UFO Navigator - No 031 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO НАВИГАТОР (UFO Navigator)
Issue: N 31 (0031)
Date: March 2002
Publisher: Российский уфологический дайджест (Russian Ufological Digest)

This issue of "UFO Navigator" delves into various UFO phenomena, featuring reports on mass sightings, potential connections between UFOs and natural events, historical cases, and the perspectives of ufologists and witnesses.

Mass UFO Sightings Over Yugoslavia

Hundreds of residents in a Montenegrin village reported witnessing a group of giant, luminous UFOs. Authorities are investigating these numerous sightings, with witnesses describing the objects as changing shape before ascending. One witness, Sid Godzik, described seeing about twenty large luminous circles that lit up the sky for hundreds of meters. The report dismisses the possibility of terrestrial light sources, citing the lack of discos or similar high-tech facilities in the area. The news reached Russia with a delay, losing some details and the source link.

UFOs as Harbingers of Earthquakes in Chile?

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake was registered in Chile on February 28th, near Calama, the site of recent UFO observations. While the tremor was relatively weak, it caused fatalities. Ufologist Jaime Ferrer noted the presence of 'strange lights' in the area prior to the earthquake, suggesting they might be 'tectonic lights'—a phenomenon associated with energy release from the Earth's crust before seismic activity. However, many witnesses reported seeing distinctly mechanical-looking craft and even humanoids, not just lights. A cigar-shaped object was filmed flying low over the Magellan Strait, described as blinking lights before diving into the sea. The Chilean Navy could not explain the sighting.

Canadian Ufologists Summarize 2001

UFO reports in Canada increased by 42% in 2001 compared to the previous year. Ufologist Chris Rutkowski attributes this rise to a potential increase in actual sightings or greater public awareness of how to report them. The trend predates the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The report highlights Vancouver and Ottawa as the most 'UFO-active' cities, with British Columbia being the most prolific province. Approximately 15% of reported cases remain unexplained. Among these is a fiery vortex that left a crater over 30 meters in diameter in Alberta, which astronomers and meteorite specialists concluded was not caused by a meteorite. Sightings also included a cigar-shaped object over Whitehorse that appeared to jump and leave a contrail, and a stationary light observed over a remote area.

A Successful Purchase: The First UFO Photograph in the USA

An unusual item, a photograph believed to be the first depicting a UFO in the USA, was auctioned on eBay. Dated 1870, it was acquired by Samuel M. Sherman. The stereoscopic image captures a winter sky over Mount Washington, New Hampshire, showing a long, cigar-shaped object among clouds. The photograph is described as a masterpiece of 19th-century photographic art. Sherman plans to share it with scientists for analysis. This American stereo image is considered superior to a previously reported Japanese photograph from 1911.

A Breakthrough in Indian Ufology?

A new unified center for registering UFO reports and a forum for enthusiasts have been established in India. Founded by former journalist Prashant Solomon, the center operates virtually at http://www.ufoindia.org. The goal is to provide a platform for discussing UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence, avoiding premature conclusions. Dr. Ratnashri, director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, offers a skeptical view, suggesting that many reports are misidentifications of planets, satellites, or aircraft. However, journalists note that UFO sightings in India predate the use of weather balloons and satellites, and some current observations cannot be easily dismissed.

Mysterious Balls Over Latin America

A wave of UFO sightings has been reported across Latin America, predominantly featuring strange black and silver spheres. These were first observed in Merida, Mexico, and later in Colombia. Reports continued in Mexico, with sightings near Cuernavaca and a significant number of UFOs observed over Mexico City. A transparent tube-like object containing spheres was also filmed. Air traffic controllers confirmed the presence of UFOs over Mexico City.

Annual Ufologist Symposium in San Marino

The annual ufological symposium took place in San Marino, featuring Italian ufologists and representatives from seven countries. A documentary film about UFOs, "American Cover-up," was also shown.

