UFO Mail - No 159 - 2013

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: nr. 159
Date: May 6, 2013
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into the highly anticipated Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), dubbed the 'comet of the century', alongside reports of various aerial phenomena and historical perspectives on comets.

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON): The Comet of the Century

The lead article focuses on Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), which had already garnered significant media attention, with Politiken.dk calling it the 'comet of the century'. The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of the comet on April 10, 2013. The article predicts that more such headlines will appear as the comet approaches its closest point to the Sun in November 2013, when it is expected to be visible to the naked eye from Earth's latitudes.

At the time of writing, the comet was over 600 million kilometers from the Sun, located just inside Jupiter's orbit. The article notes that while optimists hope for high visibility, it's important not to fall for 'comet pill' myths, implying a historical tendency to associate comets with doomsday predictions.

Amateur Observations and Historical Context

Page two features a photograph of Comet ISON taken by amateur astronomer Jens Jacobsen from Egeskov Observatory on January 11, 2013. Jacobsen noted the comet's faintness at magnitude 16.2 but was surprised by its clarity. The comet was then 4.17 AU from Earth, with its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) scheduled for November 28. The article also highlights Ove von Spaeth's e-book, "Historiske mysterier fra himmelrummet" (Historical Mysteries from Outer Space), which examines historical beliefs about comets as omens. These historical accounts often depicted comets as significant celestial events, with illustrations from ancient texts showing their perceived appearance and impact.

Historical Comets and Their Perceptions

Page three presents historical depictions of comets, including a Roman coin commemorating Caesar and an illustration from Stanilaus Lubienietski's "Theatrum Cometicum" (1668) discussing a comet's destructive influence. It also shows a depiction of a comet seen over Mexico in 1519, associated with a plague, and a Chinese comet warning from 648 AD. The page also features a 16th-century flyer about comet fear and a 1519 flyer depicting a comet in the constellation Libra.

Comet ISON's Trajectory and Potential

Karsten Bomholt, chairman of the Amateur Astronomical Society Fyn, contributes an article detailing Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). He states that by late 2013, ISON could surpass Hale-Bopp (1997) in brightness and might be the brightest comet ever seen. Comets have historically been viewed with apprehension, seen as harbingers of doom. However, modern understanding has shifted this perception to one of scientific interest. The article mentions Comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) as an example of a comet that fueled conspiracy theories.

Comparison to Past Comets

Page four discusses Comet Elenin's disintegration and compares ISON to other notable comets. It mentions Comet C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) as a spectacular comet visible in 1997. It also recalls Comet C/1973 E1 (Kohoutek), discovered by Luboš Kohoutek, which generated high expectations but disintegrated near the Sun. The article notes that 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann also partially disintegrated in 1995. The fate of ISON remains uncertain, with its discovery attributed to Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok on September 21, 2012, and designated ISON by the IAU.

ISON's Orbit and Visibility Predictions

Page five explains the naming convention for comets (e.g., C/2012 S1) and discusses ISON's orbital path. It notes that ISON's orbit is similar to C/1680 V1 (Kirch's Comet or Newton's Comet), which passed very close to the Sun. This similarity fuels optimism that ISON might survive its close encounter. The article provides a table of expected brightness (magnitude) from November 2013 to January 2014. It predicts that ISON will become visible through telescopes in August or September 2013, and with binoculars by October. Its path will take it through constellations like Leo and Virgo, potentially near planets like Mars and Saturn.

Close Encounters and Potential Brightness

Page six continues the discussion on ISON's visibility. It suggests that by January 8, 2014, the comet might still be visible to the naked eye, passing near Polaris. The article emphasizes that while the comet will pass very close to the Sun (1.2 million kilometers) on November 28, 2013, it might be visible even in daylight with precautions. If it survives, December is predicted to be the best month for viewing from Denmark, with potential brightness comparable to the full moon.

Hubble's Observation and SUFOI's Photo Department

Page seven features an image of Comet ISON taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on April 10, 2013. Despite its small nucleus (5-6 km), the comet exhibits a large coma (5,000 km) and a dust tail extending over 90,000 km. The article also presents a report from SUFOI's Photo Department regarding a sighting in Hvidovre on February 17, 2013, of a yellow light that moved unusually. The department's conclusion, after analyzing the photographic evidence, was that it was likely a hot air balloon.

