UFO Mail - No 153 - 2012

Magazine Overview

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information (UFO-Mail nr. 153), dated December 14, 2012, focuses heavily on the book "Hercolubus eller Røde Planet" and its doomsday prophecies, set against the backdrop of the approaching end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012.

Hercolubus! Hvornår kommer den?

The main article, written by Thomas B. Jørgensen, revisits the book "Hercolubus eller Røde Planet," which gained significant attention in Denmark around the year 2000 through widespread advertising. Jørgensen admits that he initially dismissed the book due to its simplistic presentation but developed a deeper interest after becoming more involved in ufology and the study of 'contactees.' He notes the book's global reach, translated into over 40 languages and recognized in Colombia as a cultural work.

The book's narrative, attributed to V.M. Rabolú (1926-2000), a Colombian Indian, describes a prophecy of Earth's imminent destruction by a giant planet named Hercolubus, which is 5-6 times larger than Jupiter and on a collision course with Earth. Rabolú claims to have received this prophecy during a period of illness. The book was published by Johann Conrad Volkenborn, who acquired the rights from Rabolú. In Denmark, it was published by Prudentia, a controversial publisher known for other works, including one supported by politicians.

Jørgensen critically analyzes the book's content, describing it as a "nostalgic jumble" heavily inspired by naive contactee stories from the 1950s and 60s. He finds the book's substance lacking by both scientific and occult standards, despite its claims of hidden knowledge. He points out that the book's core message is not entirely new and that it can be easily ridiculed, citing a past review in Ekstra-Bladet. Jørgensen aims to provide a deeper analysis by exploring the occult ideas and popular culture trends that influenced the book.

The Content and Message of Hercolubus

The book posits that as Hercolubus approaches Earth, it will cause incurable diseases, leading to cannibalism among survivors. It also predicts massive natural disasters and the emergence of radioactive sea monsters. According to Rabolú, scientists are aware of Hercolubus but deny its existence due to humanity's spiritual and moral depravity. Hercolubus is heading towards Earth because humanity is on the verge of spreading its 'perversities' to other planets, which are inhabited by evolved beings.

Rabolú claims to have visited Venus and Mars astrally, describing their societies as utopian, free from pollution and violence. He also details the concept of "scientific chastity" practiced by these beings, emphasizing reproduction as the sole purpose of sex and condemning homosexuality as a "sexual abomination." He describes the inhabitants of Mars as "warriors" who are in constant battle against "evil."

The book also mentions a fleet of intergalactic spaceships orbiting Earth, ready to assist those who follow Rabolú's instructions for salvation. This salvation involves freeing the "divine spark" within by invoking the "Divine Mother" to purify the body, mind, heart, and sexual organs, leading to scientific chastity. Another method of salvation is astral body liberation through reciting specific mantras: LA RA S and FA RA ON.

Jørgensen highlights parallels between "Hercolubus" and earlier occult doctrines and doomsday prophecies, particularly referencing the "contactee" movement of the 1950s and 60s, which often involved claims of travel to Venus and Mars. He notes that "Hercolubus" reflects a certain nostalgia for this era, as more contemporary contactees had moved away from such claims.

He also criticizes the book's portrayal of science as inherently destructive and driven by ego and a lust for power. Rabolú's statements are described as particularly harsh, suggesting a deep animosity towards scientists. The article points out Rabolú's apparent misconceptions about science, bordering on hatred, as seen in quotes about Hercolubus possessing weapons and scientists being ignorant of its power.

Despite its harsh critique of science, the book incorporates pseudo-scientific claims, such as attributing the El Niño phenomenon to nuclear testing on the seabed, which supposedly created monsters that will emerge from the ocean. Jørgensen notes the blend of "science" with retro sci-fi elements.

The concept of hidden planets and doomsday prophecies is traced back to historical myths and speculations, including hypothetical planets like "Eros," "Vulcan," and "D.Q.," and the persistent idea of "Planet X."

Hercolubus in a Contemporary Context

The article connects the book's release in 1998 to the prevailing "Y2K" and millennium anxieties. It notes the coincidence of two major Hollywood disaster films, "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon," released in the same year, both dealing with celestial bodies threatening Earth. The author suggests that the widespread discussion of "Planet X" and "Nibiru" on popular radio shows like "Coast 2 Coast AM" in the mid-to-late 90s, and the fascination with the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997, contributed to the public's receptiveness to such doomsday narratives.

Furthermore, the article draws a striking parallel between "Hercolubus" and the Heaven's Gate cult, which committed mass suicide in 1997 believing their souls would be transported by a spacecraft accompanying the Hale-Bopp comet. Both the book and the cult emphasize sexual abstinence, chastity, and the liberation of the astral body. The article speculates whether V.M. Rabolú might have been indirectly inspired by Heaven's Gate.

