UFO Navigator - No 097 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO НАВИГАТОР (UFO Navigator)
Issue: № 6 (0097)
Date: June 2006
Publisher: Not specified
Country: Russia
Language: Russian

This issue of "UFO Navigator" is marked by a somber tone, with the editor, Mikhail Gershteyn, announcing that it might be the publication's last issue due to severe financial constraints. The magazine, which has operated on pure enthusiasm, is struggling to cover basic costs, and Gershteyn is seeking new employment. The issue covers a range of topics, from unfulfilled apocalyptic predictions to various UFO sightings and related phenomena, alongside news from the ufological community.

Main Themes and Cover Story

The cover prominently asks, "'UFO Navigator': LAST ISSUE?", reflecting the publication's precarious financial situation. The main themes highlighted on the cover include the "non-occurred 'end of the world'" events of May 25 and June 6, and the intersection of religion and the unknown, specifically UFOs, reincarnation, and the afterlife. A quote attributed to the Strugatsky brothers, "People do not need unhealthy sensations. People need healthy sensations," sets a contemplative mood.

News Section

The news section reports on several events:

• "UFO Navigator": Last Issue? The editor details the financial struggles of the publication, which has been running on enthusiasm alone. He is now unemployed and seeking work, potentially related to ufology or anomalous journalism, but acknowledges the limited market for such honest investigation.
• 'End of the World' Did Not Happen: The predicted 'end of the world' events related to the comet Schwassmann-Wachmann fragments did not materialize, despite causing panic in some regions like Morocco. The comet has likely disintegrated.
• 6.6.06 Panic: Another wave of panic occurred on June 6, 2006, linked to the number 666 and fears of the Antichrist's arrival, with some pregnant women seeking to delay births.
• UFOs Attacking Priests?: A report from "Novodvinsky Rabochiy" discusses a priest's account of an encounter with a UFO-like object, which he interpreted as demonic activity. However, the article suggests this might have been an atmospheric optical phenomenon (a mirage of the sun).
• Soil Sample Extraction in Brazil: A farmer discovered a narrow, deep hole on his property, which scientists are investigating, suspecting it might be related to a meteorite impact.
• Ufology Suffers Losses: The deaths of prominent ufologists Harley Rutledge (80 years old) and Karl Pflock are reported.
• "British UFO Hunters" Caught Faking: Ufologist Jody Holden was accused of fabricating a UFO photograph, which was later identified as a commercially available lamp.
• "Tunguska Explosion": Now Also This! A dietary supplement named "Tunguska Blast" is being marketed, claiming to harness the power of the 1908 Tunguska event, though its ingredients are not found in the region.
• More on the "Condign" Project: The UK Ministry of Defense released extensive documents related to the "Condign" project, which explored UFOs as plasma phenomena but found no evidence of extraterrestrial or foreign craft.
• Giant Meteorite Fall in Norway: A powerful meteorite impact was registered in Norway, observed and photographed by locals. While initially described as significant, a professor later downplayed its size.

Specific Articles and Reports

"UFO Navigator": Last Issue?

Mikhail Gershteyn, the editor, explains the dire financial state of the publication. He has been running it on a shoestring budget, unable to afford basic necessities like international correspondence or equipment. The failure of the Russian-Australian project "NEXUS," which he also edited, has exacerbated the situation. He is now officially unemployed and actively seeking new work, expressing a desire for it to be related to ufology or anomalous journalism, though he is skeptical about the prospects in the current market. He invites readers with job offers or suggestions for the magazine's survival to contact him.

End of the World Did Not Happen

Astronomers confirmed that fragments of the comet Schwassmann-Wachmann safely passed Earth. Despite official reassurances, irresponsible statements had caused panic in some countries, notably Morocco. The article also touches upon the panic surrounding the date 6.6.06, with some linking it to the Antichrist, while movie marketers used it for the premiere of "The Omen."

The 666 Number and the Scythian Calendar

An analysis by Sergey Paukov attempts to demystify the number 666, linking it to the Scythian calendar. He suggests that a calculation involving dividing 92 days (the approximate period between solar events) by 3 resulted in a remainder of 30 and the recurring number 666, which ancient scholars may have deemed problematic. He argues this is a mathematical curiosity rather than a mystical one.

UFOs Attacking Priests?

This section details an account by Father Trifon, who claims to have encountered a UFO in 1997. He describes a red, spherical object that transformed into a flask shape and approached his car. The article, however, offers a scientific explanation, suggesting it was an optical illusion caused by atmospheric refraction of the setting sun, a phenomenon known as a superior mirage.

Another account, attributed to "Iгумен N," describes a bright, unusual object seen over a monastery in the early 1990s. The article critically analyzes this report, suggesting it might be a misinterpretation of a rocket launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, citing typical visual characteristics of such launches.

