UFO Mail - No 009 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: 9
Volume: 8 (implied from context of UFO-mail nr. 8)
Date: 16. september 2002
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into a variety of topics, ranging from unexplained aerial phenomena and military exercises to space debris and historical controversies surrounding the moon landings.

Mystik i græsplænen stadig uopklaret (Mystery in the lawn still unsolved)

The lead story details a mysterious circular formation that appeared in the lawn of a couple in Ballerup, Denmark, on a Saturday afternoon in August. The formation, described as a sharp, distinct ring 3.60 meters in diameter with a 5 cm wide band where the grass had died, was first reported in UFO-mail nr. 8. The local newspaper, Ballerup Bladet, published a photo of the phenomenon on September 10th, seeking comments or solutions from readers. Skandinavisk UFO Information has contacted various institutions about the marking but has yet to find a definitive explanation. The couple still wonders about a natural explanation for the circle in their secluded garden. The publication appeals to its readers for any information or potential solutions.

Øvelsen DANEX 2002 (The DANEX 2002 Exercise)

This section reports on the DANEX 2002 exercise, a large-scale naval and air force drill taking place from September 9th to 20th in Danish waters and the Baltic Sea. The exercise involves ships from Denmark, Germany, and Norway, and aircraft from Denmark, Germany, France, and the USA. The Danish Air Force is participating with F-16 and T-17 aircraft, and American and French maritime surveillance aircraft are also operating from Danish air bases. The exercise includes airspace control and air defense monitoring. More information is available on the website www.sok.dk/danex02.

Lufttankning over Midtjylland (Air refueling over Midtjylland)

On September 11th, Danish F-16 fighter jets conducted air refueling exercises over the Midtjylland region, practicing with an American tanker aircraft that flew in from its base in England. Air refueling is a crucial part of modern fighter pilot training, essential for maintaining proficiency, especially for long-duration missions like those seen during the Kosovo conflict in 1999, which could last 6 to 8 hours. Even with auxiliary fuel tanks, most fighter jets cannot sustain such flight times without refueling. The article notes that while these air refueling operations can appear spectacular from below, they did not lead to any UFO-related reports to Skandinavisk UFO Information.

Seneste rapporter (Latest reports)

This section highlights recent UFO reports submitted to Skandinavisk UFO Information, starting from early September. The latest reported sighting is from Virum, Nordsjælland, on August 11th, 2002. The witness described observing a black, "thing" that was not a bird due to the lack of wingbeats. It moved slowly from right to left at about 30 degrees above the horizon. The object's size was initially comparable to a coin held at arm's length. Its shape was described as somewhat pear-shaped with the thick end upwards, but it changed form, sometimes resembling a banana, suggesting rotation. The witness's wife also observed the object and its shape changes. After about 11.5 minutes, the object appeared to stop, or more likely change direction, as its size diminished until it was no longer visible. The height and distance were difficult to ascertain, but it remained below a thin cloud layer. The publication again encourages anyone who has witnessed mysterious aerial phenomena to report it using their observation form.

Ny måne er en raket (New moon is a rocket)

An object discovered orbiting Earth, initially thought to be a new moon, has been identified as likely a spent rocket stage from the era of moon missions. Astrophysicist Michael Linden-Vørnle of the Tycho Brahe Planetarium website discusses this finding. The object, designated J002E3, was discovered by American amateur astronomer Bill Yeung on September 3rd, 2002. It orbits Earth with a period of 50 days. Researchers at NASA have concluded that J002E3 is most likely the third stage of the Saturn V rocket that launched Apollo 12 to the Moon in November 1969. The rocket stage has been in orbit around the Sun since its launch but was captured by Earth's gravity in April of the current year. Its orbit is not a perfect circle, and there is a 20% chance it could collide with the Moon in 2003, and a 3% risk of collision with Earth within the next ten years. Such a collision with Earth would be harmless as the stage would burn up in the atmosphere.

Astronaut med slagkraftige argumenter (Astronaut with hard-hitting arguments)

This article recounts an incident on the evening of September 10th, 2002, where former Apollo astronaut Ewin "Buzz" Aldrin reportedly assaulted filmmaker Bart Sibrel outside a hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Aldrin, who landed on the Moon with Neil Armstrong on July 20th, 1969, allegedly struck Sibrel with a powerful uppercut. Bart Sibrel, accompanied by a Japanese TV crew, had confronted Aldrin, demanding he swear on the Bible that he had indeed walked on the Moon. Aldrin refused and reacted physically when Sibrel continued with accusations and insults. Sibrel is a staunch believer that the USA faked the moon landings to win the space race against the Soviet Union. He claims to have found film evidence from NASA supporting his theory of moon landing fraud. The article directs readers to Michael Linden-Vørnle's article "Månen tur-retur" (The Moon round trip) on the SUFOI website for more on these claims and mentions a video titled "What happened on the Moon?" that allegedly presents evidence of the moon landing hoax.

Send ufo-mail til familie, venner og bekendte! (Send ufo-mail to family, friends, and acquaintances!)

This final section is a call to action, encouraging readers to forward the "ufo-mail" to their contacts. It highlights that by doing so, their friends and family can also receive free and non-binding updates on Danish and foreign UFO observations, photographs, atmospheric phenomena, and special offers on UFO-related materials.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and related evidence like crop circles. It also covers military aviation and space exploration, often with a critical or investigative lens, as seen in the discussion of the moon landing hoax theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and investigation into mysterious events, while also providing factual reporting on military and space news. There's a clear interest in debunking or examining claims, as evidenced by the detailed reporting on J002E3 and the moon landing controversy.