edward J. Ruppelt. Link: www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk/Rufo.htm

Another book mentioned is Flying Saucers Are Real (1950) by Donald E. Keyhoe, with a link to www.nicap.dabsol.co.uk/fsar-chapters.htm.

Subscription Offer for UFO-Nyt

The final pages contain a promotional offer for UFO-Nyt, a publication from Danmarks UFO Forening. Subscribers can receive UFO-Nyt issue 4, 2001, by filling out a coupon. A special introductory offer for new members provides a subscription for all four issues in 2002 for 197.00 DKK, down from the normal price of 257.00 DKK. This offer is valid until August 15, 2002.

Readers are also encouraged to forward the UFO-mail to friends and family to share information about new observations, photographs, atmospheric phenomena, and special offers on UFO materials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers astronomical discoveries related to potential extraterrestrial life and planetary systems, alongside reports on UFO sightings and phenomena, particularly those with a scientific or investigative angle, such as the Hessdalen light phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting awareness and investigation into UFOs and related topics, providing resources for further learning (books, websites) and encouraging reader engagement through subscriptions and sharing information.