UFO Navigator - No 058 - 2003

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NAVIGATOR
Issue: N 58 (0058)
Date: June 2003

This issue of the Russian ufological digest "UFO NAVIGATOR" delves into a variety of unexplained aerial phenomena and related topics, spanning international reports and scientific endeavors.

Main Cover Headlines

The cover prominently features the alarming headline "Earthlings have begun a mass invasion of Mars," alongside other key themes such as "Ufological Chronicle of the Urals and Sverdlovsk Oblast" and "The Mystery of the Superpowers' Cosmic Race."

News Briefs

The news section touches upon several intriguing events: a potential UFO crash in Saudi Arabia, soil sampling in Lipetsk Oblast, sightings over Cape Town, a creature called "Centaur" frightening women in Nigeria, and the possibility of a "flying saucer" or engine exhaust, alongside space news and follow-ups to previous publications.

UFO Crash in Saudi Arabia?

The lead story details an incident on June 2, 2003, where an unidentified flying object reportedly crashed in the Jizan Province of Saudi Arabia. Journalists from "Arab News" and "Al-Watan" reported that witnesses described the object as glowing and resembling a "flying saucer." The governor of Er-Rait confirmed visiting the crash site and stated the object had frightened locals. However, the Governor of Jizan, Prince Mohammed bin Nasser, later denied the object was a spy plane or UFO, attributing it to a large weather balloon, with some locals claiming it was a child's balloon. The magazine notes that the strong denial raises suspicion.

Soil Extraction in Lipetsk Oblast

In the Dobrovsky district of Lipetsk Oblast, a giant pit, 12 meters in diameter and 6 meters deep, with perfectly smooth walls and bottom, was discovered. Local farmers reported the disappearance of five hundred cubic meters of soil. The smooth edges and lack of topsoil led villagers to believe it was of extraterrestrial origin. Some reported experiencing headaches and nausea near the pit. Geologists, however, attributed the phenomenon to the dissolution of karst rocks due to rising groundwater, a theory the magazine questions due to the pit's dry and clean condition.

What Was Seen Over Cape Town?

On May 27, residents of Cape Town, South Africa, reported seeing a UFO. Witnesses described a cigar-shaped object hovering over clouds, with a small, bright light nearby. Radio hosts and the public flooded stations with calls. The head of SAUFOR was surprised by the lack of official reports. Aviation authorities reported no unusual activity. Dr. Dave Laney from the Cape Town Planetarium suggested the sightings were of the planets Venus and Mercury, which appeared low in the sky and could be mistaken for a UFO due to atmospheric conditions. The magazine notes that similar sightings were reported over Chelyabinsk, where the speed was too high to be an optical illusion.

"Centaur" Frightens Women in Nigeria

Residents of Maru, a large city in northern Nigeria, are reportedly afraid to go out after dark due to sightings of a "Centaur" creature, described as half-human, half-zebra. The creature is said to appear in the evening or early morning, with a short-haired human head, a goat's beard, horse-like ears, and a torso transitioning into horse legs. The appearance of this creature has reportedly damaged the socio-economic life of the city.

"Flying Saucer" or Engine Exhaust?

On June 3, residents near the Krasnodar airport observed an unusual phenomenon early in the morning. A black ball appeared behind a plane arriving from Surgut, following it and changing shape to resemble a hat before disappearing. The executive director of "Kuban Airlines" dismissed it as a common phenomenon of unburnt fuel being ejected when engine operating modes change, stating they do not deal with "humanoids."

The Name of Allah in the Sky

A letter to the website "Kavkaz-Center" included a photograph of the evening sky showing what appeared to be the name "Allah" written in Arabic within clouds. The magazine notes this is a rare instance of clouds forming a meaningful shape, contrasting it with previous reports of "SWA" and "SLG" inscriptions seen in the sky.

The "Invasion" of Mars Has Begun

The issue highlights the ongoing space race to Mars, detailing the launch of the European Space Agency's "Mars Express" probe with its "Beagle 2" lander on June 2. The US launched the "Spirit" rover on June 10, with "Opportunity" to follow on June 25. Both rovers are expected to reach Mars in January 2004. The article also mentions the Japanese probe "Nozomi," which has faced technical difficulties since its 1998 launch but is still on a mission to orbit Mars.

Space News

This section reports on the official registration of Jupiter's 21st discovered moon, S/2003 J21, and notes that Jupiter now has 61 confirmed moons. It also mentions the launch of a Russian military satellite, "Cosmos-2398," on June 4.

Following Up on Our Publications

A mysterious individual who observed a UFO on May 8 contacted the magazine, revealing himself to be Dmitry from Pattaya, Thailand. He described an ellipsoidal object, 7-12 meters in diameter, with a metallic surface, moving silently at high speed (150-200 km/h) over a thunderstorm cloud. He reported that such objects are frequently observed in the area.

Reports from the Field

UFO in Sverdlovsk Oblast:

• Nizhny Tagil: On November 30, 1999, a UFO described as a disk-shaped object with yellow-orange luminescence was seen. It began to rise, took on a conical shape, then expanded into a "disk," emitting bright flames before shrinking and disappearing.
• Asbest: On April 7, 2000, workers observed a "frosty" glowing sphere that changed shape and moved southeast.
• Alapaevsk: In the summer of 2000, a long "cigar" with illuminated portholes flew linearly at high speed.
• Tavda: In the autumn of 2000, a spindle-shaped object changed trajectory and emitted light beams before disappearing.
• Irbit: In January 2001, a black disk-shaped object performed erratic maneuvers for 10 minutes.
• Nizhny Tagil: On February 25, 2001, a delta-shaped object with multicolored lights hovered over the Dzerzhinsky district for 2-3 hours before fading and disappearing.