A 'Contactee's' Greeting

During the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, ski jumper Johann Muehlegg, who was later disqualified for doping, claimed to have been guided by aliens. He stated that he had contact with them and that they told him what to do. He attributed his Olympic success to their help. This claim was met with skepticism, with psychiatrists suggesting it could be a result of drug abuse or a psychological breakdown. The aliens he described were reportedly peaceful and benevolent.

Russian Politicians and UFOs

Discussions about 'contactee' claims also brought up similar statements from Russian politicians. Igor Chernyaev found a transcript of an interview with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of Kalmykia, who claimed to have traveled to space with aliens in 1997 aboard a 'saucer.' He described the experience as lasting for a day and involved being taken to another planet and receiving equipment. He did not provide details about the aliens' appearance but stated they were 'healthy, about 2 meters tall.' He also mentioned that his absence was noticed by his assistants.

Messages from the Planet

This section presents 'messages' purportedly from 'Jesus Sananda' and the 'Planetary Council of All Light Forces.' These messages, spanning many pages, offer pronouncements on spiritual matters, 'cosmic laws,' and prophecies of a 'Great Transition' to a fourth dimension. The 'cosmic laws' include principles such as 'what you give, you receive' and 'as above, so below.' The messages also detail a 'Great SONM' (Council) that decides to send angels and archangels to protect Earth from alien civilizations and to prevent their influence on human consciousness. Signatories include various angelic beings and representatives from extraterrestrial civilizations. The messages also predict 'Great Cataclysms' and 'Ascensions' in August 2003, where selected individuals will be transported to other planets for training.

UFOs Know About Us

Scientists suggest that if intelligent extraterrestrial life exists, it is highly likely aware of Earth. The planet is described as a 'giant interstellar beacon' sending a clear signal of life. Astronomers are developing technology to read 'light signatures' of distant worlds. However, interstellar travel remains a significant technical challenge, leading some to believe that advanced civilizations would have already arrived if possible. Roger Angel, a professor of astronomy, believes that any civilization slightly more advanced than ours would have detected Earth's 'life signal' over the past billion years.

Cosmic News

This section provides an update on space launches. Out of nine launches in January and February, only one was by Russian forces. Several American and French satellites were launched, including the 'Milstar' and 'Iridium' series. Japan launched the 'MDS-1' satellite. NASA's 'Mars Odyssey' probe has detected frozen water on Mars. The 'Pioneer 10' probe, launched 30 years ago, has sent a response signal back to Earth, indicating its vast distance from the solar system.

Following Up on Our Publications

Victoria Lilienkvist, a 'contactee' previously featured, maintains that UFOs were present over Salt Lake City, though flying too high for most to see. She has posted questionable video evidence on her website. The section also mentions a 'technogenic UFO' filmed over the Urals and a report from a Japanese television crew in Yekaterinburg who filmed a 'flying saucer.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent presence and diverse manifestations of UFO phenomena across the globe. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports, witness testimonies, and expert opinions (both skeptical and supportive) without definitively concluding on the nature of these phenomena. There's a clear interest in documenting sightings, exploring potential connections to natural events, and critically examining claims made by 'contactees' and alleged extraterrestrial communications. The magazine aims to inform its readers about the latest developments in ufology, from historical photographs to contemporary sightings and scientific investigations.

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated November 2001, focuses on the "M" Triangle phenomenon, presenting new video evidence and exploring historical cases. The cover headline highlights "The "M" Triangle: New Video Footage."

The "M" Triangle and New Video Footage

The article begins with the author, a documentary filmmaker, recounting his experiences in the Perm Anomaly Zone. He mentions Valeriy Yakimov's 1996 filming of an anomalous object (an orange sphere) which became a central part of the documentary "M-sky Stories." This led to the creation of the internet project www.permzone.net. In autumn 1999, Japanese television producers expressed interest in the topic, leading to a visit and filming in the Perm Anomaly Zone. A documentary version about the Perm phenomenon was expected.