New UFO Photos

Reports include:

• Moscow (June 1, 2006): Three glowing spheres were observed for about 20 minutes over the Brateevo district.
• Bryansk (June 12, 2006): Alexander Sinyakov photographed an object described as a "pot with legs" that moved horizontally. Multiple witnesses reported seeing similar glowing spheres.

Soil Sample Extraction in Brazil

On Ari Cerro's farm in Rio Grande do Sul, a peculiar, narrow, and deep hole was discovered. Scientists from the University of Passo Fundo are investigating, with Professor Ademar Elzing suggesting it could be evidence of a recent meteorite fall.

Ufology Suffers More Losses

Harley Rutledge, a former dean of physics at the University of Missouri and a key figure in the "Project Identification" study, passed away at 80. He was known for his scientific approach to UFO research and documented numerous sightings.

Karl Pflock, a ufologist with a background in military and politics, also passed away. He had concluded that UFOs were real phenomena but questioned the Roswell crash narrative, suggesting it was a disinformation campaign.

"British UFO Hunters" Caught Faking

Jody Holden, a ufologist from "British UFO Hunters," claimed to have photographed a UFO. However, ufologist Isaac Koi identified the object in the photograph as a commercially available lamp, leading to skepticism about Holden's and his organization's credibility.

"Tunguska Explosion": Now Also This!

A dietary supplement called "Tunguska Blast" is being marketed, linking its formula to the 1908 Tunguska event. The article questions the claim, noting that most of the advertised ingredients are not native to the Tunguska region.

More on the "Condign" Project

The UK Ministry of Defense released a large volume of texts concerning the "Condign" project. The report suggested UFOs might be plasma formations but found no evidence of extraterrestrial or foreign intelligent craft. The article criticizes the report for reinventing known hypotheses and lacking consultation with physics specialists.

Giant Meteorite Fall in Norway

On June 7, a powerful meteorite impact was registered in Norway. While initially described as a significant event, Professor Kaare Aksnes later stated that the explosion's power was comparable to an "ordinary powerful bomb."

Space News

• Mars Rovers: The "Spirit" and "Opportunity" rovers continue their missions on Mars, exploring areas like "Low Ridge" and approaching Victoria crater.
• Submarine Launch: The nuclear submarine "Yekaterinburg" successfully launched the "Kompas-2" satellite from the Barents Sea, but the satellite malfunctioned.
• Baikonur Launch: The "Soyuz-U" rocket launched the "Resurs-DK1" Earth remote sensing satellite, equipped with instruments for cosmological research and earthquake prediction.

Following Up on Our Publications

• "UFO Traces" Advertising Campaign: An advertising campaign for "So-Deystvie" in Syktyvkar, titled "UFO Traces," won an award at the VII Kyiv International Advertising Festival.
• Crop Circles: The article revisits the "crop circle" phenomenon, revealing that a previous case in Syktyvkar was a hoax created by a group using a sheet of galvanized iron and weights. The budget for the hoax and subsequent press conference was minimal.
• Alan Chumak: The well-known healer Alan Chumak was caught smoking and dismissively responded to criticism about the contradiction between his healing practices and smoking.

Reports from the Field

• Triangular UFO over Belarus: Anatoly Ivaneichik reported observing a triangular UFO in November 2004, describing it as silent and moving smoothly.
• Deadly Object over Arkhangelsk Oblast: A report from "Naryan-Mar" details an incident where several river workers witnessed "flying saucers" on the Vychegda River. Tragically, most of the witnesses later died under mysterious circumstances, leading to speculation of a deliberate effort to silence them.

Our Calendar (This Day... Years Ago)

• Disc over the Aral Sea (1958): A witness described a large, disc-shaped object with a pipe on top, flying silently at a low altitude.
• Glowing Sphere over the Soviet-Chinese Border (1962): A witness reported a glowing, crimson sphere moving silently at a low altitude near the border.
• Fiery "Construction" over Gurgen and Urgench (1989): A report of an unusual aerial phenomenon.
• Play of "Stars" over Sakhalin (1991): A brief mention of an event.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a persistent focus on UFO phenomena, unexplained aerial events, and the intersection of these with religion, folklore, and scientific inquiry. The editorial stance appears critical and analytical, often seeking rational explanations for reported sightings while acknowledging the existence of genuinely unexplained phenomena. There's a recurring theme of skepticism towards sensationalism and hoaxes within the ufology community, as seen in the Bryansk and "British UFO Hunters" cases. The publication's own uncertain future underscores the challenges of maintaining a platform for such niche investigations in the face of financial difficulties and a perceived lack of public interest in "healthy sensations."

This issue of "Аналитическая газета «Секретные исследования»" (Analytical Newspaper 'Secret Investigations'), issue number 12 from 2006, delves into phenomena related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the complex concepts of the afterlife and reincarnation, primarily through a critical lens.

