AFU 19690000 Vimana no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: VIMANA
Issue: 4
Year: 1969
Publisher: Interplanetistit ry (Interplanetisterna rf)
Frequency: Quarterly

This issue of VIMANA, a Finnish magazine dedicated to the study of UFOs, delves into several compelling cases and related phenomena from 1969. It features detailed accounts, witness testimonies, and photographic analysis, aiming to shed light on unidentified aerial phenomena.

UFO-Aalto Pohjois-Suomessa (UFO Wave in Northern Finland)

The cover story highlights a significant UFO sighting that occurred on September 8, 1969, over Särkivaara in Pudasjärvi, Finland. Several individuals reported witnessing a luminous phenomenon resembling a large flying saucer. The article details the event, noting that eyewitnesses described it as a luminous phenomenon.

The Särkivaara Sighting

On October 19, 1969, a research expedition from the Oulu UFO club conducted an investigation into the Särkivaara sighting. Seven researchers interviewed nine individuals, including the primary witnesses: taxi driver Atte Särkelä and teacher Timo Laine. Both were interviewed extensively, and a psychoperceptual test was administered.

The investigation revealed that Atte Särkelä, while driving with six passengers on September 8, 1969, at approximately 01:25, observed a large ball of light ahead. Shortly after, they noticed a second, smaller light ball moving to the side, which was not the same as the first. This second ball appeared to move quietly near the background hills. The passengers were puzzled as the area was wilderness.

Later, they saw the first large ball of light again. The car stopped, and they observed the phenomenon. Some passengers alighted, and new ones joined. The report describes a peculiar spectacle near Särkiperä and Särkivaara: a large, moon-sized ball of light was visible to the left, with a smaller ball attached below it, and another detached small ball to the left. In the terrain between Särkiperä and the mountain, a group of small balls of light engaged in a peculiar display, hovering near the ground, ascending, and performing zig-zag patterns. A larger ball of light, distinct from the others, was seen moving slowly towards Taivalkoski. The witnesses watched this display for a few minutes before driving to Särkelä's school to inform teacher Timo Laine and his wife. Laine observed the lights through binoculars, noting the large ball appeared moon-sized to the naked eye but filled his entire field of view in the binoculars, with parts extending beyond the frame, suggesting it was very close.

Atte Särkelä's drawing of the sighting depicts the relative positions of the large ball, smaller balls, and the terrain features like Särkivaara and Pitämävaara.

Scientific Analysis and Findings

Professor Juhani Oksman, head of the electrical engineering department at the University of Oulu, reviewed the research material and interview transcripts. He stated to VIMANA that no natural explanation, according to current scientific understanding, could be found for the Pudasjärvi UFO sighting.

Radiation measurements taken at the site yielded readings of 0.09 milliroentgen, while the baseline reading at the schoolyard was 0.02 milliroentgen. The higher reading was not in the exact location where the small balls of light were observed near the ground. The report notes that the area has magnetic anomalies and places where compasses malfunction, drawing a parallel to the Turku UFO incidents of 1966, suggesting a possible link between magnetic anomalies and UFO navigation.

Other Finnish Sightings

Enontekiö: Teacher Reino Lehmusvaara and his daughter Elise reported seeing a fiery object rise from near a road in Enontekiö about 3 kilometers away. The object, about 10 meters away from the road, ascended intermittently and lasted for 30-60 seconds before being obscured by the car's roof. The object was later sighted in Kuusamo at approximately 02:00.

Suomussalmi: In the summer of 1967, farmer Arvi Juntunen reported a 'flying saucer' about 70-80 cm in diameter landing in his yard. The object was seen by his brother and a neighbor. Juntunen attempted to capture the object, which reportedly defended itself with electrical discharges from its antennas before ascending rapidly. A peculiar detail mentioned is that the berries on a nearby rowan tree, which the object touched, all fell off when ripe, while berries on adjacent trees were unaffected.

UFOs in Salla

On the night of October 21, 1969, near Hautajärvi in Salla, Finland, excavator operator Pentti Liikanen observed a bright light approaching from the west. The light grew brighter, appearing about half a meter wide, and moved directly forward, stopping intermittently. It then moved horizontally and vertically, as if surveying the terrain. As it approached, the light changed colors, becoming violet and red. Liikanen reported that the light was so bright it illuminated the tractor's cabin. This same object had been seen previously by Liikanen and Helge Korva on multiple occasions, as well as by other workers and locals. Investigations into this case were planned but had not yet been conducted.