UFO Sightings and Photo Analysis

Page eight discusses a sighting in Kolding on April 26, 2013, where multiple lights were filmed. The photo department's conclusion, based on video sequences and weather data, was that these were likely small hot air balloons with burning material at the base.

Page nine details a sighting in Søborg on April 27, 2013, by photographer Rhonda Brendstrup, who captured images of a large, dark, round object. SUFOI's analysis, again, pointed towards a hot air balloon, citing the object's movement and appearance as consistent with this explanation.

Løst og Facts (Loose and Facts)

Time and AFU's Anniversary

Under the "Løst og facts" section, Ole Henningsen provides a link to the Amateur Astronomical Society Fyn for time-related information. It also celebrates the 40th anniversary of AFU (Arbetsgruppen för ufologi), established in Sweden in 1973. AFU has evolved into the world's largest archive for UFO-related materials and has recently changed its name to "Archives for the Unexplained" to encompass a broader range of subjects.

Fireball Sighting in Argentina

An impressive fireball was observed over Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on April 21, 2013, during an outdoor concert. Links to surveillance video and a clip showing the fireball enhancing the concert's light show are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores astronomical phenomena, particularly comets, with a strong emphasis on scientific observation and data. It contrasts modern scientific understanding with historical beliefs and superstitions surrounding comets. The editorial stance on UFO sightings, as evidenced by the photo department's analyses, leans towards rational explanations, often identifying observed phenomena as conventional objects like hot air balloons rather than extraterrestrial craft. The publication also serves as a platform for amateur astronomers and UFO researchers to share their findings and perspectives.

Title: UFO-Mail
Issue Date: 2015
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of UFO-Mail focuses on encouraging support for Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI) and highlights a notable cloud formation that resembled a UFO.

Featured Content

Lenticular Clouds and UFOs

The issue begins by referencing a video uploaded to YouTube on March 26, 2013, filmed by an Argentinian, which showed a 'saucer-sky' and was labeled as a 'UFO'. The article notes that the UFO myth persists despite such explanations. A link to the video is provided: `http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y8ph6ED5fY`.

It then introduces the concept of 'Close encounters of a lenticular kind', referring to mountain-top cloud formations that can look like UFOs. Further links are provided for readers interested in learning more about these formations:

• Dailymail.co.uk: `http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2151490/When-clouds-play-tricks-mind-forming-UFO-shapes-startle-confuse.html?ito=feeds-newsxml`
• DMI (Danish Meteorological Institute): `http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/skibumsernes sky`

Readers are also directed to `www.ufo.dk` for UFO reports and recent observations submitted to SUFOI.

Become a Member of SUFOI's Support Circle

The main call to action on the cover and within the issue is to become a member of SUFOI's 'Støttekreds' (Support Circle) in 2015. The text emphasizes that SUFOI is run by volunteers and its primary mission is to provide the public with serious information about UFO phenomena via `ufo.dk` and to register sightings of unusual aerial phenomena. The organization's purpose and vision can be read in more detail via a provided link.

To continue their work, SUFOI relies on financial contributions. A donation of 250 DKK (or more) is requested to enable them to maintain `ufo.dk` and conduct investigations into UFO experiences. Readers are encouraged to support their efforts.

Payment can be made via giro account 9 11 77 25 or online banking to account 3113-9117725. When making a payment, users are instructed to use code 01 and to include their name, address, and the order number (e.g., B-075) for the desired free title. Membership in the support circle incurs no further obligations and the contribution is valid for one year.

Publication Information

UFO-Mail is published by Skandinavisk UFO Information. The copyright notice from SUFOI in 2013 states that news media may quote from signed articles with clear source attribution, but full reproduction requires written agreement. Printing and photocopying of content from UFO-Mail are subject to Copydan fees.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue reinforces SUFOI's commitment to providing factual and serious information about UFO phenomena, distinguishing between genuine sightings and misinterpretations, such as lenticular clouds. The editorial stance is one of promoting transparency and public education on the subject, while also seeking financial support from the community to sustain their operations. The emphasis on volunteer work and the call for donations highlight the grassroots nature of the organization.