UFO Mail - No 079 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: nr. 79
Date: December 20, 2006
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, including a notable sighting by actor Lars Bom, the activities of Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang in space, and a video-recorded object near Silkeborg.

Dagens Danmark: Lars Bom's UFO Experience

The main feature discusses actor Lars Bom's appearance on the TV program 'Dagens Danmark' on November 6, 2006. Bom recounted a UFO experience from his youth in the summer of 1978 on the island of Menorca. He described seeing a glowing, golden sphere ('guldkugle') moving slowly along the coast, approximately 200 meters offshore and about 20 meters above the water. He estimated its size to be comparable to a medium to large beach ball and its speed to be around 7-8 km/h. The object moved from west to east and was followed by Bom and about 20-30 other people until it disappeared around a rocky point. The TV program included commentary from Ole Henningsen of SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information).

Vibeke Hartkorn, the host of 'Dagens Danmark', initially asked Bom about his general stance on the unexplained. Bom typically approaches mysterious phenomena with skepticism, always seeking a rational explanation.

Ole Henningsen, from SUFOI, had previously encountered Lars Bom's statements in the press and sought to investigate the details. He speculated that Bom's experience might be connected to similar sightings reported by Danish tourists in Spain during the 1970s. Henningsen presented images in the TV studio, one of which, taken on June 22, 1976, over the Canary Islands, depicted a phenomenon attributed to the launch of a Poseidon rocket from an American submarine. Lars Bom noted that while the image bore some resemblance, it lacked a transverse light streak.

Henningsen also mentioned another observation from Mallorca, supported by photographs from Danish tourists, but concluded that it could not be chronologically linked to Bom's Menorca sighting. He added that official data regarding rocket launches from submarines or land in the area did not correspond to the time of Bom's observation, thus, by definition, Bom had still seen a UFO.

The program 'Dagens Danmark' aired its final episode on December 14, 2006. Links to the UFO segment and a previous article detailing Lars Bom's 1978 observation are provided.

Christer Fuglesang in Space

The magazine also covers the space mission of Swedish ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, who debuted in space aboard the American space shuttle Discovery, heading to the International Space Station (ISS). During the mission, Fuglesang displayed a sign with a personal greeting to Sweden and Norway, though Denmark was notably absent from the message, likely due to his father being Norwegian.

Fuglesang had already performed three spacewalks to install solar panels for power supply and to contribute to the expansion of the ISS with new modules. At the time of publication, Discovery's mission was expected to conclude, with Fuglesang returning to Earth. The planned landing in the USA was scheduled for December 22nd. The article notes that it would not be possible to see Discovery and Fuglesang at the space station from Denmark.

"Christmas Stars" and the ISS in the Sky

Another section, authored by Ole Henningsen, discusses celestial phenomena visible during the Christmas season. The planet Venus often appears as a "Christmas Star" but was not visible due to its proximity to the Sun. The planets Mars and Jupiter were noted as being clearly visible in the morning sky.

Jupiter was expected to rise in the southeast around 06:45, followed by Mars about half an hour later. For those less inclined to wake up early, the International Space Station (ISS) offered another spectacle in the evening sky.

The ISS orbits Earth at an altitude varying between 326 and 357 kilometers, traveling at speeds exceeding 27,000 km/h, completing an orbit in about 1.5 hours. Future plans for the ISS include a width of 43 meters, a height 10 meters greater than the Round Tower, and a length of 88 meters, comparable to a football field. Its wingspan, including solar panels, would be 108 meters, with a total weight of 450 tons.

Starting December 21st, the ISS would be visible for a few minutes each evening, low in the southern sky from Denmark. A detailed timetable for observing the ISS from December 21st to January 3rd is provided, including dates, start and end times, maximum altitude, and direction (Retn.).

Video-Filmed Object near Silkeborg

Ole Henningsen also reports on a peculiar incident near Silkeborg. A young man contacted SUFOI after filming an unusual object on video. The man inquired if SUFOI investigated such events, including checking with the air force.

SUFOI expressed willingness to examine photographic evidence, leveraging volunteer expertise. The decision to contact authorities like the air force depends on the relevance to the specific case. They requested further details to document the event for their archives.

The observer described seeing a relatively large fireball moving directly towards his office window on Friday, July 28, 2006, between 22:00 and 22:15. After filming it with his video camera, the object flew over his house, and he continued filming it from the front door. He described the object as resembling a "flying telephone box with fire in its rear," lacking any visible control surfaces or similar features. The object was estimated to be a few kilometers high and flew at a steady pace across the sky, eventually disappearing into the clouds over Herning. The sky was clear with only a few clouds on the horizon, and no sound was heard. The video footage lasted 1.5 minutes.

Subsequent inquiries confirmed that no aircraft were in the area, and the Danish Air Force Command in Karup stated that the filmed object had no relation to aircraft.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue highlights the ongoing interest in UFO phenomena, from personal sightings to official space missions and astronomical observations. The magazine, published by Danmarks UFO Forening, maintains a stance of investigating and documenting these events, while also providing context and potential explanations, as seen in the analysis of Lars Bom's sighting and the comparison with known aerial phenomena. The inclusion of information on the ISS and visible planets suggests a broader interest in aerospace and astronomy within the UFO community. The editorial approach appears to be one of thoroughness, seeking details and corroboration while remaining open to the possibility of unexplained phenomena.