UFOs and Their Effects

UFOs and Their Effects: The magazine explores the potential effects of UFOs and associated beings on humans and animals. It cites an article from 'Flying Saucer Review' about a French doctor's case where a patient experienced healing effects. However, it also notes negative impacts, including physical and psychological harm that can last for years. While rare in Finland, one reported case involved a man named P.H. who experienced prolonged fatigue, fever, and depression after an encounter with a UFO. Doctors were unable to find a cause, and it took three months to reduce the fever, with fatigue and depression persisting for years.

Photographic Analysis: Reflections vs. UFOs

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to distinguishing genuine UFO photographs from lens reflections. The article explains the physics of light reflection within camera lenses, illustrating how light rays can bounce off lens surfaces to create spurious images on film. These reflections can take various forms, such as starbursts, rings, or arcs, and their appearance depends on factors like light intensity, angle of incidence, lens quality, and camera settings.

The article analyzes a photograph taken by Hankintapäällikkö Erkki Lauriala, arguing that the 'flying saucer' depicted is actually a reflection. It lists several characteristics that point to it being a reflection: the object is transparent, allowing the sky to be seen through it; its color is similar to a setting sun; it appears two-dimensional; its 'tail' aligns with the direction of the sun's rays; there are no distinct shadows or highlights; the object is not silhouetted against the sun despite the bright conditions; and similar reflections were produced by the same camera model.

International UFO Cases

Soviet Cosmonauts and UFOs: The magazine reports on UFO sightings by Soviet cosmonauts. Professor Ivan Ossietcatov of Moscow is mentioned, and it's stated that astronomers and military observers in the Soviet Union have noted UFOs. Drawings of UFOs seen by an Aeroflot pilot and another Soviet citizen were shown on television. A report was planned to be published in Moscow based on observations made during space flights.

Astronaut Valeri Bykovski reportedly saw an egg-shaped object near Valentina Tereshkova's capsule. The article also references a less-discussed sighting by Titov, noting his subsequent illness might have influenced his perception. The text suggests that Soviet scientists were not yet equipped to definitively identify potential secret space capsules orbiting Earth. However, it is confirmed that something unusual is occurring in Earth's near-orbit, as indicated by a debate involving Professor Leonov, who claimed three unidentified spacecraft were orbiting Earth, including three enigmatic cylindrical 'capsules' and an egg-shaped object seen by Bykovski. The article notes that even the USA could not launch such objects, and the US has denied any involvement.

San José de Valderas, Spain: This case is presented as a highly significant UFO incident. Spanish UFO researcher Antonio Ribera detailed the event in 'Flying Saucer Review'. The case is considered 'ideal' because it includes photographic evidence, eyewitness accounts, physical traces, and material evidence (though radar data and humanoid sightings were absent). On June 1, 1967, in San José de Valderas, a disc-shaped object was observed hovering over a castle. It flew at a low altitude, sometimes near treetops, and exhibited unusual movement, stopping and hovering, then moving like a falling leaf. After about twelve minutes, it ascended rapidly. Witnesses described the object as having a diameter of nearly twelve meters and a peculiar pattern on its underside. One witness compared its shape to an old car hubcap, while another described it as a large orange 'cheese'.

The object was later seen in Santa Mónica, a suburb near San José de Valderas, where it reportedly landed briefly on three 'legs' near a restaurant. The landing site revealed three rectangular marks forming an equilateral triangle, each side about six meters long. Additionally, metallic fragments were found at the landing site.

Analysis of the San José de Valderas Photographs: The magazine discusses two photographs taken of the object. One was taken by a young man photographing his girlfriend, who managed to capture the UFO. Another photographer, 'Antonio Pardo', took nine photos, two of which were initially unsuccessful due to his nervousness. Both photographers captured the pattern on the underside of the UFO. However, witness descriptions of this pattern varied significantly, with some claiming to see window-like openings that were not visible in the photographs. The article presents two drawings based on Pardo's memory and his wife's and daughter's recollections of the underside pattern.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of VIMANA are the detailed investigation of UFO sightings, the critical analysis of photographic evidence to distinguish between genuine phenomena and artifacts like reflections, and the exploration of potential effects of UFOs on witnesses. The magazine adopts a serious, investigative stance, presenting witness testimonies and scientific analysis to understand UFO events. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous research and documentation, while also acknowledging the difficulties in finding definitive explanations for many sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, encouraging readers to critically examine evidence and consider the possibility of extraterrestrial or unknown aerial phenomena.

This issue of VIMANA magazine, dated December 9, 1969, focuses on a variety of intriguing topics including UFO sightings, atmospheric electrical phenomena, and new astronomical discoveries about the size of the universe.

