UFO Mail - No 122 - 2010

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: 122
Date: October 15, 2010
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into several intriguing topics, primarily focusing on debunking sensationalist claims and providing rational explanations for reported phenomena. The cover story addresses the widespread news that the UN would appoint an official representative for potential alien contact, a story that was later revealed to be a hoax. The magazine also explores the discovery of a new exoplanet, Gliese 581g, and examines several photographic and video submissions from readers, analyzing them for potential UFO sightings.

ET - Ring til FN ... eller?

The lead article, "ET - Ring til FN ... eller?" by Ole Henningsen, tackles the sensational news that broke in late September 2010. The story, originating from The Sunday Times, suggested that if an alien landed, humanity should contact the UN, which would appoint a representative. This role was reportedly to be filled by Mazlan Othman, a Malaysian astrophysicist and head of the UN's Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The article notes that the UN Outer Space Treaty from 1967 outlined how to handle extraterrestrial visitors, including a sterilization protocol. However, the story was quickly debunked. Mazlan Othman herself denied the report in an email to The Guardian, stating, "It sounds really cool, but I have to deny it." She confirmed she was scheduled to speak at The Royal Society, but her topic was "near-Earth objects," not alien contact. Danish media outlets like metroXpress and jp.dk also covered the initial story, citing the same British source, before reporting the retraction. The article highlights how this story, despite being a hoax, generated significant public interest, with politiken.dk noting it created around 100,000 Google hits.

Ny spændende exo-planet opdaget

Another significant piece discusses the discovery of a new exoplanet, Gliese 581g. Researchers R. Paul Butler and Steven S. Vogt from the University of California, Santa Cruz, announced the finding of an Earth-like planet orbiting the star Gliese 581a. The planet was described as being in a perfect position relative to its star to potentially support life. It was noted that Gliese 581g is slightly larger than Earth and has a short orbital period of 37 days. Scientists estimated its temperature to be around 10-12 degrees Celsius, though it could reach 70 degrees on the side facing the star. The discovery was presented at a press conference in Washington on September 29, 2010. However, the article immediately introduces doubt about this discovery, mentioning a Swiss research team that could not find the planet, indicating a scientific dispute. Further details on this scientific debate are linked.

Ufoerne gik efter atomanlæg

This section reports on a separate UFO-related story that emerged concurrently with the UN contact hoax. A group of retired men from the U.S. Air Force held a press conference claiming that UFOs frequently hovered over U.S. nuclear facilities during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. One of these individuals claimed to have disarmed several nuclear warheads. Politiken.dk reported this story, referencing CNN's coverage.

Mystiske fotos med naturlig forklaring

This section, authored by Ole Henningsen, focuses on analyzing photographic evidence submitted to SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information). The primary case involves a photograph from Sejerøbugten, Denmark, initially submitted with limited information. A reader, H. O. Axelsen, inquired about a possible explanation for a strange object in the photo. The image was taken by a female observer who intended to photograph the planet Venus. Initially, the date was recorded as April 21, 2010, but later corrected to April 16, 2010. SUFOI's photo department analyzed the image, and correspondence suggested it might be the Moon. However, a check with a planetarium program confirmed Venus was visible, but the Moon was not at the initially stated time. Further investigation using the photo's metadata revealed it was taken on April 16 at 21:23 with a 1-second exposure. A revised check showed both Venus and the Moon were visible close together in the western sky at that time. The article includes screenshots from the "Starry Night" planetarium software and zoomed-in views of the photograph. The analysis concluded that the "strange object" was not a single entity but multiple images of the Moon captured due to the long exposure time and camera movement during the photograph of Venus. The article emphasizes that the movement of the camera created the effect of multiple images of the Moon, similar to how trees in the background also appeared blurred.

Lys på himlen under biltur i USA

Another photographic case involves a light observed in the sky during a car trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The photographer, a young man, submitted the photo taken in September, asking for an explanation. SUFOI's photo consultant, Hans Bødker, examined the image. The photo showed bare feet in the foreground and a steering wheel, indicating it was taken inside a car. Bødker used a new image processing program to enhance details. The photo's metadata indicated it was taken at 20:19 (likely Danish time, which would be 11:19 in California). The sun was high and to the front-right, illuminating the mountains. Bødker concluded that the bright light above the mountains was a reflection in the car's left side window, possibly from a round object on the dashboard, such as a ventilation outlet. The photographer was satisfied with this explanation.

Silkeborg 28. august 2010

This section details a sighting reported by a woman in Gødvad, near Silkeborg, Denmark. On August 28, 2010, around 6:20 AM, she observed a white object moving swiftly and silently from southwest to southeast. She described it as moving horizontally and noted the absence of sound, which she found unusual for an aircraft. She managed to take a photo with her mobile phone. SUFOI's photo department, with input from Hans Bødker, who has a background as a pilot and air traffic controller, concluded that the object was a high-altitude aircraft illuminated by the rising sun. They noted that the flight path from North America to Copenhagen often passes north of Esbjerg, and such flights depart North America in the late afternoon, arriving in Copenhagen in the early morning. The article includes the original photo and zoomed-in views, along with a discussion of contrails and the effect of sunlight on high-altitude planes. The explanation is that the object was a high-flying plane, possibly glinting in the sun, and the lack of sound was due to its distance. The absence of contrails was attributed to dry north winds at high altitudes.