The author then details a significant event from 2001: acquiring a video cassette with new footage of a UFO. This footage was shot on June 25, 1999, on Pyatiforovka Mountain in the Sverdlovsk Oblast, near the village of Shalya. The object, described as a dark "disc" with a shiny dome, was visually observed for about a minute, with the camera capturing 28 seconds of flight. Witnesses described it as hovering, then moving unevenly with sharp jerks, before making a loop and disappearing instantly. The object was observed by three people who reported feeling an unpleasant sensation afterward.

The author informed Japan and "Komsomolskaya Pravda" about the footage. A video crew from Tokyo arrived on February 23rd to investigate, visiting the filming location and interviewing witnesses. They also found a family who reported seeing an anomalous object of a different configuration than the one on video. The author asserts the video's uniqueness, despite its amateur quality, stating that it was shot in a "amateur style" with shaky footage and out-of-focus elements, but the 28 seconds visible are convincing.

He estimates the cost of faking such footage in Hollywood at around $250,000. A new film about the Perm Zone is in preparation, and an article about these events was expected in "Komsomolskaya Pravda." The "Shalinskaya" (Shalya) disc footage is available on the website http://www.permzone.net.

Historical UFO Cases

The magazine then presents a series of historical UFO sightings:

• "Airship" over Lamy, 1880: On March 26, 1880, near Galisteo (now Lamy, New Mexico), a mysterious "airship" was reported. Ufologists consider this a precursor to the "great wave of airships" in 1896-1897. Witnesses heard loud voices from the object and saw several items dropped, including "beautiful flowers wrapped in extremely thin paper with hieroglyphs." A cup was also found. The story is recounted with details about archaeologists purchasing the items and a mysterious "rich young Chinese man" claiming the hieroglyphs were a love letter.
• Celestial Vision of Staff Captain Unzhevsky, 1892: On March 17, 1892, near Vyazma, Staff Captain Unzhevsky reported observing a bright red, spherical object moving west-northwest. During the 25-minute observation, he noted a violet glow to its right and a red band to its left, while the sphere itself remained red. The object appeared to move at high speed.
• "Flying Sickle" over Bashkiria, 1978: On March 28, 1978, in the village of Kypaevo, Bashkir ASSR, a student observed a crescent-shaped object with a diameter similar to the moon, flying with its horns downwards. It approached rapidly and, at its closest point, appeared to have a 40-degree visible diameter. After passing, it left a trail resembling dark mist with sharp, straight edges.
• "Comet" over the Zund Strait, 1990: On March 27, 1990, during a voyage between Kaliningrad and Brevik, the third assistant captain observed a large celestial body shimmering with red, green, and white lights. It did not change position and appeared to detach a comet-like point. A similar object was observed on the return voyage on March 29th.

Investigation: What Did the US Navy Ship "Supply" See in 1904?

This section details an incident reported in the "New York Times" on March 9, 1904, concerning three strange objects observed by the US Navy ship "Supply" on February 28, 1904. Lieutenant Frank H. Schofield reported seeing three "meteors" that appeared below the horizon, moving in a group towards the ship. Their initial movement was fast and bright red. As they approached, they rose above the clouds at an angle of about 45 degrees, their movement slowing down. The largest meteor was described as egg-shaped with a pointed, serrated front end, approximately six times the size of the sun. The other two were round, one about twice the size of the sun, and the third about the size of the sun. They maintained their formation and position relative to each other.

The article critically analyzes Schofield's report and the "meteor" explanation. It questions the duration of observation (over two minutes, longer than typical for meteors) and the synchronized movement of objects of different sizes, which should have affected their braking due to air resistance differently. The author also discusses the possibility of tangential or ricocheting meteors, suggesting that if they were meteors, their trajectory would have taken them over sparsely populated Siberia. The article notes that the USS "Supply's" ship log mentioned a three-minute observation, contradicting Schofield's two-minute report and further diverging from the meteor hypothesis.

The author, Bruce Maccabee, is cited as calculating their speed to be 3500 miles per hour or less, which is significantly lower than typical meteor speeds but within the range for UFOs. The analysis also considers the possibility of atmospheric effects creating illusions of size and color, comparing it to the apparent size of the moon near the horizon. The article concludes that the objects were likely tangential meteors, but their exact nature remains uncertain.