UFO Sightings

The magazine presents two distinct UFO sighting accounts. The first, from July 1989, details an observation in the Karalkpak ASSR, Uzbekistan, where witnesses described bright spheres and a pulsating line in the sky, followed by a luminous rectangle moving towards an airfield. The second account, from June 19, 1991, originates from Novоalexandrovsk, Sakhalin, Russia. Vladimir Grigoryevich Yakovlev and his family, along with neighbors, observed three 'stars' that transformed into various shapes, emitting rays of light, and later appeared to 'play' in the sky.

Critique of Parapsychology and Afterlife Beliefs

A substantial portion of the magazine is dedicated to a critical examination of the views presented by parapsychologist Oksana Rovnik, as interviewed by journalist Ksenia Voronezhceva in an article titled "What is beyond the fatal line?". Rovnik posits that upon death, a person's physical body decomposes, but their 'subtle bodies'—etheric, astral, and mental—continue to exist, carrying emotions, intellect, and consciousness.

The article strongly refutes Rovnik's claims, arguing that her concepts of 'subtle bodies' are not based on scientific methodology but rather on occultism. It questions the logic of these bodies separating from the physical form and decomposing independently. The author highlights that Rovnik's definitions of astral and mental bodies essentially describe human consciousness, not separate entities. Furthermore, the article points out contradictions in Rovnik's assertions, such as the soul retaining consciousness after its associated 'bodies' have decomposed.

The critique extends to Rovnik's explanation of traditional mourning periods (9th and 40th days after death). She attributes these to the decomposition of the etheric body and the soul's gradual detachment from earthly ties. The author counters this by referencing Orthodox Christian tradition, which explains these dates through the concept of 'aerial ordeals' (воздушные мытарства) and the soul's journey to heaven, a concept Rovnik dismisses.

Reincarnation: A Critical Analysis

The magazine also scrutinizes the concept of reincarnation, a belief that the soul is reborn into new bodies after death. While acknowledging its ancient origins in Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, the article argues that it directly contradicts Christian teachings of resurrection. The author questions the practicality and logic of reincarnation, particularly in light of demographic data.

• Key criticisms include:
• Demographic Inconsistency: The article presents demographic figures suggesting that the number of deceased individuals over millennia does not align with the potential number of souls that could have reincarnated, especially considering the rapid population growth in recent centuries. The author calculates that, based on current population and historical death rates, only a fraction of souls could have reincarnated, leading to the conclusion that most people likely never had a soul to begin with, or that the concept is fundamentally flawed.
• Lack of Memory: The concept of punishment or reward through reincarnation is questioned because individuals typically do not remember their past lives, rendering the 'punishment' meaningless.
• Contradiction with Christianity: The belief in reincarnation negates the Christian doctrine of Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead.
• The 'Quantum Soul' Theory: Rovnik's assertion that a soul can be destroyed into 'quanta' is dismissed as unscientific jargon, lacking any basis in scientific literature.

The article also examines specific claims, such as the idea that souls can 'attract' certain types of bodies during conception, and the case of a child identified as the reincarnation of a Tibetan Lama. While the latter is presented as a narrative, the author implies potential manipulation and questions the methodology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of paranormal claims, particularly those related to UFOs and the afterlife, and a strong skepticism towards concepts like reincarnation when presented without rigorous scientific or logical backing. The editorial stance is clearly one of debunking and questioning unsubstantiated beliefs, urging readers to be vigilant against what it terms 'ignorant populists' who manipulate consciousness. The magazine emphasizes the importance of scientific methodology and logical consistency, contrasting them with the speculative nature of parapsychology and certain religious interpretations.

This issue of "Secret Investigations" (Аналитическая газета «Секретные исследования»), issue number 10 from 2006, delves into several intriguing topics including reincarnation, UFO phenomena, and global surveillance systems. The magazine features a mix of research analysis, case studies, and a glossary of terms relevant to ufology.

Reincarnation and Past Life Memories

The issue opens with a compelling account of a child who claimed to have memories of a past life as a boy named Todzo. The child provided specific details about Todzo's life, family, and death, which were later verified upon visiting Todzo's former village, Hodokubo. Dr. Stevenson's research is highlighted, particularly his high trust in children's testimonies due to their supposed lesser susceptibility to conscious or unconscious illusions. The article mentions Stevenson's book "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" and his later work, which examined hundreds of cases he believed offered "weighty evidence" for reincarnation. However, the author of the article questions whether these phenomena are truly about reincarnation or if they represent other abilities like clairvoyance or telepathy, suggesting that the "memories" might be "external knowledge about the past" rather than evidence of a soul's transmigration. The article also dismisses hypnosis as a reliable method for investigating past life memories, arguing that subjects under hypnosis may simply be acting out suggestions from the hypnotist. The author personally reflects on the unreliability of human memory, comparing it to a recording device that stores images and impressions rather than exact phrases or factual data, and questions how such detailed "past life" memories could be retained and recalled.

