UFO-Revyn - 1997 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-REVYN
Issue: 1
Volume: 1997
Date: 1997
Publisher: Föreningen UFO-Trestad
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This is the first issue of UFO-Revyn, the member magazine for the local UFO group UFO-Trestad, which is part of the national organization UFO-Sverige. The magazine aims to provide members with the latest ufological news, with an emphasis on local events and investigations.

Editorial Stance and Organization Information

The editorial in the "Ledare" section, written by Jörgen Bengtsson, welcomes members to UFO-Trestad and introduces the magazine. He states that UFO-Revyn will feature recent ufological news, focusing on local cases investigated by the group's research team. It will also cover meeting programs, other club activities, and both Swedish and international ufology, as well as astronomical and scientific developments. The goal is to provide value for the membership fee.

Bengtsson clarifies that UFO-Revyn is a complement to other publications like UFO-Aktuellt and Rapport-Nytt, aiming to gather important news from ufology, astronomy, and natural sciences, along with original articles and commentary. It also serves as a forum for members to express their opinions and ideas.

The magazine highlights the official stance of UFO-Trestad, which is to seek answers to the UFO mystery using scientific methods and critical examination. They do not preach pre-determined solutions, such as UFOs being extraterrestrial spacecraft. The organization maintains an agnostic viewpoint, open to all possibilities, including the eventual non-existence of the physical UFO phenomenon. This approach is contrasted with groups that have turned UFOlogy into a religion.

"Föreningsinformation" details the official establishment of UFO-Trestad on January 16th, 1997, and its acceptance as a local group by UFO-Sverige on March 9th. The article notes the lack of a serious, scientifically working UFO group in the Trestad area and aims to fill that void. It mentions the low membership numbers (14 members as of March 12th) despite successful information meetings, suggesting a potential lack of serious interest or a preference for less scientific approaches.

The section also covers the board's training in Norrköping and upcoming events, including the UFO-Sverige national meeting in Strängnäs. It discusses the pros and cons of starting as a small group, emphasizing the ability to target and attract more intellectual and serious individuals.

A quarterly meeting is announced for April 9th at 7:00 PM in Trollhättan.

UFO-Trestad History and Activities

The "FÖRENINGEN UFO-TRESTAD" section, presented as a "diary" of the group's history, recounts events from its inception. Key milestones include: sending out membership inquiries to 16 subscribers of UFO-Aktuellt in the Trestad area on March 26th, with eight people responding positively, including Roger Skoog, Tony Ekberg, Sigfrid Sandin, and Stefan Karlsson. On April 10th, a similar mailing to former subscribers resulted in four positive responses.

On May 14th, Jörgen Bengtsson attended a UFO meeting organized by a New Age group in Trollhättan, where Gösta Bergström presented a film. On July 30th, Magnus Andersson, Ulrika Christenson, and Jörgen Bengtsson visited AFU in Norrköping. On August 10th, member Sigfrid Sandin reported a UFO observation near Lilla Edet.

Roger Skoog and Jörgen Bengtsson underwent field investigator training in Norrköping on September 28-29. The first information meeting was held on October 9th in Trollhättan, attracting thirty people, but largely devolved into discussions about inner experiences and New Age beliefs. On October 27th, Roger Skoog assisted at the international UFO conference in Gothenburg, where Jörgen Bengtsson was interviewed about the "UFO-elk" case. The second meeting was held on November 6th, featuring Anders Persson from UFO-Väst and Gösta Bergström.

Finally, the section reiterates that UFO-Trestad was formally constituted on January 16th, 1997.

UFOlogy in Trestad: Research Group Updates

The "UFOLOGI I TRESTAD - Forskningsgruppen informerar" section reports on the low UFO activity in the region during the autumn and winter, with cases being delegated to UFO-Dalsland. It mentions misinterpretations of restaurant spotlights as UFOs in Trollhättan and Vassbo. The section also discusses a case from Håbol, Dalsland, reported on January 24th, concerning a luminous sphere seen on October 12th, 1992, during a moose hunt. The observer described it as large as two full moons and moving rapidly southwest. The report form has not yet been returned due to the observer's illness.

The "UFO-elk" case is discussed, with the conclusion that it was likely caused by an electrical discharge phenomenon, not a UFO. The article criticizes journalist Tommy Burman for suggesting a flying saucer was responsible.

