UFO Potpourri No 396

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 396
Volume/Date: NOVEMBER 1995
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Location: HOUSTON, TX, USA

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI presents a collection of astronomical news and UFO sighting reports. It delves into the discovery and characteristics of the comet Hale-Bopp, discusses the peculiar asteroid Toutatis, and features several eyewitness accounts of unidentified aerial phenomena from various locations.

Comet Hale-Bopp: A New Comet?

The lead article, "HALE-BOPP, NEW COMET?", announces the discovery of a new comet by Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp on July 22-23, 1995. Initial observations described it as having a magnitude between 10.5 and 11, with some condensation and a short tail. By August, observers agreed on its magnitude and appearance. A precise orbit has been plotted, indicating a long-period ellipse with an orbital period of 4,000 years. Detailed orbital data is provided, including Epoch, TT, eccentricity, perihelion distance, argument of perihelion, ascending node, and inclination.

Hubble Telescope Observations

New images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of comet Hale-Bopp reveal a striking spiral "pinwheel" pattern and a "blob" of free-flying debris near the nucleus. Despite being far from Earth (almost 600 million miles), the comet appears surprisingly bright, leading to predictions it could be the brightest of the century in early 1997. Scientists hope these observations will help determine if Hale-Bopp is a giant comet or a moderate-sized object whose activity is driven by volatile ice. The bright clump of light is thought to be ejected icy crust, rotating like a lawn sprinkler, which then disintegrated. This debris moves away from the nucleus at approximately 68 miles per hour, as determined by combining Hubble images with ground-based observations from the Teide Observatory in Tenerife.

Toutatis: A Strange Object

The article "TOUTATIS IS A STRANGE OBJECT" describes the Earth-crossing asteroid Toutatis as one of the strangest objects in the solar system due to its highly irregular shape and complex "tumbling" rotation. Unlike most celestial bodies that spin on a single axis, Toutatis rotates in multiple directions, causing its north pole to wander. On September 29, 2004, Toutatis is predicted to pass Earth at a distance four times that between the Earth and Moon, the closest approach by any known asteroid or comet until 2060. Toutatis measures 2.9 by 1.5 by 1.2 miles and features surface details like two half-mile-wide craters and three prominent ridges, likely from impacts. Earth-crossing asteroids are of significant scientific interest for their relation to meteorites, other asteroids, and comets, as potential targets for exploration, and as sources of materials. The article estimates there are about 1,500 objects larger than one kilometer and 135,000 objects larger than 100 meters in the Earth-crossing population.

UFO Sightings Reports

Cylindrical Object Hovering in Glowing Green Haze

Reported in the SHROPSHIRE STAR (August 24, 1995), three police officers in Aldridge, England, observed a cylindrical object with a glowing green haze hovering over the Great Barr area of Birmingham at 1 am. They contacted local police and a UFO investigation unit. A police helicopter was deployed to search for burnt areas. While police suggested meteor activity, astronomer Dr. Robin Catchpole found no logical explanation. A police spokeswoman confirmed three officers reported the haze.

Soldier Sees a Saucer!

From ADNEWS (August 3, 1995), soldier Rob Cleverdon believes aliens exist and are monitoring Earth. His family saw a saucer over their Broreton home two years prior. Despite Ministry of Defense documents confirming an unidentified object, Cleverdon felt "fobbed off" with excuses. He claims it's a cover-up. The sighting, also seen hundreds of miles away, was explained by some as laser beams, low orbits, or reflections. Cleverdon described the craft as two saucers side-by-side, with a bright, creamy light and a light source underneath, measuring about 300 meters wide by 150 high. It hovered before shooting out of sight in seconds. Military police at RAF Cosford and airport authorities had no record of aircraft flying at the time. The object reportedly traveled up to 400 miles across the coast in minutes.

Cat Reacts to UFO

Reported in the EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES (July 19, 1995), Rachel Lowden of Highwoods, England, saw two large round orange lights hovering over trees near her home. Her cat's strange behavior alerted her to the phenomenon. The lights were larger than airplane lights and sent down beams. Rachel, not a believer, found the object's movement abnormal. The sighting occurred at 2:20 am on July 18.

Cabbies' UFO Shocker

From the SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO (August 18, 1995), two taxi drivers, Michael McMahon and Mike Swatridge, witnessed a mysterious glowing ball of light with a long tail speeding across the sky above Southampton. McMahon described it as "fantastic" and "unbelievable," noting its rapid horizontal movement. The object, described as nearly as big as the moon, zoomed across the city.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of celestial phenomena (comets and asteroids) and the investigation of unexplained aerial sightings. The magazine appears to present UFO reports from various sources, including police, military personnel, and civilians, often highlighting the lack of conventional explanations and hinting at potential government cover-ups. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into anomalous phenomena, presenting witness accounts and scientific data without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond the ordinary.