UFO Phenomena and Terminology

The magazine explores various aspects of UFO sightings and related terminology. It defines terms like "Objects Seen Floating" (OSF), coined by Charles Fort, and "Lights in the Sky" (LITS), which refers to unidentified lights in the night sky. The term "foo fighters," originally a Russian translation attempt for a WWII phenomenon, is discussed, with the article suggesting it should not be translated literally as it reflects the pilots' sense of humor. The publication also reviews the "Flying Saucer Review" (FSR), a long-standing and respected ufological journal founded in Great Britain in 1955 by Brynley Le Poer Trench and Derek Dempster. FSR's history is traced, noting its evolution from covering British UFO sightings to becoming an international platform for discussions on UFOs, including those from behind the "Iron Curtain." The article mentions key figures associated with FSR, such as Gordon Creighton and Charles Bowen, and highlights the journal's special issues and book publications.

Back-Engineering and Surveillance

The concept of "back-engineering" in ufology is explained as the process of understanding and replicating advanced technologies from crashed UFOs. The article notes that some US ufologists believe that technologies like semiconductors and night vision devices originated from the study of UFO debris from the 1947 incident. This claim is presented as controversial and disputed by those familiar with the history of science.

Separately, the issue details the "Echelon" system, a global network of electronic eavesdropping stations operated by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and its allies. Established in 1971, Echelon can intercept radio communications, telexes, emails, faxes, and satellite phone calls. It is estimated to intercept billions of messages daily and is capable of filtering a significant portion of internet traffic. The article references a 2001 European Parliament investigation into Echelon, which suggested its capacity to intercept millions of faxes, emails, and phone calls per minute, with a substantial number requiring further analysis.

Notable Incidents and Reviews

A specific incident involving a sighting at the Israeli Knesset is reported. A glowing white body was observed by security cameras and guards, leading to speculation about it being a ghost or an alien. The head of Knesset security dismissed the mystical interpretations, attributing the phenomenon to an optical illusion, though the image was sent for special examination.

The magazine includes a "Critique and Bibliography" section, offering a rating system for ufological periodicals and new books. In this issue, it reviews Alexander Meleshchenko's book "Mysteries of Supernatural Natural Phenomena," rating it as "good" and recommending it for its collection of anomalous phenomena, despite reservations about the author's "unified theory."

Events and Glossary

An announcement is made about the second All-Russian UFOlogists' Congress, scheduled to take place in the anomalous zone of Molebka from August 2nd to 6th. The congress aims to continue research programs, including searches for the Snowman, investigations of old Stalinist camps, and exploration of abandoned villages. The event also includes the acceptance of new candidates into the Russian UFOlogist Research Station (RUFORS) and the issuance of official удостоверения (certificates).

The issue concludes with a glossary of UFO-related terms, including "Objects Seen Floating" (OSF), "foo fighters," and "Lights in the Sky" (LITS), providing brief definitions and historical context for each.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of unexplained phenomena, particularly reincarnation and UFOs, and the critical examination of evidence and theories surrounding them. The magazine appears to maintain a stance of investigating these topics with a degree of skepticism, questioning conventional explanations and encouraging further research. The inclusion of a glossary and book reviews suggests an aim to educate readers and provide resources for deeper study within the field of ufology and paranormal research. The magazine also touches upon issues of global surveillance, highlighting concerns about privacy and information control.

This document is a single page from a magazine issue, identified by the headline "Падение гигантского..." (The Fall of a Giant...). The issue number is listed as '1', but no other publication details like volume, date, publisher, or country are available.

Cover Image and Headline

The primary visual element is a photograph depicting a bright streak in the sky, likely a meteor or another falling object. The image is framed by silhouetted trees and a sky with wispy clouds. The headline, "Падение гигантского...", directly relates to this visual, suggesting a significant event.

Content Analysis

Due to the limited content, a detailed analysis of articles or specific reports is not possible. The available information points to a focus on a celestial phenomenon or a UAP sighting. The object is described as a 'streak' and its behavior as 'falling'. No specific characteristics like color, size, speed, or altitude are provided, nor are any electromagnetic effects or physical trace evidence mentioned.

Themes and Tags

The primary theme identified is a 'UAP sighting'. Associated tags include 'UAP', 'sky object', 'falling object', 'streak', 'celestial event', and 'Russia' (inferred from the language).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Based on this single page, the editorial stance appears to be focused on reporting or discussing unusual aerial phenomena. The headline and image suggest an interest in potentially dramatic or unexplained events occurring in the sky. Without further pages, it is impossible to determine broader recurring themes or a consistent editorial viewpoint.