Gelenjik Contact

This section describes a reported third-kind encounter on November 29, 1990, in Gelenjik, Russia. A 7th-grade student, Maxim I., claimed to have seen a flat object emitting a bright light. A tall being descended from the object, followed by another tall figure. The beings wore streamlined, segmented clothing and had heads hidden under black caps. They had wide bracelets with flashing lights and appeared to float. Maxim reported being addressed by one of the beings and, out of fear, fled. Afterward, he experienced eye pain and perceived objects as transparent. The incident is corroborated by indirect evidence, such as unusual radiation background readings at the site and a localized power outage that evening.

Genetic Experiments

Ufologists generally believe that extraterrestrials are primarily interested in human genetics and reproduction. Reports from abduction victims often mention a focus on reproductive organs. The article cites a report by Dan Wright detailing how, in over half of abduction cases, "they" showed interest in human reproductive organs. Women recalled gynecological or obstetrical procedures, and men recalled devices placed on their genitals. The purpose of collecting reproductive material is speculated to be for use in developing human-like or hybrid children in incubators.

It is hypothesized that these hybrid children, upon reaching maturity, may engage in sexual relations with human women as part of a genetic program. The article also mentions cases where human men were involved in sexual acts with extraterrestrials or hybrids. Bud Hopkins is quoted suggesting that humanity is part of a galactic "breeding program" and that aliens aim to create a hybrid race for several possible reasons: to create a genetic bank for Earth's future, to populate Earth with beings adapted to its environment, to alter humanity's gene pool for unknown purposes, or to hybridize humans for colonization of other planets.

Hybrids

Hybrids are described as beings with traits of both humans and aliens, considered the end or intermediate product of extraterrestrial reproductive manipulation. The "MUFON Abduction Transcript Project" mentions hybrids in 38 cases, with women and men reporting seeing children who were not entirely human-like but were perceived as their own. Out of 41 observed hybrids, 24 were described as "babies" (with some specified as male or female, and some with no defined sex organs), 8 as "crawlers" or "preschoolers," 4 as "school-aged," and 5 as "adults."

Glossary of Terms

The magazine includes a glossary of ufological terms:

• Hyperspace: A theoretical "parallel" space where UFOs supposedly disappear during "dematerialization." It's suggested that space and time are measured differently there.
• Hyperjump: The term for an object's sudden disappearance and reappearance in another location. Three hypotheses are proposed: 1) movement at speeds exceeding human perception, 2) entering and exiting hyperspace, or 3) dematerialization and rematerialization.

Criticism and Bibliography

This section reviews recent ufological publications. The book "Mysteries of Extraterrestrial Civilizations" by G. Sobolev, Yu. Rychkova, and O. Mikheenkova (2001) is critically assessed as a "not very successful compilation of stories about UFOs and extraterrestrial civilizations," largely borrowed from "yellow press" sources. The review notes a high percentage of "mystifications" and errors in transliteration, recommending it only as a "sleeping pill."

Announcements

"Kosmopoisk" announces plans to open four museums: a "Museum of Mysteries" in Moscow, a "Museum of Search" in Nakhabino, a "Museum of Fantasy" in Peredelkino, and a "Museum of Paleo-Ufological Finds" in Tula Oblast.

Miscellaneous

• Rumors of "Computer Hijacking" Explained: The article addresses rumors of "Windows XP" computers being "hijacked by aliens." It explains that the phenomenon is due to the voice recognition system in "Windows XP" and "Office XP," combined with pre-installed software by some distributors. This led to random symbols appearing and unsolicited actions within the operating system. Disabling the microphone reportedly resolved the issue.
• Chinese Clone Human: Reports indicate that Chinese scientists have cloned several dozen human embryos, not for reproduction but for creating tissues for transplantation. This research, conducted in about 4-5 Chinese research centers, has raised ethical concerns in countries where human cloning is prohibited.

The issue concludes with a note that it was compiled and prepared by Mikhail Gerstein in St. Petersburg on March 14, 2002.