On the 11th of January 2013, a series of meetings took place in Paris between the American Mutual UFO Network (MUFON, David MacDonald), the French Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Study Group (GEIPAN, Xavier Passot) and various European Ufologists. These meetings were organised by John Tomlinson, a French MUFON Regional Director, and Jacky Kozan, one of the founders of the Academy of Ufology.

The overall goal of the MUFON coming to Paris was to set the basis of an international scientific cooperation between MUFON and different European UAP organisations. One of the first priorities was to define some cooperation between the MUFON and the GEIPAN, starting with the finalization of a memorandum of understanding regarding guidelines for sighting cases occured in France and collected by MUFON. Besides various individual meetings held during the day between the participants, a special MUFON presentation was organized on Saturday evening by Guy Loterre (OVNI-Paris) and Jacky Kozan in Paris-La Defense.

My summary notes of this event are attached here below:

2013 MUFON Paris meeting_notes

A new book has been published (in German) this month featuring my paper ” The Lure of Local SETI: 50 Years of Field Experiments”, a document that I had prepared for the First IAA Symposium on Searching for Life Signatures (UNESCO/Paris – September 2008).

A very interesting book, a short introduction here:

Michael Schetsche, Andreas Anton (Eds.

To date UFOs have remained a mystery. Their appearance usually occurs unexpected and is always unpredictable. Probably this is why they have been hidden from academic sight for so long.

UFOs are a fantastic phenomenon with a broad range of interpretation. It can raise inconvenient questions – it may even appear as a threat to scientific certainty itself. For most observers, it will ultimately stay a rather unreal reality.

Are UFOs more than a cultural neomyth? Is it nothing but hard to explain yet natural phenomena – or is it a portent of extraterrestrial civilizations after all?

UFOs are and remain a challenge to our thinking. After 65 years of helplessness it appears to be time for a new beginning.

The new paradigm of reflexive UFO research claims: The only way to understand this contradictory phenomenon is through the interaction of natural and cultural sciences. This requires openness to theory and empirical willingness to cooperate on both sides.

Only a natural and cultural scientifically informed approach to UFO research will have a chance to find a way into academic science: beyond all previous prohibition of thought.

The Italian researchers have came up last month with a new theory for explaining the Hessdalen Phenomenon. It suggests that the local characteristics of the valley lead to the production of cold plasmas and/or ion bubbles, by means of chemical effects and thanks to the self-consistency due to the polar properties of water.

However, the document states that this paper does not aim to provide a solution to the origin of the Hessdalen Phenomenon and that ”…to better investigate this working hypothesis, future campaigns will have to focus on the acquisition of wider and higher‐resolution fully calibrated spectra, exploiting the professional instrumentation usually employed in astrophysical observations…”

The English paper can be downloaded from the Italian Committee Project’s website:

‘HESSDALEN: a perfect “natural battery”

Abstract: After 12 years of thorough research, we believe we added an important element to the comprehension of the mysterious phenomenon. The valley shows electrical anomalies, Moreover it has peculiar geological and mineral characteristics. Such features have helped us to put forward a working hypothesis on what we here call “natural battery”, an electrochemical That model could be tested conceiving proper experiments and field measurements.

http://www.itacomm.net/PH/2013_Monari_et-al-en.pdf

In relation to the Norwegian’s spiral sighting (December 9. 2009) and others past UAP sightings, two Russian scientific papers explaining the physics behind such optical phenomena.

Rockets launches and associated tracks left by expended rockets plumes moving through the sky are often responsible for UAP mis-identifications (e.g. Norway 2009, Petrozavodsk 1977).  Indeed most spectacular bursts of luminosity are due to special modes of rockets engine’s operations, e.g. separation of rocket stages or shutdown of solid fuel rocket engines.

Two recent Russian scientific papers from Dr S. Chernouss (past member of the Setka(net) past UFO projects of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Ministry of Defense), Dr Y. Platov and others, describe examples of ”man-made” aurora and discuss their common features, appearances, visual properties and physical mechanisms. Moreover, the authors underline the fact that dynamics of luminous clouds connected with the exhaust product interaction with components of the upper atmosphere can be efficiently used as a method of active experiments in near-Earth space, at a low price.

References:

Optical phenomena associated with the launch of a ballistic missile  BULAVA” December 9, 2009.

http://pgia.ru:81/seminar/archive/2010/6_atmosphere/06-07_Platov.pdf

Optical Phenomena due to Rocket Exhaust Products in the Atmosphere.

http://helion-ltd.ru/opti-phenomena-rocket-exh/

On March 26, 1997, police discovered the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s gate group who had committed suicide in order to reach what they believed was an alien space craft following the Comet Hale–Bopp, which was at its brightest.  Heaven’s gate was an American UFO religion based in San Diego, California.

Such situation should never occur again.

Dec. 21, 2012, won’t be the end of the world (it will just be another winter solstice).