Jørgensen concludes by expressing surprise at the book's extensive translation and publication, questioning its intellectual appeal beyond dedicated UFO cultists. However, he acknowledges that the themes explored in "Hercolubus" resonate with popular culture, citing Lars von Trier's film "Melancholia" as a recent example of a planet-threatening narrative. He hopes that after the 2012 doomsday hype fades, people will engage with more critical studies like "When Prophecy Fails." He also offers a defense of V.M. Rabolú, suggesting that his prophecies might have stemmed from visions experienced during his severe illness, which could have led him to interpret his experiences literally.

UFOs in SUFOI's Photo Department

This section features several reports on recent UFO sightings and photographic evidence.

Balloons Fly and Mystify...

Several UFO photos examined by SUFOI are attributed to the current trend of launching small hot air balloons, which can create confusing and spectacular sights in the evening sky.

6800 Varde, September 1, 2012: An observer in Varde reported seeing a large number of red-orange lights, described as "fireballs," moving slowly across the sky in groups, appearing and disappearing for an extended period.

4600 Køge, November 23, 2012: An observer filmed three separate observations of UFOs described as "light-orange" hovering in the sky. The objects were filmed with a mobile phone and appeared to move in groups.

8600 Silkeborg, December 2, 2012: A photo taken by a daughter of flying swans revealed a small, UFO-like anomaly in the sky. SUFOI's photo department concluded that this was likely a bird, possibly a swift, caught in the image.

Solsort fra Torsted

Lars Henrik Andersen, a former SUFOI employee, submitted a photo taken on December 19, 2010, in Torsted. While initially not noticing anything unusual, upon reviewing the photo on his computer, he identified a "mysterious object" on the left side. Andersen concluded it was a blackbird flying past.

Facts and Figures

Patrick Moore 1923 - 2012

This section commemorates the passing of Sir Patrick Moore, a renowned British astronomer and television presenter, who died on December 9, 2012, at the age of 89. Moore was known for hosting the BBC program "The Sky At Night" for over 50 years. He was also a composer and wrote over 70 books, reportedly disliking modern technology.

Doomsdays - As I Remember Them

This piece recounts several historical and predicted doomsday events.

• February 1962: A planetary alignment was predicted to cause significant natural changes, including floods in Northern Germany.
• November 1872: A storm surge caused severe flooding in the Lolland-Falster area, resulting in numerous deaths and shipwrecks.
• May 4, 2000: An alignment of planets was visible, leading to predictions of catastrophes like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

First Jazz Arrangement after Earth's End

This section details a jazz concert organized by the Nakskov Jazzclub SydhavsJazz on Christmas Day 1967, in anticipation of a predicted doomsday by the Orthon movement. The event featured the band Black Bottom Jazzmen and was attended by 300-400 people.

Countdown to Doomsday: 26 Days

This section references an article from Videnskab.dk dated November 23, 2012, discussing various doomsday theories and predictions circulating at the time, including links to articles about Planet X and the speculation surrounding 2012.

Pilots Blindsided by Laser Lights in Billund

On November 24, 2012, pilots of an AirBaltic flight approaching Billund Airport were temporarily blinded by a green laser light. The incident highlights the dangers of laser pointers, as they can cause temporary blindness and permanent eye damage to pilots, potentially leading to severe consequences and legal penalties.

NASA Sets a Record in Outer Space

NASA's 35-year-old space probe, Voyager 1, has entered interstellar space, 18 billion kilometers from Earth. This marks the first time a human-made object has reached this region, considered a new territory for scientific exploration.

Magnetic Highway

Astrophysicist Michael Linden Vørnle explains that Voyager 1 has entered a region where the Sun's magnetic field merges with the magnetic field of interstellar space, creating a "magnetic highway" for particle flow.

Saturn's Moons Resemble Pacman

NASA has observed a phenomenon on Saturn's moons Mimas and Tethys that resembles the 1980s video game character Pacman. This "Pacman phenomenon" is caused by sharp temperature differences on the moons' surfaces, with the "mouth" area being cooler.

Earth Seen from Space at Night

NASA and NOAA have released images and a film demonstrating how Earth appears from space at night, showcasing its illuminated surface.

UFOs on National Geographic Channel

This section briefly mentions a National Geographic Channel program titled "UFOs: The Untold Stories."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores themes of doomsday prophecies, UFO phenomena, and alternative belief systems, often critically examining their origins and connections to popular culture and psychological factors. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting information on these topics while also offering skeptical analysis and drawing parallels to known psychological and sociological phenomena, such as the influence of mass hysteria, cult behavior, and the human fascination with the unknown and the apocalyptic.