UFO Sighting in Spain

The magazine details a UFO sighting that occurred on February 6, 1966, in Aluche, a suburb of Madrid, Spain. The object reportedly landed, leaving behind traces. Antonio San Antonio's photograph of these landing traces was published in the Informaciones newspaper on February 6, 1966. An analysis by I.N.T.A. (the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology) revealed that the metallic tubes found at the site were made of nickel with an unusually high purity. The green plastic strips within the tubes were also of a special quality, not used elsewhere except in NASA satellites. The liquid inside the tubes evaporated upon opening. The article notes that a similar UFO observation occurred in Madrid, with the object having a similar shape and pattern on its underside, also landing and leaving comparable traces.

Atmospheric Electrical Phenomena: Ball Lightning and St. Elmo's Fire

Written by Pekka Teerikorpi, a significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to exploring atmospheric electrical phenomena that might explain UFO sightings. Dr. Martin D. Altschuler's work on atmospheric electricity and plasma interpretations of UFOs, as presented in the Condon Committee's report, is a primary source.

Atmospheric Electricity Basics

The Earth's atmosphere is constantly filled with electrical phenomena. Normally, the Earth's surface is negatively charged, while the atmosphere above is positively charged, creating a voltage difference of approximately 300,000 V between the surface and an altitude of 60 km. This charge is maintained by thunderstorms, which transport negative charge from the clouds to the ground and positive charge upwards. Dr. Altschuler estimates there are about 1800 thunderstorms active globally at any given time.

Lightning

A regular lightning strike occurs when the voltage difference in a narrow layer of air below clouds becomes sufficiently large, causing ionization of air molecules. This ionization process proceeds from the cloud to the ground, creating a visible streak of light. The thickness of this ionized channel is only a few centimeters. The voltage difference can range from 100 million to 1 billion volts, and the resulting electrical current is about 20,000 A. The lifespan of a normal lightning strike is very short, about 0.1 seconds.

Ball Lightning

Ball lightning is a more difficult phenomenon to explain due to its longer duration, typically lasting several seconds, compared to normal lightning. Eyewitness accounts describe it as a glowing ball that appears near the ground after a lightning strike or descends from the sky. It is usually visible in daylight, maintaining its size and brightness until it disappears. Some observers report it brightening and changing color (red, orange, yellow) just before vanishing. The size of observed balls ranges from 5 to 80 cm, with an average of 30 cm. Their movement is generally slow (around 2 m/s) and horizontal. Conductive objects like power lines and grounded items can influence their path. Some witnesses report smelling burning sulfur. The average lifespan is about 4 seconds, but 10% of observations last over 30 seconds.

St. Elmo's Fire

St. Elmo's Fire is another atmospheric electrical phenomenon. It appears as a luminous phenomenon, usually spherical or oval, above pointed objects like trees, towers, or wires. Its diameter ranges from 10 to 40 cm, and its color is typically blue-white. It is more persistent than ball lightning, lasting for minutes. A key difference is that St. Elmo's Fire stays near conductive surfaces, whereas ball lightning can appear more freely.

Potential UFO Connection

Tri Altschuler suggests that the 'foo-fighters' observed by pilots during World War II might have been instances of St. Elmo's Fire generated near aircraft metal surfaces. The article also mentions light phenomena observed during earthquakes, as discussed by Gordon Creighton in Flying Saucer Review, which have been documented in Japan and elsewhere, sometimes resembling fireballs or glowing clouds. These electrical phenomena, including those related to seismic activity, could potentially be linked to UFO sightings.

Cosmology: Universe Size

The magazine also reports on findings from the U.S. space agency (NASA) based on data from a scientific research satellite. This observatory, orbiting at about 760 kilometers, has studied ultraviolet light from stars and galaxies. The findings suggest that the universe may be at least twice as large as previously estimated. Distant galaxies, particularly the 'blue' ones, appear much brighter than expected. The article states that the universe might be up to 20 billion light-years across, with some indications pointing to 40 billion light-years, which translates to approximately 385 million trillion kilometers. The observatory has photographed 17,000 stars and hopes to photograph another 8,000 before its instruments degrade.

Local UFO Clubs

A list of local UFO clubs across Finland is provided, including contacts in Jyväskylä, Kemi, Kotka, Lappeenranta, Nurmijärvi, Pori, and Seinäjoki.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, and attempts to find scientific explanations or connections to known natural events. There is a clear interest in atmospheric electricity and its potential role in UFO sightings, as evidenced by the detailed discussion of ball lightning and St. Elmo's Fire. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting scientific theories and eyewitness accounts to stimulate discussion and understanding of these mysterious occurrences. The inclusion of astronomical news also broadens the scope of cosmic wonders discussed.