This is the NASA Sciencecast regarding this hoax, myth:

NASA FAQ: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

A professional website (http://www.ipaco.fr/page24.html ) has recently been launched designed to present a state-of-the-art stand point in the field of extracting objective information from digital still or video imagery in which a (so far) non-identified object or phenomenon appears. It also offers for sale user licenses of the IPACO software, which has been specifically developed for that task, as well as offering a resident expert service to produce imagery analysis reports on demand.

This IPACO is a very welcome expertise as the UAP research the photographic domain includes many hoaxes and numerous types of possible mistakes and unintentional wrong moves. The IPACO founders state that: ”The analysis will be conducted quite objectively and without any preconceived ideas, its conclusion consisting either of an explanation (probable or certain) duly proven, or of a statement of non-identification with, in that case, a synthesis of the characteristic elements of the recorded phenomenon, qualitative and quantitative, that may have been recorded. It is possible, with experience, to process many files following relatively standard procedures, whereas a few others sometimes justify far more extensive (and consequently more expensive) investigations. That is why we propose two service levels:

Standard expert analysis: the file is analyzed, for a fixed lump sum, with the output consisting of a Standard analysis report which presents the conclusions, together with – if justified – a quotation for an extensive analysis. Extensive expert analysis: after the standard expert analysis, more specialized investigations are conducted, according to the presented and accepted quotation, and they are made concrete through an Extensive analysis report. Each Analysis report is delivered in the form of a PDF file, such as those presented in our sample galleries…”

One of the IPACO founders is François Louange, who collaborates as a consultant on photo analysis, as well as on detection projects, with GEPAN, SEPRA and GEIPAN. He has contractually produced a dozen technical reports for CNES.

The IPACO software, derived from a long experience in the field of military intelligence, aims to provide the analyst in ufology with a user-friendly and easy-to-use working environment, thanks to which he may concentrate on the very object of his analysis, with permanent access to a toolkit that fits most investigation scenarios. The analysis work is conducted in a highly interactive environment, but it remains always possible to save and edit results, in the form of text reports and images, processed and completed by graphics. However, certain particular cases may still require the use of other software tools, which are highly specialized in one or other specific domain.

The ongoing evolution of the IPACO software aims at satisfying both maintenance requirements (correction of residual errors, improvement of existing functions), and wishes expressed by users for adding new tools. IPACO is presently operational in 2 languages (French and American English), but extension to other languages has been anticipated in the software architecture, which will possibly be made concrete through particular cooperations to be set up. The 3 external databases (UFOCAT, IFOCAT and CamCAT), as well as handling of data models, referred to in the IPACO Users’ guide, are not implemented yet, because their detailed specifications will depend on feedback from the IPACO software’s use.

Analysis methodology (from a 2008 CNES GEIPAN document: APN & PAN – Méthodologie d’analyse des photos numériques de PAN), details and demonstration of the IPACO software, sample galleries of explained and unexplained documents (e.g.: http://www.ipaco.fr/EN_IFO_B_banne_120614.pdf), and contact details can be found at:

http://www.ipaco.fr/page24.html

Three posters presented during the last EGU 2012 assembly, by the Norwegian/Italian/French scientists studying the Hessdalen Phenomena (ST3 – Solar-Terrestrial Sciences – Open session on the ionosphere and thermosphere), reflecting their activities’ progress.

1. Unknown radio emission at about 3 MHz recorded in Norway

1.1 Abstract: EGU2012-5186

1.2 Poster:Unknown radio emission at about 3 MHz

2. Different states of the transient luminous phenomena in Hessdalen valley, Norway.

2.1. Abstract: EGU2012-12098-3

2.2 Poster:Different states of the transient luminous phenomena

3. Existence of electric/magnetic signals related to unknown luminous lights observed in Hessdalen valley (Norway)?

3.1. Abstract:EGU2012-5967-1

3.2 Poster: Existence of electric, magnetic signals

Last May, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on GEIPAN, the official French bureau (part of the CNES, the French space agency, ” Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales”) in charge of investigating UFO sightings on the French territory (since 1977). I have prepared a small document in support of the presentation given by Xavier Passot, the current head of GEIPAN.

This document is divided into four parts: The first one provides a small introduction to the UAP topic and on the French background; the second one gives further details on the GEIPAN itself; the third one is the presentation (slides) that has been shown and the the fourth one is an interview of Xavier Passot.

Comments from readers always welcome…

Conference GEIPAN 2012_part1

Conference GEIPAN 2012_part2

Conference GEIPAN 2012_part3

Conference GEIPAN 2012_part4

Conference GEIPAN 2012_part5

Spanish (courtesy of Sergio) and Italian (courtesy of Paolo) questionnaires added under the “Reporting blog” .  Now Just Arabic and Chinese (Mandarin) missing for completing the official languages of the United Nations.