This issue of SUFOI's UFO mail, dated 2006, focuses on photographic and video analysis of alleged UFO sightings, alongside a collection of eyewitness reports. The publication, originating from Denmark and published by SUFOI, aims to document and investigate unexplained aerial phenomena.

Analysis of Video Footage

The issue begins with an analysis of a video recording that captured an object in flight. The accompanying photos are single frames from this video, noted as being short and shaky due to being hand-held. The video camera's autofocus attempts to keep the object sharp, resulting in only a few clear frames. The object is described as high, upright, angular, and dark, with a small luminous part at the bottom. SUFOI's preliminary conclusion is that the object is a hot air balloon, likely a small, unmanned toy balloon with a light for lift. They mention that such balloons have been observed and reported numerous times over the years, with recent occurrences in the Allerød area. The specific case from Virklund might have involved a large, dark plastic bag with a cross-shaped frame underneath, possibly holding a heat source like twisted cotton soaked in flammable liquid. This would explain the visible flame. SUFOI estimates the balloon was launched relatively close to the observer's home and suggests local newspapers might have reported similar sightings. However, they have not received other coinciding reports for this specific video case.

Selected Eyewitness Reports

The majority of the issue is dedicated to presenting selected eyewitness accounts, both older and more recent, received by SUFOI via their report forms. These accounts offer diverse descriptions of aerial phenomena:

6933 Kibæk (January or February 1978 or 1979)

A witness, recalling their childhood, describes an incident during winter with snow. While sledding with a friend, their dog became agitated. Looking up, they saw a large, round, luminous spot, approximately 6-8 meters in diameter, on the snow on the other side of a road. The light was intense, like a powerful flashlight, but without a visible source or beam. The phenomenon lasted only 3-4 minutes before disappearing instantly. The witness, then 8 or 9 years old, was very frightened, and the experience left a lasting impression, making them fearful of cycling past the area at night for years. The witness and their parents later investigated the site but found no traces in the snow.

8766 Nørre Snede (December 27, 1995)

Five friends were meeting for a pre-party drink when one of them noticed a strange object in the sky. Described as a silver, oval-shaped object, it was dark but reflected ambient light. It was silent and not identifiable as an aircraft. After observing it for about 5 minutes, they continued walking, only to notice the object moving in the same direction. They stopped again, and the object also stopped. The witness estimates its distance to be between 200-800 meters. Feeling uneasy, they hurried away. Later, the object was gone. They recounted the story to their friends, and the experience remains vivid.

2800 Lyngby (August 4, 1996)

An observer, interested in aviation, was alerted by the sound of a plane. While looking up, they saw a metallic, sphere-shaped object almost directly overhead, appearing lower than a turbo-prop plane (likely an F50). Both the plane and the UFO changed heading, with the UFO turning north-northwest. Their paths crossed at approximately a 90-degree angle. The UFO then accelerated rapidly, appearing to move with a changing speed or 'dolphin-like' flight pattern. The entire event lasted about 15-20 seconds. The observer could not find a natural explanation.

6990 Gørding (December 1997)

While driving on a country road, the witness and their sister noticed an object hovering silently over fields. It was described as large, horizontally oriented, triangular, black, with white lights at each corner and a reddish light in the center. After a few minutes, it moved left at high speed and disappeared. The witness later recognized the object from a TV program, confirming their sighting.

6500 Vojens (September 29, 2006)

On the way to work in the early morning, the witness saw a sharp light approaching from behind, initially mistaking it for a truck. However, there was no sound, and no truck was visible. The witness then saw an orangey-red, round object flying from their right, passing overhead, and disappearing towards the northeast. The object was described as having a faint outline and an orangey-red center, approximately 1/4 of its diameter. The movement was unnatural and extremely fast, making it unlike a shooting star, satellite, or conventional aircraft. The witness speculated it was either very large and flying low, or flying silently without a combustion engine.

5000 Odense C (December 9, 2006)

While observing what they initially thought was a shooting star, the witness realized the object was large, dimly lit, with a reddish-orange area in the center, and moving unnaturally fast. It made a sharp, unnatural turn at a 90-degree angle to its previous path and disappeared. The witness compared its movement to light cones but noted this object was faint and lacked a visible beam or trail. They concluded it was not an aircraft due to its speed and maneuverability.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of photographic and video evidence of UAP, the diversity of eyewitness accounts, and SUFOI's role in documenting and investigating these phenomena. While SUFOI offers explanations for some sightings, particularly those that can be attributed to conventional objects like balloons, they also present unexplained cases, suggesting a continued interest in the unknown. The publication encourages readers to share their own observations and promotes the sharing of the UFO mail with others. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, balancing skepticism with a willingness to explore unexplained aerial events.