Mørk streg på himlen 9. juli 2010

This case involves a video recording made by a young woman from Als, Denmark, on July 9, 2010, around 5 PM. She observed a dark, thick, and somewhat dissolved line in the sky moving from southwest to southeast. She described it as almost black and dissolving upwards into the sky, unlike the white contrails left by airplanes. She recorded the phenomenon with a micro video camera, but the footage was blurry. She noted that the sky was mostly clear with only a few distant clouds. SUFOI's photo department analyzed the video, which was provided on a CD. After examining the footage and geographically pinpointing the location, they concluded that the phenomenon was a high-altitude contrail casting a shadow on a lower layer of smog or haze. They explained that the contrail could have been quite distant, leading the observer to associate the dark shadow with something else. The article includes screenshots from the video, with adjusted contrast and brightness to highlight the dark line, and explains that the contrail's appearance was dependent on the car's movement and the road's turns.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of UFO phenomena and the importance of rational explanations. The magazine consistently prioritizes scientific analysis and evidence-based conclusions over sensationalism. The editorial stance is clearly one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, emphasizing the role of photo analysis and expert consultation in debunking mysteries. The magazine aims to educate its readers by providing plausible explanations for sightings, whether they are astronomical phenomena, reflections, or conventional aircraft. The debunking of the UN alien contact story and the detailed analysis of photographic evidence underscore this approach. The publication also keeps readers informed about astronomical discoveries, such as exoplanets, but maintains a cautious perspective, especially when scientific consensus is not yet established.

This issue of Videnskab.dk, dated approximately October 7, 2010, focuses on Danish astronomy and related phenomena. It includes a detailed review of the book "Dansk astronomi i kikkerten" (Danish Astronomy in the Telescope), discussions on contrails, and information on submitting UFO observations.

Article: Contrail Observation and YouTube

The first section presents an illustration explaining how sunlight creates a shadow from a contrail (condensation trail from a high-flying aircraft) on a thin layer of smog or haze. A specific observation from a video sequence at 14:55 is described, noting a distinct contrail in the western direction. It is suggested that this contrail might be the cause of a phenomenon observed. A link to a YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhyUf-JXEOE) is provided, where the observer has uploaded a clip showing a faint dark marking on the sky. The marking is described as extending from the top of the frame diagonally down towards the ground and appears twice due to a bend in the road.

Article: Videnskab.dk on Contrails

An article from Videnskab.dk dated October 7, 2010, by Thomas Hoffmann, is referenced. This article addresses reader questions about why contrails are becoming longer and if they pose a danger to people on the ground. The article also touches upon a conspiracy theory related to 'Chemtrails'.

Book Review: "Dansk astronomi i kikkerten"

This section is a glowing review of the book "Dansk astronomi i kikkerten," published by Forlaget Epsilon.dk as part of the International Astronomy Year 2009. The book is edited by Lone Bruun and coordinated by astrophysicist and lecturer Kristian Pedersen. It features contributions from approximately one hundred Danish scientists who are actively involved in astronomy. The book is divided into 14 chapters, offering readers a journey through various aspects of astronomy, from historical observations by Galileo to current research using advanced technology to study gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and cosmic background radiation. It also covers the discovery of exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life, along with a detailed examination of the Solar System.

Three chapters are dedicated to Denmark's role in Mars exploration. The review highlights a chapter by geophysicist Henning Haack about meteorites, specifically mentioning the discovery of a significant Danish meteorite that fell near Maribo on January 17, 2009. This meteorite, weighing 25.8 grams, is described as being composed of dust and particles from the Solar System's origin, predating Earth's formation.

The book is recommended for anyone interested in astronomy, including amateur astronomers and students at the high school level. It is distributed free of charge to physics and astronomy teachers in Danish high schools, supported by the Ministry of Education's lottery funds.

Pro-Dean for Research John Mundy of the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen praises the book's level, scope, and illustrations, believing it will appeal to a wide audience from middle school students to academics. Sybille Hildebrandt from Videnskab.dk affirms Denmark's leading position in astronomy, with the book providing insights into the research conducted by Danish scientists. Amateur astronomer Henrik Rosenørn from Astronomibladet gives the book a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars, commending the authors and editors.

The review emphasizes that the book's chapters can be studied independently and serve as appetizers for further exploration of the subjects. Readers are encouraged to read the book to appreciate the remarkable talent and expertise of Danish astronomers.

Book Details

• The book "Dansk astronomi i kikkerten" has the following details:
• Authors: Allan Hornstrup, Anja C. Andersen, Christina Holstein-Rathlou, Gro Birkefeldt Møller Pedersen, Hans E. Jørgensen, Hans Kjeldsen, Hans Ulrik Nørgaard-Nielsen, Haraldur Páll Gunnlaugsson, Helge Kragh, Henning Haack, Ib Lundgaard Rasmussen, Jens Hjorth, Johan P.U. Fynbo, Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, Kristian Pedersen, Morten Bo Madsen, Niels Lund, Richard M. West, Signe Riemer-Sørensen, Søren Larsen.
• Editors: Lone Bruun & Kristian Pedersen.
• ISBN: 978-87-993384-0-5.
• Pages: 144.
• Publisher: Forlaget Epsilon.dk.
• Price: 245 kr.

The cover image is described as an impressive photo taken from a plane during the total solar eclipse in polar regions on August 1, 2008, by Ole J. Knudsen, a long-time SUFOI employee and planetarium leader.

To Our Readers

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Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue demonstrates Videnskab.dk's commitment to communicating scientific research to the public. The editorial stance is one of promoting scientific literacy and encouraging public engagement with astronomy and related phenomena. The discussion of contrails and the reference to the 'Chemtrails' conspiracy theory indicate an interest in addressing popular science topics and debunking misinformation through scientific evidence. The book review strongly supports and promotes Danish scientific achievements in astronomy.