Also, a Blog entry about ATC (Air Traffic Control) Spanish sightings…

 As this week I will atttend the EGU (European Geosciences Union annual conference)  in Vienna and meet the Hessdalen Norwegian researchers, I thought that it was the perfect time to post this interview of Erling Strand. (all articles’ photos are courtesy of Project Hessdalen, Erling Strand and Bjorn Gitle Hauge)

The Hessdalen Phenomena (HP) are transient luminous phenomena which is observed in the low atmosphere over the Hessdalen valley in Norway. The phenomenon, still unexplained, appears like a glowing light ball with dimensions ranging from decimeters up to 30 meters. Since the mid of 1980’s, camera  observations and data measurements have given qualitative and quantitative observations which complement the observations reported by Hessdalen valley inhabitants. Ass. Professor Erling Strand works at the Østfold University College (Norway) as a teacher in the Department of Information Technology. He has a master degree in electrical engineer from the University of Trondheim and studied physical electronics and telecommunications. He is one of the founders of what is called “Project Hessdalen” (HP) (Website:http://www.hessdalen.org/), a project that has been dedicated to studying this unexplained phenomena. In addition, Erling is also the European representative of the Society for Scientific Exploration. Having had the pleasure to meet him recently (and I will see him this week at the 2012 European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, I took the opportunity to ask him the latest HP news:

1/ Some scientists remain skeptical about the existence and significance of the HP phenomena. What do you reply to them? There are very few of such scientists left. There have been so much documentation of the phenomena during the years, so I tell them to be more updated.

2/ You participated for the first time last April to an European Geosciences Union General Assembly. Could you tell if this proved to be beneficial and what kind of feedback you received? I haven’t seen any directly beneficial so far, but in general it is important to inform people at the Geosciences Union about the phenomena. Journalists do contact me often. I don’t ask the journalists where they got the info from. Lately it could have been due to my participation on the EGU, – but that is just speculations.

3/ 27 years after the first field investigation in Hessdalen (http://www.hessdalen.org/reports/hpreport84.shtml), what has been learnt on the Hessdalen Phenomena? It is difficult to say this in a short term. We know that there are many different types of the phenomena, and they are capture on radar. – An answer on your question could be part in a book.

4/ Do you have any information on the possible frequency of apparition of the UP phenomena; i.e. what were the declared sightings records of the last five years? And is the Hessdalen Valley the only location in Norway where this kind of phenomena is reported? The data of observations the last 5 year is no good. The only good data source is the amount of observations done during the Science Camp’s, which takes place during one week, each year. There have been observations on all these Science Camp.

5/ Beside the three main types of HP (i.e. white or blue flashed; big yellow lights, several lights together); could you tell us more about the others kinds of sightings that are reported? Could provide a recent testimony for illustrating this? These three different types consists each of many different types of lights. For instance “big yellow light”, can have many different shapes, lifetime, moving behavior etc. There are also some types which does not fit into any of these “big” boxes. There are daylight observations, which are not a light. But there are very few of such sightings. It can be different solutions to all of these types of phenomena.

6/ Last year collaboration was initiated with the GEIPAN and some French research institutes, could you update us on the current status of this partnership and if some results, data have been obtained from the new equipments installed (electric field and infrasound)? The French institutes have installed instruments in Hessdalen, which continuous record data. They measure electrical and magnetic fields. Whenever observations are done in Hessdalen, it is possible to find out if there have been any unusual magnetic or electrical recordings. The data from these instruments need to be collected manually. They are not on the internet.

7/ In order to acquire more data on the HP and come up with a final theory and explanation, what do you think would need to be done? What instruments would be needed and what kind of logistic would be ideal? If founding had been present, we could find a solution. There are no people working full time on this now. I would build logistics on the data, with a main database. There should be better mapping of different physical properties in the Hessdalen valley. There should have been camera recordings in the IR, UV and the visual. A good radar system. Better reporting system. More cameras, so 3D mapping of the phenomena could have been done.

8/ In 2009 Billionaire Robert Bigelow made a significant donation to the American Ufological association MUFON for supporting a rapid response team that would quickly reach the destination of a high-level UFO event. In the case of the Hessdalen Phenomena, how can you persuade some potential investors to provide some funding or others relevant resources? Why is it important to study the HP? Finding the solution of the HP will give new info about our world. It could be groundbreaking knowledge, because so far the HP does not seems to fit into a known part of our world. Such possible groundbreaking news about our world is important. How important is difficult to say before we know it. Could there be a new energy source? Could this energy source be used so that there will be no need for any fossil fuels? Or maybe even more important info could be achieved.

9/ In a recent interview, you have stated that “…you have had several daytime observations, where you have seen flying discs, etc…”Even if not related to the HP, could you please provide more details on such sightings? I have had only three daytime observations, so the word “several” is wrong. I have however seen several unexplainable “things”, – such which goes into another category than HP or ufo. Two of those three observations was a flying disc. The third was a “black hole”. I did not get the impression that I was looking onto a black object, it was more like a hole into something completely black. This “black hole” changed size all the time.

Thanks Erling for this interview and you success with your Project Hessdalen