The author suggests that these varied sightings might indicate a hidden base of alien humanoids with advanced reconnaissance modules capable of transforming.

Mysterious Object Over Chelyabinsk:

On May 27, 2003, at 23:33, a resident of Chelyabinsk observed a very bright object resembling a star, at an elevation of approximately 70 degrees. Using a 30x telescope, he could discern two bright points perpendicular to the direction of flight. He speculates that an aircraft crew might have also witnessed the object.

Our Calendar (X Years Ago)

• 1981: Glowing cones observed over Leningrad.
• 1990: An ellipse with invisible "satellites" seen over Nizhnevartovsk.
• 1998: A pilot's "close contact" in Australia.
• 1999: "Angel hair" fall in the Esperance region.

Glowing Cones Over Leningrad (1981):

On June 2, 1981, two glowing cone-shaped objects were observed, pointing downwards. They were close together but not touching, and their combined size was estimated to be two lunar disks. The observation lasted 2.5-3 minutes.

Ellipse with Invisible "Satellites" Over Nizhnevartovsk (1990):

On the night of June 15-16, 1990, an unidentified object moved across the sky, described as an ellipse with a white-blue glow. Small "things" were seen near it, possibly detaching from the main object, which emitted ultraviolet light captured on film.

"Close Contact" with a Pilot in Australia (1998):

Pilot Mark Muscat reported encountering six "dim orange objects" over Simofor, Australia, on June 3, 1998. The objects hovered and then flew alongside his aircraft at approximately the same speed. He noted the objects were large, had no visible lights or wings, and made no sound. Local residents also reported seeing the orange objects.

Investigation: The Mystery of the Superpowers' Cosmic Race

This section, attributed to Frank Edwards, discusses the historical context of the space race and its connection to potential extraterrestrial interests. It posits that the development of rockets like the V-2 was driven by the realization that space flight was possible, with both the USSR and USA pursuing ambitious programs due to the military significance of long-range rockets.

The article highlights the focus on the Moon, suggesting that the military value of the Moon was used to justify funding for space programs. It questions the logic of establishing a military base on the Moon, citing the immense cost of transporting materials. The author suggests that the "life-necessity" of scientific research and the fear of losing the "space race" to the USSR were used to push these programs forward.

The narrative then connects the timing of human space activities with UFO appearances. It notes that strange ships began appearing in Europe about a year after the first atomic bomb tests, suggesting a possible link to radiation or the explosions themselves. The intervals between these events and subsequent UFO appearances became shorter, indicating a growing interest or response from extraterrestrial entities.

Lunar Anomalies

The article explores historical observations of anomalies on the Moon, including lights, lines, and geometric figures reported in 1879. It mentions that the British Astronomical Association received over two thousand reports of lunar anomalies, leading them to conclude that the Moon was a "very strange place."

Dr. Carl Sagan is quoted suggesting that humanity should be prepared for the possibility of having been visited by extraterrestrial beings with bases on the far side of the Moon. The article discusses the US lunar program, costing billions, and the Soviet Union's probes that photographed the far side of the Moon, suggesting a focus on the potentially inhabited side.

It references the "Ranger" program, where several probes failed before Ranger-7 transmitted thousands of high-quality images in 1964. One image reportedly showed two large white objects in a crater, which were later dismissed as rocks, though the magazine questions this explanation given the distance.

Further, Ranger-8 transmitted even more detailed photos, but only a few were published, leading to speculation that they revealed too much. The article concludes by stating that lunar anomalies continue to be observed, referencing a discussion of "lunar domes" in the "Sky and Telescope" journal from 1958.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena, space exploration, and potential extraterrestrial activity. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports and theories while often questioning official explanations and highlighting inconsistencies. There is a recurring theme of government secrecy or downplaying of UFO incidents, and a fascination with the potential for alien visitation and bases on celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. The magazine seems to advocate for a more thorough investigation of these phenomena, suggesting that official explanations are often insufficient.

This issue, titled "По следам..." (On the Trail...), is identified as issue number 2. The content appears to focus on unexplained aerial phenomena, as suggested by the cover image and the accompanying text. The primary visual element on the cover is a photograph of the sky at dusk or night, featuring trees and a building. A bright object is visible in the sky, with a dashed red line indicating a possible trajectory. Another bright object is also present lower in the sky. The text "По следам..." is prominently displayed.

Featured Content

The issue includes a section titled "НАШ СЛОВАРЬ" (Our Dictionary), with the sub-heading "Кайкура...". This suggests that the term "Кайкура" is being explained or discussed, likely in relation to the unidentified aerial phenomena presented in the magazine. The accompanying images in this section show abstract, luminous forms. One image displays a bright, somewhat oval-shaped cloud or light formation against a dark background. Another image shows a distinct loop-like luminous trail, also against a dark background. A third, smaller image shows a single, bright, amorphous light.

These images, particularly the loop and the oval shape, are characteristic of some reported UFO or UAP sightings. The term "Кайкура" might be a specific term used within the UFOlogy community or a term coined by the publication to describe such phenomena or related concepts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in this issue is the investigation and documentation of unidentified aerial phenomena. The use of photographs and a "dictionary" section indicates an effort to present and potentially explain unusual sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of inquiry and observation, focusing on visual evidence of unexplained aerial events. The title "On the Trail..." further suggests a pursuit of understanding or uncovering the nature of these phenomena.