Regarding UFO reporting, the section notes that a more detailed account of the UFO-elk case may appear on UFO-Sverige's new CD-ROM or in a future issue of UFO-Revyn. The research group is actively working to collect older, unreported UFO cases from the Trestad area to create an index of local observations. Members are encouraged to report any unrecorded sightings.

A database of over a thousand Swedish UFO observations from 1930 onwards, as recorded in Rapport-Nytt since 1992, is available to members. This database can be used to generate lists of sightings based on various parameters.

The section also highlights the goal of expanding the research group and training more field investigators. Currently, four members have completed UFO-Sverige's courses. They are seeking more active, scientifically interested individuals to cover their large operational area.

Contact information for the UFO-Trestad Research Group is provided for Jörgen Bengtsson, Tony Ekberg, Roger Skoog, and Magnus Andersson.

The Extraterrestrial Connection - Are We Visited by Beings from Space?

This article by Roger Skoog explores the question of whether Earth is visited by extraterrestrial beings. Skoog acknowledges the scientific skepticism surrounding such claims, deeming them highly improbable despite the likelihood of highly developed civilizations existing among the billions of galaxies. He estimates that there could be a million planets with life in the Milky Way alone, some potentially hosting intelligent beings with technologies far superior to ours.

Skoog argues that humanity has only recently announced its existence to the universe via radio (about 50 years ago) and that our nearest neighbors are thousands of light-years away. Therefore, any response would take considerable time. He suggests that if advanced civilizations exist, they might use radio for communication, but interstellar travel would still take hundreds or thousands of years.

He dismisses the idea of frequent visits from extraterrestrials as presumptuous, suggesting that Earth, with its relatively primitive inhabitants, would likely hold little interest beyond anthropological curiosity. He posits that if visits do occur, the vastness of space implies that it must be heavily trafficked by UFOs.

A primary reason for scientific skepticism, according to Skoog, is the nature of UFO encounter reports, which are often described as "hard to digest in their lack of imagination." He notes that these reports attribute technologies to visitors that are often based on our own understanding, whereas alien technology would be so advanced as to be indistinguishable from magic.

Skoog further argues that extraterrestrial life forms are likely to be very different from humans, given the diverse evolutionary paths and random factors in development. He finds the humanoid descriptions in many UFO reports to be uninspired, even for the most imaginative science fiction writers. He questions why technologically advanced beings would not make contact more effectively if they were indeed visiting.

He concludes by clarifying the term "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object) versus "flying saucer." He states that a UFO is an object that remains unidentified until its nature is known, at which point it becomes an IFO (Identified Flying Object). Therefore, a "flying saucer," if it exists, would already be an IFO, not a UFO.

Report from the Field Investigator Course

This report, by Tony Ekberg and Jörgen Bengtsson, details their participation in the first field investigator course held at Marieborg Folk High School in Norrköping on February 22-23. The authors, along with Magnus Andersson and Jörgen Bengtsson from UFO-Trestad, attended the course.

The course began with an introduction by Clas Svahn, followed by Håkan Blomqvist's presentation on UFO-Sverige's ideology and policy. Both emphasized that UFO-Sverige is a serious organization that uses scientific methods to investigate UFO phenomena, discouraging unscientific or vague approaches.

After a coffee break, Irre Bredin and Håkan Ekstrand provided a detailed overview of UFO-Sverige's report handling procedures and how to work as field investigators.

During the afternoon, Clas Svahn presented a session on misinterpretation phenomena, using slides and videos. This included examples of how rocket launches, planets, spotlights, and even natural phenomena like birds and balloons can be mistaken for UFOs when filmed under certain conditions. Many of the videos reportedly caused laughter, particularly those where people filmed Venus and misinterpreted it as a spacecraft.

Following Svahn's presentation, Håkan Blomqvist organized a study visit to AFU, which most participants attended. Those who had visited AFU before opted to explore the town and have a drink. The evening concluded with discussions about UFOs with Clas Svahn and Håkan Ekstrand, lasting until 2:00 AM.

Sunday morning began early, with participants described as not being particularly energetic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the establishment and activities of UFO-Trestad, its commitment to scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, and the broader context of ufology. The magazine emphasizes a critical and skeptical approach, distinguishing itself from more speculative or belief-based groups. There is a clear focus on local UFO cases and the importance of collecting and analyzing data. The editorial stance is one of open-minded scientific inquiry, aiming to uncover the truth about UFOs without pre-conceived notions.

This issue of UFO-Revyn, dated 1997, is a Swedish publication focusing on UFO phenomena, ufology, and related topics. It features articles by Jörgen Bengtsson and Roger Skoog, among others, and includes a mix of investigative reports, astronomical news, and commentary.