Title: UFO-Mail
Issue Date: December 2012
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information

This issue of UFO-Mail, published by Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI), focuses on UFO-related content, including details about a television series and explanations of atmospheric phenomena.

UFOs: The Untold Stories Series

Pioneers Productions worked in Denmark in 2012 to interview observers and investigators for a series of reconstructions of European UFO observations, produced for the National Geographic Channel. The article highlights several Danish cases that were featured or discussed:

• The Haderslev UFO Observation (August 13, 1970): This famous incident involved police officer Evald Hansen Maarup, who reported a bright light near Haderslev and a power outage in his patrol car. The Danish Air Force was involved for unspecified reasons.
• Claus Lundholm's Close Encounter: Lundholm recounts a personal experience from 1995 where he was driving towards Brande and was stopped by an enormous, exploding light.
• Other Cases: The film crew also covered other UFO events during their interviews and recordings in Denmark, including the 'ghost rockets' observed in 1946 across Scandinavia and observations during the large NATO exercise Operation Main Brace in September 1952.

Broadcast Dates for 'UFOs: The Untold Stories'

The article provides tentative broadcast dates for the series, which was scheduled to air in the UK in December 2012, with 7 episodes planned:

• Episode 1 & 2: Likely January 7 and 14.
• Episode 3: January 21, 2013, at 22:00, featuring Claus Lundholm's observation and the Maarup case.
• Episode 4: January 28, 2013, at 22:00, covering Operation Main Brace.
• Episode 5: Likely the following week, covering Ghost Rockets from 1946 (exact date unconfirmed).

A link is provided for more information on the series: http://natgeotv.com/uk/ufos-the-untold-stories/about.

Ugens spørgsmål til DMI – solsøjler (This Week's Question for DMI – Sun Pillars)

This section addresses a reader's question about a striking visual phenomenon. Bente Jensen, a photographer, emailed DMI (Danish Meteorological Institute) describing a straight line of light in the sky, reminiscent of the Northern Lights, and asking for an explanation involving cold and light.

The response from meteorologist Lone Seir Carstensen explains that the phenomenon observed during sunset was a sun pillar.

• Definition: A sun pillar is a vertical shaft of light seen above or below the Sun during sunrise or sunset.
• Formation: It occurs due to the reflection of light in ice crystals present in high-altitude clouds, such as cirrus clouds. Sun pillars are only visible if the clouds are between the observer and the light source.
• Shape: The shape of the pillar can indicate the form of the ice crystals. Pencil-shaped crystals create a straight pillar, while plate-shaped crystals result in a more 'figure-eight' appearance.

In Bente Jensen's photograph, the ice crystals responsible for the sun pillar were identified as plate-shaped.

Links are provided for further information: http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/hvad_er_solsoejler and http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/popup_solsoejlegalleri.htm.

UFO-Mails redaktion ønsker læserne en glædelig jul og et godt nytår.

The editorial team extends holiday wishes to their readers.

Læs ufo-beretninger på www.ufo.dk

Readers are encouraged to read UFO reports on the website www.ufo.dk. The site displays the latest reports submitted to SUFOI under the 'Observationer' (Observations) section.

Bliv medlem af SUFOI's Støttekreds og vælg en bog i 2015

This section appeals for support for Skandinavisk UFO Information, a volunteer-run organization.

• Mission: SUFOI's primary goal is to provide the public with serious information about the UFO phenomenon through ufo.dk and to register sightings of unusual aerial phenomena.
• Support: Financial contributions (minimum 250 DKK) help sustain ufo.dk and fund investigations into UFO experiences.
• Membership: Members of the 'Støttekreds' receive a free book as a thank you. Payment can be made via giro (9 11 77 25) or netbank (3113-9117725), with specific instructions for referencing the order.
• Commitment: Membership is for one year and involves no further obligations.

UFO-Mail udgives af Skandinavisk UFO Information

This section provides copyright information. UFO-Mail is published by Skandinavisk UFO Information. News media may quote from signed articles with proper attribution, but reproduction of articles requires written agreement. Printing and photocopying of UFO-Mail content are subject to Copydan fees.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a serious and informative approach to UFO phenomena, distinguishing itself from sensationalism. It aims to provide factual accounts and explanations, as seen in the detailed coverage of the National Geographic series and the scientific explanation of sun pillars. The publication also actively seeks public engagement and support for its research activities through its website and membership program. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena while maintaining a commitment to credible information dissemination.