UFO Field Investigation Course

The magazine details a UFO field investigation course held at Marieborg. The course included group work on investigating old UFO observations, with tips on how to approach authorities and track down witnesses. A significant part of the course was a lecture by Håkan Blomqvist on the psychology of religion and contact cases, covering the history of UFO movements, cults, and famous contactees like Ashtar, Semla, and Hulda from Venus. The course concluded with a written test and a questionnaire.

The author, Jörgen Bengtsson, evaluates the course, stating it is highly valuable for those with a serious scientific interest but would be a disappointment for those expecting stories of alien visitors. He clarifies that it is more of an 'IFO' (Identified Flying Object) course, focusing on misinterpretation phenomena and UFOs as religious and psychological occurrences, rather than actual extraterrestrial visits. Despite this, he found the course rewarding and essential for an ambitious ufologist.

New Space Programs

Jörgen Bengtsson also contributes an article on new space programs in the late 1990s, highlighting a shift from large, expensive missions like Viking and Voyager to smaller, more affordable probes. Key projects discussed include:

• NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous): Launched in February 1996, it is en route to the asteroid Mathilde and will later explore Eros.
• Mars Pathfinder: Scheduled for launch in December, it aims to land on Mars and explore its surface with a remote-controlled Mars Rover, potentially answering questions about past or present life on the planet.
• Mars Global Surveyor: Also launching in the fall, it will map the Martian surface with high resolution.
• Lunar Prospector: Launched in June 1997, it will map the Moon's poles and search for ice, part of a long-term project to establish a lunar base.
• Future NASA Missions: Around the year 2000, NASA plans probes to Venus, and missions to collect interstellar dust and cometary debris. Probes to Pluto and Titan are also planned.
• Ongoing Missions: The Galileo mission continues its orbit around Jupiter, and the Alpha space station construction is intensifying.

The article concludes that the coming decade promises exciting astronomical discoveries.

A Peculiar Close Encounter

Roger Skoog recounts a case from Trowbridge, England, where a man reported seeing a 210 cm tall, greenish, projected-like figure in his bedroom on January 5, 1980. The entity claimed its people regularly transported humans to other worlds for colonization and initiated wars to reduce overpopulation on planets. It also mentioned efforts to repair Earth's crust with a cement-like substance from their spacecraft.

Skoog questions why such beings would visit ordinary people and enter homes through walls and windows. He also wonders why they don't communicate with influential figures who could enact change. He suggests the case might be a dream, as many close encounters occur during the hypnagogic state (between sleep and wakefulness), where dreams can feel very real.

Miscellaneous Notes

This section, also by Jörgen Bengtsson, presents a collection of brief news items:

• Hubble Telescope: Has photographed auroras on Jupiter.
• Asteroid Discovery: American astronomers have discovered an asteroid larger than Ceres.
• Antimatter: Physicists at CERN have created antimatter particles, with potential applications for solving Earth's energy problems and enabling faster-than-light space travel.
• Schizophrenia and UFOs: Swedish and British doctors have studied brain activity in schizophrenic patients, suggesting a physical component to the condition. The article speculates a possible link between schizophrenia and UFO contacts, given that hallucinations can involve voices and manifestations of unknown beings.
• Celebrity UFO Theories: Mentions Ma Oftedal's claims of contact with Orion beings and Victoria Tolstoy's interest in UFOs, including a dream of being abducted.
• Saturn Mission: NASA and ESA are sending a probe to Saturn in October, with a lander planned for Titan in 2004. The probe will carry a CD-ROM with greetings from a million people.
• Carl Sagan's Death: The renowned astronomer and author Carl Sagan passed away in December. He was known for his 'Cosmos' series and his balanced approach to the UFO debate, which made him unpopular with some enthusiasts.

UFOLOGEN - Analysis of UFO Cases

This article analyzes UFO reports from 1996, categorizing them as a 'between year' with 288 reported cases, of which 155 were recent. The majority were nocturnal light phenomena, leading the author to suggest they might reveal more about the observers than the actual UFO phenomenon. Only 24 cases occurred during the day, and there were no classic 'flying saucer' landings with humanoids, a trend observed globally.

The article posits two explanations: either physical visitors have ceased, or all contacts have a purely psychological basis. It notes that the phenomenon has evolved over time, from tangible events to inner experiences, metallic craft to light phenomena, and from alien encounters to bedroom intrusions and abductions.

Out of the 1996 cases, only 4 were local. Three were explained as searchlights, and one, Sigfrid Sandin's observation from Lilla Edet, was possibly misidentified distress rockets or flares, especially given a nearby fireworks display. No reports were received in June or December, with April and August being the busiest months for reports.

A graph illustrates the monthly variation in UFO report frequency.

Current Astronomy

Jörgen Bengtsson provides an update on current astronomical events:

• Winter Constellations: Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Canis Major are setting earlier, while Leo, Virgo, and Boötes dominate the sky.
• Spring Events: Two major astronomical events are highlighted: the favorable opposition of Mars and the arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet. Hale-Bopp is described as a unique 'snowball' comet that will not return for 3000 years. Information is available via GAK's answering machine.
• Hale-Bopp's Trajectory: It will pass closest to Earth on March 23rd at 1.3 AU and reach perihelion on April 1st, appearing brightest around this time.
• Mars Opposition: Mars was in opposition on March 17th, making it visible all night and appearing as a bright, steady orange-yellow object.
• Other Planets: Few other planets are well-positioned for observation in the spring.
• Meteor Showers: The Lyrids are expected around April 22nd, and the Eta Aquarids in early May.

A star chart shows the positions of constellations and the path of Comet Hale-Bopp.

Spring Constellation: LEO

This section details the constellation Leo, a classic spring constellation:

• Regulus: The brightest star, associated with royalty and power across cultures.
• Denebola: The star at the lion's tail, an A3-star about 43 light-years away.
• Al Geiba: The third brightest star, meaning 'The Lion's Mane'.
• Galaxies: Leo contains several galaxies, including Messier objects M65, M66, M95, and M96.
• Wolf 359: A red dwarf star, the third closest star to our solar system, requiring a powerful telescope to observe.
• Leonids Meteor Shower: Associated with Comet P/Tempel-Tuttle, this shower produces meteor storms every 33 years, with the next expected in 1998 or 1999.
• Leo Minor: A less significant constellation above Leo.

A diagram illustrates the constellation Leo.

Out in the Blue...

This section consists of mixed commentary on ufology:

• Hale-Bopp Rumors: A persistent rumor from American ufologists suggests an alien invasion spaceship is hidden in Hale-Bopp's tail.
• Roswell Autopsy Film: Pathologist Ed Uthman criticized the Roswell autopsy film in Sceptical Inquirer, calling the doctors' performance unrealistic. The author defends the film's uniqueness, arguing that an alien autopsy would be unlike any human procedure.
• Solving the UFO Mystery: Irre Bredin offered a gold watch to anyone who could solve the UFO mystery. The author notes that the continuous influx of new reports makes the phenomenon inherently unsolvable, as each new report could be a genuine ET visit.
• UFO-Sweden's Role: The ongoing nature of UFO reports means UFO-Sweden cannot be disbanded.
• Rival UFO Organizations: Jan-Ove Sundberg ('Texas') has formed a competing UFO organization, adding to existing groups like Sune Hjort's.
• Sune Hjort's Publication: The author criticizes Sune Hjort's publication 'UFO-Kontakt' for allegedly spreading anti-Semitic and fascist messages, suggesting it be renamed 'Hjorth i byxan' (Hjorth in his pants).

Easter Greeting

A humorous illustration depicts an alien emerging from a cracked Easter egg, with the text "GLAD PÅSK!" (Happy Easter!).

Next Issue

Teasers for the next issue include topics such as the fallibility of the eye in causing UFO reports, mysterious light phenomena on the moon, research group updates, a report from a national meeting, and the summer constellation Lyra. UFO-Revyn nr 2 is scheduled for release around May 20th.

Latest News on UFO

An advertisement for UFO-Sverige's information line (0712-770 77) provides information on UFO events in Sweden and abroad, recent observations, and upcoming programs, lectures, or meetings organized by UFO-Sverige. The cost is 4.55 SEK per minute.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Revyn demonstrates a clear editorial stance that leans towards a critical and analytical approach to UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the existence of reports and the ongoing interest in UFOs, the magazine emphasizes psychological, sociological, and misinterpretation explanations over literal alien visitations. The articles on the UFO course and the analysis of Swedish UFO cases highlight this perspective. The inclusion of astronomical news and the critical commentary on certain ufologists also suggest a desire to ground the discussion in science and reason. The magazine appears to serve as a platform for serious investigation and discussion within the ufological community, while also being skeptical of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims.