Dit is ons nieuw hondje Kira, een kruising van een waterhond en een Podenko. Ze is sinds 7 februari 2024 bij ons en druk bezig ons hart te veroveren. Het is een lief, aanhankelijk hondje, dat zich op een week snel aan ons heeft aangepast. Ze is heel vinnig en nieuwsgierig, een heel ander hondje dan Noleke.
This is our new dog Kira, a cross between a water dog and a Podenko. She has been with us since February 7, 2024 and is busy winning our hearts. She is a sweet, affectionate dog who quickly adapted to us within a week. She is very quick and curious, a very different dog than Noleke.
DEAR VISITOR,
MY BLOG EXISTS NEARLY 13 YEARS AND 4 MONTH.
ON /30/09/2024 MORE THAN 2.230.520
VISITORS FROM 135 DIFFERENT NATIONS ALREADY FOUND THEIR WAY TO MY BLOG.
THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 400GUESTS PER DAY.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND HOPE YOU ENJOY EACH TIME.
The purpose of this blog is the creation of an open, international, independent and free forum, where every UFO-researcher can publish the results of his/her research. The languagues, used for this blog, are Dutch, English and French.You can find the articles of a collegue by selecting his category. Each author stays resposable for the continue of his articles. As blogmaster I have the right to refuse an addition or an article, when it attacks other collegues or UFO-groupes.
Druk op onderstaande knop om te reageren in mijn forum
Zoeken in blog
Deze blog is opgedragen aan mijn overleden echtgenote Lucienne.
In 2012 verloor ze haar moedige strijd tegen kanker!
In 2011 startte ik deze blog, omdat ik niet mocht stoppen met mijn UFO-onderzoek.
BEDANKT!!!
Een interessant adres?
UFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE ALLERLAATSTE NIEUWTJES
UFO's of UAP'S in België en de rest van de wereld In België had je vooral BUFON of het Belgisch UFO-Netwerk, dat zich met UFO's bezighoudt. BEZOEK DUS ZEKER VOOR ALLE OBJECTIEVE INFORMATIE , enkel nog beschikbaar via Facebook en deze blog.
Verder heb je ook het Belgisch-Ufo-meldpunt en Caelestia, die prachtig, doch ZEER kritisch werk leveren, ja soms zelfs héél sceptisch...
Voor Nederland kan je de mooie site www.ufowijzer.nl bezoeken van Paul Harmans. Een mooie site met veel informatie en artikels.
MUFON of het Mutual UFO Network Inc is een Amerikaanse UFO-vereniging met afdelingen in alle USA-staten en diverse landen.
MUFON's mission is the analytical and scientific investigation of the UFO- Phenomenon for the benefit of humanity...
Je kan ook hun site bekijken onder www.mufon.com.
Ze geven een maandelijks tijdschrift uit, namelijk The MUFON UFO-Journal.
Since 02/01/2020 is Pieter ex-president (=voorzitter) of BUFON, but also ex-National Director MUFON / Flanders and the Netherlands. We work together with the French MUFON Reseau MUFON/EUROP.
ER IS EEN NIEUWE GROEPERING DIE ZICH BUFON NOEMT, MAAR DIE HEBBEN NIETS MET ONZE GROEP TE MAKEN. DEZE COLLEGA'S GEBRUIKEN DE NAAM BUFON VOOR HUN SITE... Ik wens hen veel succes met de verdere uitbouw van hun groep. Zij kunnen de naam BUFON wel geregistreerd hebben, maar het rijke verleden van BUFON kunnen ze niet wegnemen...
14-01-2023
Astronomers use the World's Biggest Radio Telescope to map new Features of the Milky Way
Astronomers use the World's Biggest Radio Telescope to map new Features of the Milky Way
Despite everything astronomers have learned about the nature and structure of galaxies, there are still mysteries about the Milky Way. The reason for this is simple: since we are embedded in the Milky Way’s disk, we have difficulty mapping it and observing it as a whole. It’s also very challenging to observe the center of the galaxy, what lies beyond it, and features in the disk itself because of all the gas and dust between stars- the Interstellar Medium (ISM). However, by observing the Milky Way in the non-visible spectrum (radio, x-ray, gamma-ray, etc.), astronomers can see more of what’s out there.
There’s also the spectral line that corresponds to the emission frequency (1420 MHz) of cold neutral hydrogen gas (HI), which makes up the majority of the ISM. Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) – the most powerful radio telescope in the world near Guizhou, China – a team of scientists located more than 500 new faint pulsars. During the survey, the team simultaneously recorded the spectral line data with high spectral and spatial resolution, making it an extremely valuable resource for studying the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy and the life cycle of its stars.
Observing neutral hydrogen in the ISM is vital to astronomers since it is from dense hydrogen clouds that new stars are born. When young and bright, these stars are detectable from how their radiation ionizes surrounding gas. In time, stars will undergo gravitational collapse and go supernova, shedding their outer layers and becoming white dwarf remnants (like a pulsar). The shock waves produced by these explosions compress interstellar gas and accelerate electrons (and nuclei) to close to the speed of light that interact with the interstellar magnetic field and radiate faint radio waves.
The study of the ionized gas in the interstellar medium is therefore fundamental to the study of the birth and death of stars. It is also the last major component of the Milky Way that hasn’t been explored in detail. The FAST array is especially suited for this purpose because it is the most sensitive single-dish radio telescope in the world and is equipped with a highly-sensitive L-band 19-beam cryogenic receiver. This corresponds to radio frequencies of 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz) in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) domain, making it an excellent instrument for hunting pulsars and exploring the ISM.
In its first data release, FAST detected the distribution of neutral hydrogen (HI) gas across 88 square degrees of the night sky, between 33° and 55° Galactic longitude and ±2° Galactic latitude. Though the fine calibration is still in progress, the results of this survey are already the most sensitive to date, showing unprecedented detail about the distribution of HI gas in our galaxy. As emeritus professor John M. Dickey of the University of Tasmania in Australia and the University of Minnesota wrote of the GPPS HI survey:
“[T]he improvement in angular resolution and sensitivity over all previous surveys is impressive. FAST can go deeper and detect fainter emission over wider areas than other telescopes both because it has a larger collecting area (aperture diameter 300 m within the reflector diameter of 500 m), and because it uses a sensitive, 19-beam receiver with Tsys?22 K to collect the radiation… Meanwhile, [the] publication of this first paper on the GPPS HI survey is a landmark accomplishment, worthy of celebration and international attention.”
Logarithmic scale of the Solar System, Heliosphere, and Interstellar Medium (ISM).
Credit: NASA/Caltech-JPL
For the first study in the series, the CAS team processed the hydrogen radio recombination lines (RRL) in the spectral line data for the same sky area covered by the GPPS HI survey. This revealed luminous regions resulting from bright star ionization and patches of diffuse ionized gas (DIG) of unknown origin. The team also tested the FAST observations for radio continuum radiation within our galaxy in an area of 5°× 7° in the sky. The results confirmed the presence of two large faint radio-emissions structures (G203.1+6.6 and G206.7+5.9) that correspond to supernova remnants.
They further confirmed that one of these supernovae took place roughly 1,400 light-years from the Sun. This data is likely to have significant value for studies of the cycle of gas and star formation in the Milky Way. Dr. Dana S. Balser, a scientist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), was quoted by China Daily Mail, saying:
“This GPPS RRL survey is the most sensitive survey to date and has sufficient angular resolution to separate DIG emission from HII regions… Large single-dish telescopes such as the FAST are the best to probe the DIG, the last major component of the Milky Way Galaxy to be well characterized.”
In addition, the team relied on FAST data to measure the polarization and Faraday rotation of 134 faint pulsars in the Galactic halo – the part of our galaxy that extends beyond the main visible component. This required that they measure the magnetic fields that permeate the ISM in this region of the galaxy, which is no easy feat. Nevertheless, using FAST’s extreme sensitivity, the team not only located these pulsars but obtained a magnetic field strength reading of about two microgauss in the Galactic halo. These new measurements provide evidence for magnetic field reversals in the spiral arms of the outer Milky Way.
The interstellar magnetic field in such a wide region was impossible before FAST became operational. Jing Yipeng, a CAS researcher from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, looks forward to the research that the GPPS HI and future surveys using FAST will allow. “The sensitive FAST observations can reveal unprecedented details of the Milky Way,” he said. “The databases of neutral hydrogen and ionized hydrogen published by these papers are valuable resources for astronomers [all] over the world.”
Astronomers Used a Fast Radio Burst to Probe the Structure of the Milky Way
In the past decade and a half, hundreds ofFast Radio Bursts (FRBs) have been detected by astronomers. These transient energetic bursts occur suddenly, typically last for just a few milliseconds, and are rarely seen again (except in the rare case of repeating bursts). While astronomers are still not entirely sure what causes this phenomenon, FRBs have become a tool for astronomers hoping to map out the cosmos. Based on the way radio emissions are dispersed as they travel through space, astronomers can measure the structure and distribution of matter in and around galaxies.
Using the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA) at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), a team of astronomers from Caltech and Cornell University used an intense FRB from a nearby galaxy to probe the halo of hot gas that surrounds the Milky Way. Their results show that our galaxy has significantly less visible (“baryonic” or “normal”) matter than previously expected. These findings support theories that matter is regularly ejected from our galaxy due to stellar winds, supernovae, and accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs).
One of the biggest challenges in studying FRBs has been identifying their place of origin, which is extremely difficult given how short-lived most are. Knowing where these mysterious bursts come from allows astronomers to monitor the source (in case they happen to repeat) and helps them to narrow down what could be triggering the intense flashes. In addition, identifying their locations is essential for using FRBs to study how much matter is distributed across the Universe. To date, astronomers have only been able to trace 21 events back to their galaxies.
The DSA-110 was purpose-built to detect and localize FRBs using 110 × 4.65-m dishes that continuously survey the sky at frequencies between 1280 – 1530 MHz. The array was commissioned in February 2022 and will spend the next three years tracing 300 FRBs to regions smaller than 3 arcseconds (<1/1000th of a degree) – it has discovered and pinpointed the locations of 30 new FRBs to date. Vikram Ravi, an assistant professor of astronomy at Caltech who leads the science team for DSA, presented the results at the 241st Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) – which ran from January 8th to 12th in Seattle.
The early results (as reported in the paper) showed that our Milky Way has less matter than expected and raised new questions about what causes them. Previous studies, like the FRB detected in 2020 with the help of Caltech’s STARE2 project, supported the theory that FRBs are likely caused by stellar remnants with extreme magnetic fields (magnetars). However, the new DSA observations show that FRBs have diverse origins (including older galaxies within rich galaxy clusters). The results also suggest that if FRBs are emitted by magnetars, they are likely formed through multiple unknown pathways. As Ravi said in a Caltech press release:
“We were puzzled at first about why we were discovering so many FRBs. But it comes down to careful engineering of the antennas and receivers, and the software pipelines. We now rarely miss a thing. Magnetars like those in the Milky Way are formed during episodes of intense star formation. To find FRBs from galaxies that have mostly stopped forming stars was surprising. The DSA gathers and processes enormous amounts of data all the time. The data rate is equivalent to watching 28,000 Netflix movies at once.”
The DSA will become even more powerful in the future as all 110 dishes come online (only 63 are currently in operation). Caltech and its partners also plan to build an array of 2,000 radio dishes to create the DSA-2000, which will be the most powerful radio survey telescope ever built. The project would process data at a rate equivalent to roughly 20 percent of today’s global internet traffic (several dozen exabytes). It will also detect an estimated one billion new radio sources, including 40,000 new FRBs (100 times more than we’ve detected so far).
Caltech professor Gregg Hallinan, the director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, will be the principal investigator of DSA-2000. “The DSA-2000 will build upon progress with the DSA and revolutionize radio astronomy,” he said.
One Day There Could be a Pipeline of Oxygen Flowing From the Moon’s South Pole
The Artemis program intends to put humans on the Moon for the first time since NASA’s Apollo missions. But Artemis has a larger scope than just landing people there, setting up some science experiments, gathering Moon rocks, playing a little golf, then leaving. The intent is to establish a consistent presence.
That will require resources, and one of those critical resources is oxygen.
Dr. Peter A. Curreri has been a NASA scientist for decades and has been a strong proponent of human spaceflight. Since 2021, Curreri’s been the Chief Science Officer for Lunar Resources, Inc. Lunar Resources is proposing a novel concept for Artemis: an oxygen pipeline.
An ongoing human presence on Mars requires a few things to succeed, and the foundation of success is built on water and oxygen. The lunar south pole contains vast quantities of primordial water ice, frozen solid in the region’s craters where sunlight never reaches it. That ice can be melted and separated into hydrogen and oxygen.
Everyone involved in lunar science knows this, and the established idea is that the ice would be processed in situ, and oxygen would be put in cryogenic pressure vessels called dewars and transported to wherever it was needed. Since the equatorial regions have the most sunlight and the most solar energy, that’s likely where lunar bases will be established.
But instead of bottling oxygen and transporting it, which could get complicated, Lunar Resources has another idea. Construct an oxygen pipeline from the ice deposits at the south pole or from where oxygen is being extracted from the regolith to facilities elsewhere on the Moon. That idea has caught NASA’s attention, and the Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (LSPOP) is a Phase One project at NIAC, the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept program.
“We propose the Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP), a gaseous oxygen pipeline at the Moon’s South Pole,” Curreri writes in a press release explaining the idea. “A lunar pipeline has never been pursued and will revolutionize lunar surface operations for the Artemis program and reduce cost and risk!”
Oxygen is critical. We need it in human habitats, in vehicles, and in any life-support systems anywhere on the Moon. We also need it as an oxidant for rocket fuel. Ferrying large quantities of oxygen from the south pole to the equator could be cumbersome and would require dedicated vehicles, tanks, and facilities. A pipeline would eliminate vehicles and other resources, including human work hours, from the process.
“The process of moving this oxygen on rovers is more energy intensive than the extraction process and is thought to be the MOST expensive aspect in obtaining in-situ oxygen for use on the Mooconsidering the long distances a resource extraction area will be from a human habitat or liquefaction plant,” Curreri writes.
NASA has already invested significant funding in oxygen and water extraction. Some efforts show that we could get enough oxygen from the regolith. But water can only come from the ice at the poles, and it makes sense to get oxygen from there since some of the water will need to be split to get hydrogen anyway.
Pipelines on Earth are a problem. But not on the Moon. For a lunar oxygen pipeline, leaks don't matter. They don't pollute or cause any damage. The oxygen simply escapes. There's no shifting or changing surface to disrupt the pipeline. The only potential hazard is an impact.
Lunar Resources will explore different ideas for its lunar pipeline concept, but they're starting with a 5 km pipeline. “Our starting concept is for a 5 km pipeline to transport oxygen gas from an oxygen production source, for example, our molten regolith electrolysis (MRE) extraction site or any other source, to an oxygen storage/liquification plant near a lunar base,” Curreri explains.
LSPOP would be manufactured in segments on the Moon’s surface and then joined together in a five km length. The pipeline would likely be made of aluminum, which is plentiful on the Moon’s surface, especially at the south pole. “Other in-situ metals which will also be analyzed for consideration include iron and magnesium,” Curreri writes.
The pipeline would be long-lived, repairable, and evolvable. It would also be cheaper than other methods, though lunar manufacturing would still need some support from Earth.
Lunar Resources says the pipeline could be constructed robotically from metals from the lunar regolith, though some minimal use of Earth materials would still be needed. It could also be repaired robotically. NASA projects that Artemis will need 10,000 kg of oxygen per year initially, and the LSPOP can reach deliver that with a flow rate of about 2kg/hour. It needs minimal power over its lifetime, would be very reliable, and its lifetime in the lunar environment would exceed 10 years.
The Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline is a Phase One selection in the NIAC Program. That means NASA will fund a 9-month-long study for the concept. It provides an opportunity to explore the overall viability and advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the LSPOP. After Phase One ends, Lunar Resources can apply for Phase Two funding, which develops concepts for up to two years.
Astronomers Begin to Understand Strange “Backsplash” Galaxies
Clusters of galaxies do not appear in an instant. Instead they gradually form through the accumulation of many galaxies. But when galaxies fall in they don’t just stop moving. Instead, they keep moving around. These are called backsplash galaxies, and astronomers are using them to help understand the formation history of their home clusters.
Clusters of galaxies are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe. They slowly emerge over the course of billions of years by gravitationally attracting any nearby galaxies (plus plenty of other matter). Those galaxies then fall into the cluster, but due to their incredible speeds they don’t just stop when they reach the cluster. Oftentimes they will swing near the center of the cluster and keep going. They are trapped in the cluster forever, but they don’t stay still, forced to constantly swing back and forth for eternity.
Imagine kicking a ball down a one side of a valley and watching it reach the bottom, then climb back up the other side. The ball won’t leave the valley, but it will keep rolling back and forth until it settles down – this is what galaxies experience at a much larger scale.
Astronomers believe that galaxies that have already passed through the core of the cluster once, known as backsplash galaxies, will be slightly different than galaxies that are just now falling in. To test this idea a team of astronomers recently examined a series of clusters with data taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. They used the velocities of galaxies inside those clusters to separate them into in-falling galaxies and backsplash galaxies.
They found that backsplash galaxies were consistently older, meaning that they had a lower fraction of young stars inside them. The backsplash galaxies also tended to be quieter in terms of overall seller activity than their in-falling cousins.
The astronomers behind the study hypothesize that when backsplash galaxies first encounter the dense environments of the inner cluster, this ramps up star production inside the galaxies. This eats up a lot of usable gas to make future generations of stars, and so when galaxies climb their way back out to the other side of the cluster they have less fuel and so make stars at a far slower pace.
Further understanding the relationship between in-falling and backsplash galaxies will help astronomers piece together the complicated lives of these massive clusters of galaxies.
You won’t believe what these Trowbridge (UK) residents caught on camera: A UFO unlike any other!
You won’t believe what these Trowbridge (UK) residents caught on camera: A UFO unlike any other!
On the evening of August 19, 2022, a group of witnesses in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, were treated to a spectacular and unusual sight in the sky. The group, who were out and about enjoying the evening, reported seeing bright white and red lights swirling and multiplying in the sky.
According to the witn O ess report, the lights initially appeared small, but they quickly got brighter and continued to swirl around, going up and down and leaving a “glittery” trail behind. At first, the group thought the lights might be a firework or drone, but as the lights continued to split and re-join, they realized that this was not the case.
The witnesses recorded the sighting on their phones, but they reported that the event lasted longer than what they were able to capture. They described the lights as a Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) and were amazed by the sight.
This UFO sighting has recently been submitted to the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for further investigation. As one of the leading organizations for investigating UFO sightings, MUFON will likely be conducting interviews with the witnesses and reviewing the evidence to try to determine what exactly was observed in the skies above Trowbridge.
While sightings of UFOs and UAPs are not uncommon, it is always interesting to hear from witnesses who have had the opportunity to observe these phenomena firsthand. This particular sighting in Trowbridge is certainly intriguing and has left many people wondering what exactly it was that was seen in the sky that evening.
The truth is out there: Pentagon’s 2022 report on UFOs raises more questions than answers
The truth is out there: Pentagon’s 2022 report on UFOs raises more questions than answers
On Thursday, the ODNI, the intelligence division of the Pentagon, officially released the report on the various unidentified aerial phenomena that have been identified and reported to the agency since 2002. The report covered over 500 UAP reports submitted by various agencies, including NASA, the Department of Energy, NOAA, and the FAA.
The agency evaluated over 350 newly reported UAP reports, and 26 of them were classified as drones. Out of these, 163 were attributed to balloons, while six were found to be airborne clutter, such as plastic bags and birds. However, over 170 reports of UFO sightings were still deemed untraceable and uncharacterized.
Despite the growing number of reported UAP sightings, the agency noted that many of these incidents are still untraceable and uncharacterized. This highlights the need for better data analysis to identify and attribute these airborne objects to their possible origins. The report also noted that the increasing number of drones has raised concerns about the safety of the country’s airspace.
According to the report, there have been increasing reports of UAP activities in sensitive or restricted airspace, which highlights the potential risks associated with adversary reconnaissance or flight operations. The agency also noted that weather conditions and atmospheric phenomena can contribute to these sightings.Nieuwbouw in de Kijker januari
The report noted that although UFOs pose a threat to flight safety, many of these sightings lack sufficient data to provide reliable and high-level certainty. The report also noted that due to the proliferation of unmanned aircraft, the government is becoming more focused on ensuring that the country’s airspace is safe.
A new study by Caltech’s Konstantin Batygin and his colleague theorizes how super-Earths are formed.
Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)
Black hole twists star into 'donut shape,' Hubble discovery
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a tidal disruption event 300 million light years away. The donut shaped remains of a star were found around a hungry black hole.
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Astronauts Spot Strange Lights on the Dark Side of the Moon
NASA Astronauts Spot Strange Lights on the Dark Side of the Moon. Something very strange happened during the Apollo 8 mission while the astronauts were on board the spacecraft. Something that even NASA cannot explain even till this day. A strange light, like fire, with smoke coming out of it.
Russia's Crazy Decision On Soyuz Leak Damaged!!! NO SpaceX, NO Dragon rescue...
Russia's Crazy Decision On Soyuz Leak Damaged!!! NO SpaceX, NO Dragon rescue... Now, we finally have an answer. On Wednesday, officials from NASA and the Russian state-owned space corporation, Roscosmos, said a replacement Soyuz spacecraft will launch to and autonomously dock with the station next month. The crew that would have flown in the damaged Soyuz MS-22 vehicle will instead fly home in this Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft later in 2023. The leaky Soyuz MS-22 vehicle will make an autonomous return to Earth, bereft of crew, likely in March.
If an emergency occurs aboard the space station that requires evacuation before the replacement arrives, cosmonauts could ride home in the damaged capsule, according to Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalev, but they would face risks from high temperatures and humidity levels that exceed medical limits, requiring a more direct reentry flight home. “Space is not a safe place,” he said. “This situation is not very safe, but it is not a dead end where we have no options.”
Well, they accept the risk and refuse SpaceX's Dragon rescue. In some ways, the Russians are even more conservative than we are, so that wouldn’t surprise me. Find out everything about this in today's episode of Alpha Tech:
Four weeks ago, as two Russian cosmonauts were preparing to conduct a spacewalk, a Soyuz spacecraft attached to the International Space Station started to leak uncontrollably.
The spacewalk was canceled, and since then, Russian and US spaceflight engineers have been analyzing the cause of the leak and its implications for future travel to and from the large laboratory in low-Earth orbit. They have now deduced that a micrometeoroid or small piece of orbital debris struck the external cooling loop of the Soyuz spacecraft, causing all of its coolant to vent into space, and put a recovery plan into place. Russia's Crazy Decision On Soyuz Leak Damaged!!! NO SpaceX, NO Dragon rescue.
Bloody Rituals of the Mayans | Ancient Aliens
Spanish conquerors found thousands of Mayan handwritings that depicted secret rituals. See more in this clip from "Aliens and Lost Civilizations."
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More Than 200 Exoplanets Discovered In 2022!
The global hunt for exoplanets has remained focused on finding a planet like Earth that contains elements of life. The concept of planets beyond our own solar system, or exoplanets, has captivated the public for decades. And with the advances in technology in recent years, we are now able to detect and study these distant worlds in ways that were once unimaginable. In this regard, 2022 was a year of extraordinary success, as astronomers from across the globe discovered over 200 planets beyond our solar system, some of which are poised for further investigation by the James Webb Space Telescope and others. Since the beginning of the planetary survey outside our Solar System, the exoplanet database contained less than 5,000 planets when the year began. In this video, let’s take a look back at the most exciting exoplanet discoveries of 2022.
In a recent tweet, NASA stated, "We started the year with fewer than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets." We end up with 5,235 known worlds. About 4% are rocky planets like Earth or Mars. What will the new year bring? More planets!" So far, the exoplanet catalogs offer a diverse spectrum of planets in terms of composition and features. Small, rocky planets like Earth, gas giants many times the size of Jupiter, and hot Jupiters in dangerously tight orbits around their stars are among them. Meanwhile, the list includes "super-Earths," which are potentially larger rocky planets than our own, and "mini-Neptunes," which are smaller copies of our system's Neptune. But what exactly are exoplanets, and why are we searching for them? - -
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Credits: Ron Miller, Mark A. Garlick / MarkGarlick.com
James Webb Just Detected A Huge Structure Older Than The Universe We Know
James Webb Just Detected A Huge Structure Older Than The Universe We Know The James Webb Space Telescope is living up to its promise as a time machine. The spectacularly sensitive observatory is finding and confirming galaxies more distant, and therefore existing earlier in the universe’s history, than any seen before. And now, it has confirmed extreme distances to four galaxies, one of which set a record for cosmic remoteness by shining about 13.475 billion years ago
CIA Classified Book about the Pole Shift, Mass Extinctions and The True Adam & Eve Story
CIA Classified Book about the Pole Shift, Mass Extinctions and The True Adam & Eve Story
In 1966 a well-known engineer released a book with information that could impact everyone on earth. But before anyone could read it, it was classified by the CIA. We only learned of its existence a few years ago because of a Freedom of Information request. The CIA only released 57 pages of the original 284-page manuscript. And those pages have been, in the CIA's own words, "sanitized". Why does the CIA think this book is so dangerous that they had to hide it from the public for 60 years; and continue to hide most of it? It's because the man who wrote it describes the end of the world.
Two massive balls were found in a forest in Russia 3 months ago. Even Russian news has reported these strange objects with thoughts that they could have originated from space and possibly be alien in origin. However recently this week, two men in military uniforms, claiming to work for the local forest service, used sledge hammers to destroy the two balls. One broken ball reveals a metal framework within ball. Was it technology from another world, a crashed alien UFO or probe? We will never know. All remains of it are gone, and no other evidence of it ever being there is gone. But if it wasn't a real UFO, then why the rush to destroy something using military? The screams coverup, by the Russian government. Which is 100% proof in itself that these two balls, were real UFOs.
Scott C. Waring - Taiwan
News states:
The close attention not only of Russians, but of the entire progressive world in October was riveted to two huge, mysterious balls that mushroom pickers and just hikers discovered in the forests of the Adler district of the resort capital. Returning to the Sochi spheres, let's say that they suffered an unenviable fate - they were destroyed by employees of the Kudepsta district forestry with such a strange wording: "In order to avoid violations of environmental legislation." Residents of the resort capital reacted differently to this decision, many of them were against such a decision. What was inside the mysterious balls? It seems that the answer to this question will forever remain a mystery.
At first glance you might think this is fake, but its not and here is the proof, most people who fake make perfectly level UFOs. This one is tilted, just like Nuclear Physicist Bob Lazar of Area S4 said UFOs do when they move in a direction. This is 100% real and its just fantastic that it was seen in Russia! So few sightings make it to Russian news, so this is one rare gem. Its easy to make out the metal disk hull and the upper dome area. Classic disk at its best.
Scott C. Waring - Taiwan
News states: (google translated)
A UFO was seen over Poim yesterday. An unknown flying saucer circled over the village for some time, and then disappeared from view. The picture was taken by a local resident, there is hardly any doubt about the lack of ability to work with Photoshop.- This is where the Bath Bridge, where Rinat Murakov ... she hung right above the yard, healthy. And then, while the boy began to set up the phone, she had already begun to fly away and turned out to be small. And she's so big... It looks like extraterrestrial intelligent beings are closer than we think...
Two UFOs Over South Australia Following Passenger Jet, Jan 11, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Two UFOs Over South Australia Following Passenger Jet, Jan 11, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: January 11, 2023
Location of sighting: Adelaide, South Australia
Source: MUFON #127859
This report just in, a person was photographing passenger jets passing overhead when he accidentally caught two UFOs. The objects are oval disk like craft which have no wings, no trails, no lights...nothing to identify it as anything but a UFO. Australia desert is perfect for hiding alien bases, which are usually 5km below the surface. Out there in the outback, few people tred due to the high temperatures and lack of roads, nothing but rocks and dirt as far as the eye can see. Yet, UFOs are frequently seen both at night and in the day in the outback, with no explanation of how or why they are there. 100% proof of aliens following passenger jets.
Scott C. Waring - Taiwan
Eyewitness states:
While photographing a Virgin Boeing heading to Coolangatta in Queensland from Adelaide. I saw two large disc shaped objects approach the aircraft from the west coming in from below the aircraft. The objects passed the Boeing at an incredible speed and were last seen heading east in the same direction as the aircraft. The duration of the sighting was about one minute, and in that time, I managed to get four photographs of the incident. There has been a lot of U.F.O. sightings over Adelaide in January. Please find a photograph of the incident.
This just in, a person was taking photos of the moon and accidentally caught a UFO over the volcano. The volcano just happens to be Popocatepetl, which is the most famous volcano in the world due to how often UFOs are seen near its mouth on live cam. However this was taking by a photographer in the area. Just amazing detail, so much so, you can see the metal on the craft, the shape, the seams along the metal like never before. Also note, the light trail of clouds behind it, as I have said many times, UFO can make clouds, usually to hide within.
Scott C. Waring - Taiwan
News states: Karla Garcia told the news portal that her boyfriend, Luis Guerra woke up early one morning recently at their home in Atlixco, Puebla to prepare early breakfast when they heard the eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano. Karla said, Guerra took out his cell phone and started taking pictures and videos and focused on the full moon visible on the side of the mountain. "He then sent me the photo via WhatsApp and when I woke up, I saw it and shared (the photo) on my WhatsApp status," Karla said. However, Karla, who remained in bed, began to receive messages from friends telling her about objects that looked like a UFO flying near the volcano. "As my boyfriend is not a fan of social networks, I asked him if I could upload his photo to Twitter and he said yes,' added García.
Mysterious Lights Filmed Near Military Base: Are They UFOs or Something Else?
Mysterious Lights Filmed Near Military Base: Are They UFOs or Something Else?
On a recent Reddit thread, a user by the name of hyperionkills posted a video of a UFO sighting near a military base in North Carolina. According to the user, the area in which the sighting occurred is a no-fly zone with nothing but woods in the surrounding vicinity. The user also claims that the object appears to be moving faster than planes, but others in the thread suggest that the illusion of speed may be due to the object being low to the ground.
Some have suggested that the objects may be Chinese sky lanterns, which are illegal in North Carolina due to the fire risk. However, the wind direction at the time of the sighting was blowing in the direction of the objects’ movement, which could support the theory that they are lanterns.
Others in the thread speculate that the objects could be government or military technology, or even extraterrestrial in origin. The user who recorded the video also mentions that they thought it could have been something related to SpaceX, but the company had launched a mission (CRS-26) that was in Florida at the time of the sighting.
The user also reported that there were Blackhawk helicopters from Fort Bragg in the air at the same time, but that the objects in the video did not look like helicopters.
In conclusion, the true nature of the objects in the video remains unknown, but theories range from Chinese sky lanterns, to military or government technology, to even extraterrestrial activity.
Mysterious Lights Filmed Near Military Base: Are They UFOs or Something Else?
Mysterious Lights Filmed Near Military Base: Are They UFOs or Something Else?
On a recent Reddit thread, a user by the name of hyperionkills posted a video of a UFO sighting near a military base in North Carolina. According to the user, the area in which the sighting occurred is a no-fly zone with nothing but woods in the surrounding vicinity. The user also claims that the object appears to be moving faster than planes, but others in the thread suggest that the illusion of speed may be due to the object being low to the ground.
Some have suggested that the objects may be Chinese sky lanterns, which are illegal in North Carolina due to the fire risk. However, the wind direction at the time of the sighting was blowing in the direction of the objects’ movement, which could support the theory that they are lanterns.
Others in the thread speculate that the objects could be government or military technology, or even extraterrestrial in origin. The user who recorded the video also mentions that they thought it could have been something related to SpaceX, but the company had launched a mission (CRS-26) that was in Florida at the time of the sighting.
The user also reported that there were Blackhawk helicopters from Fort Bragg in the air at the same time, but that the objects in the video did not look like helicopters.
In conclusion, the true nature of the objects in the video remains unknown, but theories range from Chinese sky lanterns, to military or government technology, to even extraterrestrial activity.
Four UFOs captured on video flying over Chilean city
Four UFOs captured on video flying over Chilean city
Recently in Chile, four UFOs were filmed by a witness from the balcony of their apartment. A fantastic video showing four UFOs hovering in a row was filmed buy a guy called Ignácio, claiming to have filmed it from his balcony “last week.” The images show what appear to be four objects that are not connected to each other. The UFOs were very bright, “like headlights,” according to the witness, and apparently flew over the city before hovering above a skyscraper. Rojas narrates and shows the flight path in the video.
It is unclear where in Chile the sighting took place, as the eyewitness simply wrote “Chile” in their description. There is no certainty of what the objects were, based solely on the size and the fact that they were above the skyscraper, but it is speculated that, due to the movement at the end of the images, they may not have been drones.
These two aircraft do not appear to be police or military helicopters. According to the witness, they were flying very close to the buildings, and they did not have the usual noise levels.
Military Jets Chase UFO Filmed By Fisherman in Spain
The Captain Thomas Mantell UFO Incident: A Look Back 75 Years Later
The Captain Thomas Mantell UFO Incident: A Look Back 75 Years Later
Captain Thomas Mantell had almost 3,000 flight hours, most of which were in combat, and four Air Medals, but he wasn’t able to avoid crashing near a farm in Franklin, Kentucky.. His death, which remains unexplained 75 years later, happened while he was chasing a UFO that was reportedly seen over Fort Knox.
On January 7, 1948, Mantell boarded his F-51D Mustang and headed back to Louisville after dropping off his crew at a base in Georgia. He was asked to investigate reports of a UFO sighting by Colonel Guy Hix, the commander of the Godman Air Force Base. The pilots of Flight C, the 165th Fighter Squadron, were participating in a training exercise at the time.
After Mantell acknowledged Hix’s request, he and his two pilots climbed to a distance of 15,000 feet to chase the UFO. A third pilot, who was identified as Lieutenant John Hendricks, then flew to Standiford. According to Larry Barnes, hundreds of people in Central Kentucky saw the UFO on January 6, 2005, which was a day that featured partly cloudy skies and high cirrus clouds.
According to weather website Wunderground.com, that day featured mild temperatures, calm winds, and at least 10 miles of visibility. It was also likely a typical winter day with clear skies and minimal precipitation. A weather forecaster noted that cirrus clouds would have provided ideal visibility.
The UFO that Captain Thomas Mantell and his crew reportedly saw on January 7, 1948, is described as a large metallic object with a diameter of approximately 30 feet. They reported that the object was moving at a speed of about half its speed and then accelerated as they got closer to it. Some witnesses on the ground described the object as looking like a parachute or an ice cream cone, reflecting sunlight on an airplane’s canopy. The identity and origin of this UFO remains unknown and unexplained 75 years later.
The incident immediately became the subject of headlines as news outlets tried to piece together what happened to Mantell. The questions surrounding his death also remained unanswered.
In February 2022, a story by Jazz Shaw revealed the complexity of the situation as Air Force officials tried to piece together the events surrounding Mantell’s death. According to Shaw and source materials from Project BLUEBOOK, the Air Materiel Command at a base in Ohio asked for meteorological data from the area on January 7, 1948.
According to Shaw, the officials asked astronomers to estimate the positions of Jupiter and Venus in the sky on a daily basis. Although they initially thought they were looking for a mundane explanation, their investigation eventually revealed that the planets would not have been visible from the ground during daylight hours.
Numerous calls were received into the Kentucky State Police’s offices from concerned citizens. As a result, the agency decided to notify Fort Knox’s military police about the object. At around 1:45 p.m., some individuals at Godman spotted the object as it flew across Fort Knox.
Two of the facility’s tower personnel, Stanley Oliver and Tech Sgt. Quinton Blackwell, later described the object as a parachute or an ice cream cone. According to Gary Carter, an operations officer, the object was spotted in the afternoon sky.
Shortly after 2:00 p.m. Mantell radioed to the tower to report that he spotted the object, which he described as a large metallic object with a diameter of approximately 30 feet. He noted that the object was moving at a speed of about half its speed. More than 30 minutes later, he updated his report, saying that the object was moving toward him at a speed of about half its speed.
As he climbed, Mantell noted that he saw the object moving above him at an accelerated rate. He was trying to take a better look at it to see if he could see it.
According to Barnes’ story, the other pilots, Hammond and Clement, aborted their flight and turned back to return to Standiford after running out of oxygen. They then went back to the airbase to get supplies. Mantell continued chasing the object, and he told his radio that he would be flying at an altitude of around 25,000 feet.
According to the tower, the object looked like it was reflecting sunlight on an airplane’s canopy. By 3:50 p.m., the Godman Tower reported that it had lost track of the object. A couple of minutes later, reports of sightings began to come from Fort Knox’s southern communities.
After several more failed transmissions, Mantell’s communications with his ground crew ceased. By 5:10 p.m, debris from his plane was found in Shelby County, about southeast of Louisville. According to investigators, his seatbelt had been ripped. The Air Force initially believed that Mantell was chasing Venus, as a similar incident had happened just a couple of months earlier.
The strange incident immediately sparked a debate about the nature of extraterrestrials. Many believe that Mantell was shot down by hostile aliens. The Air Force’s investigators later concluded that he most likely died due to oxygen deprivation. The crash occurred six months after the infamous UFO crash at Roswell in New Mexico.
The plane continued to climb, and it eventually reached an altitude of 30,000 feet before it started to descend.
It’s widely believed that Mantell was chasing a Navy Skyhook balloon, which was released from a military facility in Ohio. These high-altitude devices were used to gather intelligence. Project Skyhook was a highly classified program that was operating during the time of the Fort Knox and Roswell incident
On the David Darling website, it is stated that the Navy would launch balloons partially inflated. These would slowly increase in height and diameter, eventually reaching an altitude of 60,000 feet.
The website claims that Mantell’s death was caused by the balloons. However, there is currently no evidence supporting this theory. Other reports claim that Mantell’s plane exploded before crashing into the ground, and he reportedly saw people inside the UFO as it flew over his head.
The incident involving Fort Knox and Mantell has been shrouded in mystery for 75 years. In 2001, a historical plaque was placed at the site of his crash, but there are still unanswered questions.
Galactic merger feeding pair or 'gluttonous' black holes
Black holes in a pair of merging galaxies, known as UGC4211, are devouring gas and dust that is "being displaced by the merger," according to ALMA scientists. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) was used for the discovery.
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), M. Koss et al (Eureka Scientific), S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF)
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THIS IS WHY Nikola Tesla Was Stopped From Revealing the Secrets of the Great Pyramid
THIS IS WHY Nikola Tesla Was Stopped From Revealing the Secrets of the Great Pyramid. The Egyptian pyramid is one of the most mysterious structures on this planet. No one knows when they were built, how they were built, who built them, and most importantly: why were they built? In today’s video, we will take you on a journey across time to find out what secrets do the pyramids hold that baffled even the mind of the great Nikola Tesla, and how he was so close to replicating it to create free energy for the whole world.
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Elon's reaction to SpaceX's four orbital launch pads fully loaded Shock the entire world
Two orbital Dragons, four rockets, and four launch pads at the same time! That is what SpaceX just demonstrated in only one day, January 9th. How did Elon Musk react to this? And how does this shock the entire world?
Find out in today's episode of Alpha Tech:
SpaceX made a Hollywood movie on Monday. The space company flexes might with simultaneous Starship, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon operations. Proud of this, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted: "All four orbital launch pads fully loaded with rockets for the first time!" Amazing... indeed!
Now let's enjoy this movie: Firstly, in low Earth orbit, around 400 kilometers (250 mi) up, a Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft was freely flying in space shortly after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS).
Simultaneously, a Crew Dragon spacecraft was docked to the ISS, where it will remain until it returns four astronauts to Earth in February 2023.
“Woo hoo. Station copies. Nice work Dragon team and Houston, we appreciate it,” exclaimed NASA astronaut Nicole Mann after being informed the spacecraft had left the ISS’ “keep-out sphere” after undocking. Mann, a member of Crew-5 and Expedition 68 on board had closed the hatch on Dragon, which had arrived at the station back on Nov. 27, and supervised its departure that occurred just after 5 p.m.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo ship undocked from the station at 5:05 pm ET and will return to Earth on Wednesday loaded with several tons of scientific cargo for analysis.
NASA and SpaceX aim for a landing off of Florida’s coast either in the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico targeting a 5:19 a.m. Wednesday splashdown.
Dragon is bringing back about 4,400 pounds of supplies and experiments, which will be transported after landing to Kennedy Space Center’s Space Station Processing Facility.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the company stacked Starship 24 atop the Super Heavy Booster 7 as SpaceX continues its efforts to prepare for what would be the first orbital flight for the massive rocket. Elon's reaction to SpaceX's four orbital launch pads fully loaded Shock the entire world
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Einstein once asked whether “the moon exists only when I look at it?". It was rhetorical objection to the idea that measurement in quantum mechanics causes reality to become real. But there was a time when the moon didn't exist, and then hours later suddenly did.At least, according to the latest simulations of its formation.
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered its first planet - and the rocky world is similar to our own.
Formally classified as LHS 475 b., the exoplanet is 99 percent of Earth's diameter and while it is terrestrial, scientists do not yet know if it has an atmosphere.
Although the team cannot conclude what is present, they have ruled out a thick methane-dominated atmosphere similar to that of Saturn's moon Titan.
JWST revealed that the planet, which sits 41 light-years away, is a few hundred degrees warmer than Earth and completes an orbit in two days.
There is still much to learn about LHS 475 b., such exoplanets have remained 'invisible' to space telescopes, but JWST proves again just how powerful its technology is.
NASA announced its James Webb Telescope discovered its first planet. Formally classified as LHS 475 b., the exoplanet is 99 percent of Earth's diameter
Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement: 'These first observational results from an Earth-size, rocky planet open the door to many future possibilities for studying rocky planet atmospheres with Webb.
'Webb is bringing us closer and closer to a new understanding of Earth-like worlds outside our solar system, and the mission is only just getting started.'
While the discovery is astounding, now scientists are working to determine what the planet's atmosphere consists of.
The team notes that while the planet may have no atmosphere, some atmospheric compositions, such as a pure carbon dioxide atmosphere, have not been ruled out.
Jacob Lustig-Yaeger, both of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said in a statement: 'Counterintuitively, a 100 percent carbon dioxide atmosphere is so much more compact that it becomes very challenging to detect,'
Even more precise measurements are required for the team to distinguish a pure carbon dioxide atmosphere from no atmosphere at all.
The researchers are scheduled to obtain additional spectra with upcoming observations this summer.
'We're at the forefront of studying small, rocky exoplanets,' Lustig-Yaeger said.
'We have barely begun scratching the surface of what their atmospheres might be like.'
The researchers' findings have opened the possibility of pinpointing Earth-sized planets orbiting smaller red dwarf stars.
'This rocky planet confirmation highlights the precision of the mission's instruments,' Stevenson said.
'And it is only the first of many discoveries that it will make.' Lustig-Yaeger agreed. 'With this telescope, rocky exoplanets are the new frontier.'
Even though scientists do not know what the atmosphere consists of, JWST has the ability to find out.
NASA announced in November that the telescope successfully revealed the makeup of an exoplanet's atmosphere in never before seen detail, and the milestone suggests it could also search for alien life.
scientists do not yet know if it has an atmosphere. Although the team cannot conclude what is present, they have ruled out a thick methane-dominated atmosphere similar to that of Saturn's moon Titan.
JWST's powerful instruments captured atoms and molecules, along with signs of active chemistry and clouds - features Hubble and Spitzer were unable to detect when they observed the planet and those that hold evidence of signs of life.
Astronomers used WASP-39b, a hot Saturn 700 light-years from Earth, to test the telescope's capabilities. The telescope used its infrared capabilities to pick up colors and chemical fingerprints that cannot be detected in visible light.
The new insights, deemed a 'game changer,' could reveal how this exoplanet formed out of the disk of gas and dust surrounding the parent star in its younger years.
WASP-39b is orbiting a host star that is eight times closer than Mercury is to our sun, which astronomers believe should bring a deeper understanding of how these processes affect the diversity of planets observed in the galaxy.
A light curve from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) shows the change in brightness from the LHS 475 star system over time as the planet transited the star on August 31, 2022 - and this is how the telescope spotted it
To uncover the exoplanet's secrets, JWST tracked the planet as it passed in front of its star, allowing some of its light to filter through its atmosphere.
'Different types of chemicals in the atmosphere absorb different colors of the starlight spectrum, so the missing colors tell astronomers which molecules are present,' NASA shared in Tuesday's announcement.
'By viewing the universe in infrared light, Webb can pick up chemical fingerprints that can't be detected in visible light.'
The telescope also detected a range of elements, including sodium (Na), potassium (K) and water vapor (H20) in the exoplanet's atmosphere.
These confirm what was previously captured by space and ground-based telescope observations, but JWST found additional fingerprints of water at these longer wavelengths that have not been seen before.
Carbon dioxide was also found in the new data, which was detected at higher resolutions, providing twice as much as previously observed.
And while carbon monoxide was detected, astronomers did not identify methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the data.
James Webb-telescoop ontdekt rotsachtige exoplaneet die bijna even groot is als aarde
James Webb-telescoop ontdekt rotsachtige exoplaneet die bijna even groot is als aarde
Onderzoekers hebben met de James Webb Space Telescope van NASA, ESA en CSA voor het eerst de aanwezigheid bevestigd van een exoplaneet, een planeet die rond een andere ster draait. De planeet, die officieel LHS 475 b wordt genoemd, is bijna even groot als de onze en heeft een diameter van 99 procent van de aarde.
“Het staat buiten kijf dat de planeet bestaat. De nieuwe gegevens van Webb bevestigen dit”, zegt Jacob Lustig-Yaeger, die aan de leiding van het onderzoeksteam van het Applied Physics Laboratory van de Johns Hopkins-universiteit staat. “Het feit dat het ook een kleine, rotsachtige planeet is, is indrukwekkend voor het observatorium”, voegt Kevin Stevenson, medeleider van het team, eraan toe.
“Deze eerste waarnemingsresultaten van een rotsachtige planeet ter grootte van de aarde openen de deur voor vele toekomstige mogelijkheden om de atmosfeer van rotsachtige planeten met Webb te bestuderen”, zegt Mark Clampin, directeur van de afdeling Astrofysica op het NASA-hoofdkwartier in Washington. “Webb brengt ons steeds dichter bij een nieuw begrip van aardachtige werelden buiten het zonnestelsel, en de missie is nog maar net begonnen.”
Atmosfeer?
Van alle telescopen die momenteel in gebruik zijn, is enkel Webb in staat om de atmosferen van exoplaneten ter grootte van de aarde te herkennen. Voorlopig is het echter nog onduidelijk of planeet LHS 475 b een atmosfeer heeft. “Er zijn enkele atmosferen van het aardse type die we kunnen uitsluiten”, licht Lustig-Yaeger toe. “Ze kan geen dikke, door methaan gedomineerde atmosfeer hebben, zoals die van Saturnus’ maan Titan.”
Een zuivere CO2-atmosfeer is veel compacter, dus het wordt zeer moeilijk om dat te detecteren, aldus Lustig-Yeager. Het team moet nog preciezere metingen verrichten om een zuivere kooldioxide-atmosfeer te kunnen onderscheiden van helemaal geen atmosfeer. Deze zomer krijgen de onderzoekers aanvullende gegevens van verdere waarnemingen.
Webb onthulde ook dat de planeet een paar honderd graden warmer is dan de aarde. Als er wolken worden gedetecteerd, zou dat betekenen dat de planeet meer lijkt op Venus, die een CO2-atmosfeer heeft en voortdurend in een dikke wolk is gehuld.
De exoplaneet is slechts 41 lichtjaar van ons verwijderd en ligt in het sterrenbeeld Octant. LHS 475 b legt in slechts twee dagen een baan rond haar ster af. De exoplaneet staat dichter bij haar ster dan eender welke andere planeet in het zonnestelsel, maar de temperatuur van de rode dwergster is minder dan de helft dan die van de zon.
Over the years I've shared with you various aspects of the FBI's investigation of cattle mutilations. But, today, I'm going to share with you just about the whole story. Here we go: Since at least 1967, reports have surfaced throughout the United States of animals – but, chiefly, cattle – slaughtered in bizarre fashion. Organs are taken and significant amounts of blood are found to be missing. In some cases, the limbs of the cattle are broken, suggesting they have been dropped to the ground from a significant height. Evidence of extreme heat, to slice into the skin of the animals, has been found at mutilation sites. Eyes are removed, tongues are sliced off, and, typically, the sexual organs are gone. While the answers to the puzzle remain frustratingly outside of the public arena, theories abound. They include extraterrestrials, engaged in nightmarish experimentation of the genetic kind; military programs involving the testing of new bio-warfare weapons; occult-based groups that sacrifice the cattle in ritualistic fashion; and government agencies secretly monitoring the food-chain, fearful that something worse than “Mad Cow Disease” may have infected the U.S. cattle herd – and, possibly, as a result, the human population, too. Cattle mutilations are a favorite topic of UFO researchers and conspiracy theorists. From the mid-1970s to the dawning of the 1980s, however, the phenomenon was of deep interest to another body: the FBI.
From January to March 1973, the state of Iowa was hit hard by cattle mutilations. Not only that, many of the ranchers who lost animals reported seeing strange lights and black-colored helicopters in the direct vicinities of the attacks. That the FBI took keen notice of all this is demonstrated by the fact that, as the Freedom of Information Act has shown, it collected and filed numerous media reports on the cattle-mutes in Iowa. The next piece of data dates from early September 1974. That’s when the FBI’s director, Clarence M. Kelley, was contacted by Senator Carl T. Curtis, who wished to inform the Bureau of a wave of baffling attacks on livestock in Nebraska – the state in which Curtis resided and represented. At the time, the FBI declined to get involved, as Director Kelley informed the senator: “It appears that no Federal Law within the investigative jurisdiction of the FBI has been violated, inasmuch as there is no indication of interstate transportation of the maimed animals.” One year later, in August 1975, Senator Floyd K. Haskell, of Colorado, made his voice known to the FBI, on the growing cattle mutilation controversy:
“For several months my office has been receiving reports of cattle mutilations throughout Colorado and other western states. At least 130 cases in Colorado alone have been reported to local officials and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI); the CBI has verified that the incidents have occurred for the last two years in nine states. The ranchers and rural residents of Colorado are concerned and frightened by these incidents. The bizarre mutilations are frightening in themselves: in virtually all the cases, the left ear, rectum and sex organ of each animal has been cut away and the blood drained from the carcass, but with no traces of blood left on the ground and no footprints.” The senator had much more to say, too: “In Colorado’s Morgan County area there has [sic] also been reports that a helicopter was used by those who mutilated the carcasses of the cattle, and several persons have reported being chased by a similar helicopter. Because I am gravely concerned by this situation, I am asking that the Federal Bureau of Investigation enter the case. Although the CBI has been investigating the incidents, and local officials also have been involved, the lack of a central unified direction has frustrated the investigation. It seems to have progressed little, except for the recognition at long last that the incidents must be taken seriously. Now it appears that ranchers are arming themselves to protect their livestock, as well as their families and themselves, because they are frustrated by the unsuccessful investigation. Clearly something must be done before someone gets hurt.”
Again, the FBI – some ranchers and media people thought, rather suspiciously – declined to get involved in the investigation of the phenomenon. It was a stance the FBI rigidly stuck to (despite collecting numerous, nationwide newspaper and magazine articles on the subject) until 1978. That was when the FBI learned of an astonishing number of horse and cattle mutilations in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico – mutilations which actually dated back to 1976. They had all been scrupulously investigated and documented by Police Officer Gabe Valdez of Espanola. It was when the FBI was contacted by New Mexico Senator Harrison Schmitt (also the twelfth person to set foot on the Moon – in December 1972), who implored the FBI to get involved, that action was finally taken. In March 1979, Assistant Attorney General Heymann prepared a summary on the New Mexico cases for the FBI, and – for good measure – photocopied all of Officer Valdez’s files to the Bureau’s director. Things were about to be taken to a new level. As Valdez’s voluminous records showed, from the summer of 1975 to the early fall of 1978, no less than twenty-eight cattle mutilation incidents occurred in Rio Arriba County. One of the most bizarre events occurred in June 1976, as Valdez’s files demonstrate:
“Investigations around the area revealed that a suspected aircraft of some type had landed twice, leaving three pod marks positioned in a triangular shape. The diameter of each pod was 14 inches. Emanating from the two landings were smaller triangular shaped tripods 28 inches and 4 inches in diameter. Investigation at the scene showed that these small tripods had followed the cow for approximately 600 feet. Tracks of the cow showed where she had struggled and fallen. The small tripod tracks were all around the cow. Other evidence showed that grass around the tripods, as they followed the cow, had been scorched. Also a yellow oily substance was located in two places under the small tripods. This substance was submitted to the State Police Lab. The Lab was unable to detect the content of the substance. “A sample of the substance was submitted to a private lab and they were unable to analyze the substance due to the fact that it disappeared or disintegrated. Skin samples were analyzed by the State Police Lab and the Medical Examiner’s Office. It was reported that the skin had been cut with a sharp instrument.” Seventy-two hours later, Valdez liaised with Dr. Howard Burgess, of the New Mexico-based Sandia Laboratories, with a view to having the area checked for radiation. It was a wise move. The radiation level was double that which could normally be expected. Valdez’s conclusions on this issue: “It is the opinion of this writer that radiation findings are deliberately being left at the scene to confuse investigators.”
The case was not over, however. Whatever, or whoever, was responsible for the mutilation made a return visit. Once again, we need to take a look at the official files on the affair. In Valdez’s own, official words: “There was also evidence that the tripod marks had returned and removed the left ear. Tripod marks were found over Mr. Gomez’s tire tracks of his original visit. The left ear was intact when Mr. Gomez first found the cow. The cow had a 3-month-old calf which has not been located since the incident. This appears strange since a small calf normally stays around the mother even though the cow is dead.” On the matter of whether or not the mutilations were the work of cults or natural predators, Valdez said: “Both have been ruled out due to expertise and preciseness and the cost involved to conduct such a sophisticated and secretive operation. It should also be noted that during the spring of 1974 when a tremendous amount of cattle were lost due to heavy snowfalls, the carcasses had been eaten by predators. These carcasses did not resemble the carcasses of the mutilated cows. Investigation has narrowed down to these theories which involve (1) Experimental use of Vitamin B12 and (2) The testing of the lymph node system. During this investigation an intensive study has been made of (3) What is involved in germ warfare testing, and the possible correlation of these 3 factors (germ warfare testing, use of Vitamin B12, testing of the lymph node system).” A further, very strange, report can be found in Valdez’s files, from 1978:
“This four year old cross Hereford and Black Angus native cow was found lying on left side with rectum, sex organs, tongue, and ears removed. Pinkish blood from [illegible] was visible, and after two days the blood still had not coagulated. Left front and left rear leg were pulled out of their sockets apparently from the weight of the cow which indicates that it was lifted and dropped back to the ground. The ground around and under the cow was soft and showed indentations where the cow had been dropped. 600 yards away from the cow were the 4-inch circular indentations similar to the ones found at the Manuel Gomez ranch on 4-24-78. “This cow had been dead approximately [illegible] hours and was too decomposed to extract samples. This is the first in a series of mutilations in which the cows’ legs are broken. Previously the animals had been lifted from the brisket with a strap. These mutilated animals all dehydrate rapidly (in one or two days).” As the summer of 1978 progressed, so did the number of reports where elevated radiation readings were found, as Valdez noted in his records:
“It is believed that this type of radiation is not harmful to humans, although approximately 7 people who visited the mutilation site complained of nausea and headaches. However, this writer has had no such symptoms after checking approximately 11 mutilations in the past 4 months. Identical mutilations have been taking place all over the Southwest. It is strange that no eye witnesses have come forward or that no accidents [have] occurred. One has to admit that whoever is responsible for the mutilations is very well organized with boundless financing and secrecy. Writer is presently getting equipment through the efforts of Mr. Howard Burgess, Albuquerque, N.M. to detect substances on the cattle which might mark them and be picked up by infra-red rays but not visible to the naked eye.” A lengthy document, prepared by Forrest S. Putman, the FBI’s Special-Agent-in-Charge at Albuquerque, New Mexico was soon thereafter sent to the FBI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. It read: “Information furnished to this office by Officer Valdez indicates that the animals are being shot with some type of paralyzing drug and the blood is being drawn from the animal after an injection of an anti-coagulant. It appears that in some instances the cattle’s legs have been broken and helicopters without any identifying numbers have reportedly been seen in the vicinity of these mutilations.
“Officer Valdez theorizes that clamps are being placed on the cow’s legs and they are being lifted by helicopter to some remote area where the mutilations are taking place and then the animal is returned to its original pasture. The mutilations primarily consist of removal of the tongue, the lymph gland, lower lip and the sexual organs of the animal. Much mystery has surrounded these mutilations, but according to witnesses they give the appearance of being very professionally done with a surgical instrument, and according to Valdez, as the years progress, each surgical procedure appears to be more professional. Officer Valdez has advised that in no instance, to his knowledge, are these carcasses ever attacked by predator or scavenger animals, although there are tracks which would indicate that coyotes have been circling the carcass from a distance. Special Agent Putman then informed the Director of the outcome of Valdez’s run-ins with officials. He also advised that he has requested Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to conduct investigation for him but until just recently has always been advised that the mutilations were done by predatory animals. Officer Valdez stated that just recently he has been told by two assistants at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory that they were able to determine the type of tranquilizer and blood anti-coagulant that have been utilized.”
Putnam then demonstrated to headquarters the astonishing scale of the mutilation puzzle: “Officer Valdez stated that Colorado probably has the most mutilations occurring within their State and that over the past four years approximately 30 have occurred in New Mexico. He stated that of these 330, 15 have occurred on Indian Reservations but he did know that many mutilations have gone unreported which have occurred on the Indian reservations because the Indians, particularly in the Pueblos, are extremely superstitious and will not even allow officers in to investigate in some instances. Officer Valdez stated since the outset of these mutilations there have been an estimated 8,000 animals mutilated which would place the loss at approximately $1,000,000.” Putman additionally advised the director that: “It is obvious if mutilations are to be solved there is a need for a coordinated effort so that all material available can be gathered and analyzed and further efforts synchronized. Whether the FBI should assume this role is a matter to be decided. If we are merely to investigate and direct our efforts toward the 15 mutilated cattle on the Indian reservation we, I believe, will be in the same position as the other law enforcement agencies at this time and would be seeking to achieve an almost impossible task.
“It is my belief that if we are to participate in any manner that we should do so fully, although this office and the USA’s office are at a loss to determine what statute our investigative jurisdiction would be in this matter. If we are to act solely as a coordinator or in any other official capacity the sooner we can place this information in the computer bank, the better off we would be and in this regard it would be my recommendation that an expert in the computer field at the Bureau travel to Albuquerque in the very near future so that we can determine what type of information will be needed so that when the invitation for the April conference is submitted from Senator Schmitt’s Office that the surrounding States will be aware of the information that is needed to place in the computer. “It should be noted that Senator Schmitt’s Office is coordinating the April conference and will submit the appropriate invitations and with the cooperation of the USA, Mr. Thompson will chair this conference. The FBI will act only as a participant.”
Putnam went on to describe the theories that had been advanced to try and explain the phenomenon: “Since this has not been investigated by the FBI in any manner we have no theories whatsoever as to why or what is responsible for these cattle mutilations. Officer Gabe Valdez is very adamant in his opinion that these mutilations are the work of the U. S. Government and that it is some clandestine operation either by the CIA or the Department of Energy and in all probability is connected with some type of research into biological warfare. His main reason for these beliefs is that he feels that he was given the ‘run around’ by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and they are attempting to cover up this situation. There are also theories that these are cults (religious) of some type of Indian rituals resulting in these mutilations and the wildest theory advanced is that they have some connection with unidentified flying objects.” In the closing section of his report, Putman said: “If we are to assume an investigative posture into this area, the matter of manpower, of course, becomes a consideration and I am unable to determine at this time the amount of manpower that would be needed to give this our full attention so that a rapid conclusion could be reached. The Bureau is requested to furnish its comments and guidance on this whole situation including, if desired, the Legal Counsel’s assessment of jurisdictional question. An early response would be needed, however, so that we might properly, if requested to do so, obtain the data bank information. If it appears that we are going to become involved in this matter, it is obvious that there would be a large amount of correspondence necessary and Albuquerque would suggest a code name be established of BOVMUT.”
As a result of the growing concern surrounding the cattle mutilations, a conference on the subject was held, on April 20, 1979, at the Albuquerque Public Library. There was a heavy concentration of FBI agents at the conference, something which resulted in the following, official document being prepared, which summarized the various theories, cases, and ideas advanced at the conference: “Forrest S. Putman, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Albuquerque Office of the FBI, explained to the conference that the Justice Department had given the FBI authority to investigate those cattle mutilations which have occurred or might occur on Indian lands. He further explained that the Albuquerque FBI would look at such mutilations in connection with mutilations occurring off Indian lands for the purpose of comparison and control, especially where the same methods of operation are noted. SAC Putman said that in order for this matter to be resolved, the facts surrounding such mutilations should be gathered and computerized.
“District Attorney Eloy Martinez, Santa Fe, New Mexico, told the conference that his judicial district had made application for a $50,000 Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) Grant for the purpose of investigating the cattle mutilations. He explained that there is hope that with the funds from this grant, an investigative unit can be established for the sole purpose of resolving the mutilation problem. He said it is his view that such an investigative unit could serve as a headquarters for all law enforcement officials investigating the mutilations and, in particular, would serve as a repository for information developed in order that this information could be coordinated properly. He said such a unit would not only coordinate this information, but also handle submissions to a qualified lab for both evidence and photographs. Mr. Martinez said a hearing will be held on April 24, 1979, for the purpose of determining whether this grant will be approved.
“Gabe Valdez, New Mexico State Police, Dulce, New Mexico, reported he has investigated the death of 90 cattle during the past three years, as well as six horses. Officer Valdez said he is convinced that the mutilations of the animals have not been the work of predators because of the precise manner of the cuts. Officer Valdez said he had investigated mutilations of several animals which had occurred on the ranch of Manuel Gomez of Dulce, New Mexico. “Manuel Gomez addressed the conference and explained he had lost six animals to unexplained deaths which were found in a mutilated condition within the last two years. Further, Gomez said that he and his family are experiencing fear and mental anguish because of the mutilations.” “David Perkins, Director of the Department of Research at Libre School in Farasita, Colorado, exhibited a map of the United States which contained hundreds of colored pins identifying mutilation sites. He commented that he had been making a systematic collection of data since 1975, and has never met a greater challenge. He said, ‘The only thing that makes sense about the mutilations is that they make no sense at all.’”
“Tom Adams of Paris, Texas, who has been independently examining mutilations for six years, said his investigation has shown that helicopters are almost always observed in the area of the mutilations. He said that the helicopters do not have identifying markings and they fly at abnormal, unsafe, or illegal altitudes. Dr. Peter Van Arsdale, Ph. D., Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Denver, suggested that those investigating the cattle mutilations take a systematic approach and look at all types of evidence is discounting any of the theories such as responsibility by extraterrestrial visitors or satanic cults. Richard Sigismund, Social Scientist, Boulder, Colorado, presented an argument which advanced the theory that the cattle mutilations are possibly related to activity of UFOs. Numerous other persons made similar type presentations expounding on their theories regarding the possibility that the mutilations are the responsibility of extraterrestrial visitors, members of Satanic cults, or some unknown government agency. Dr. Richard Prine, Forensic Veterinarian, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, discounted the possibility that the mutilations had been done by anything but predators. He said he had examined six carcasses and in his opinion predators were responsible for the mutilation of all six."
“Dr. Claire Hibbs, a representative of the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, said he recently came to New Mexico, but that prior to that he examined some mutilation findings in Kansas and Nebraska. Dr. Hibbs said the mutilations fell into three categories: animals killed and mutilated by predators and scavengers, animals mutilated after death by ‘sharp instruments’ and animals mutilated by pranksters. Tommy Blann, Lewisville, Texas, told the conference he has been studying UFO activities for twenty-two years and mutilations for twelve years. He explained that animal mutilations date back to the early 1800’s in England and Scotland. He also pointed out that animal mutilations are not confined to cattle, but cited incidents of mutilation of horses, dogs, sheep, and rabbits. He also said the mutilations are not only nationwide, but international in scope. Chief Raleigh Tafoya, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, and Walter Dasheno, Governor, Santa Clara Pueblo, each spoke briefly to the conference. Both spoke of the cattle which had been found mutilated on their respective Indian lands. Chief Tafoya said some of his people who have lost livestock have been threatened. Carl W. Whiteside, Investigator, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, told the conference that between April and December 1975, his Bureau investigated 203 reports of cattle mutilations.”
One month later, the District Attorney’s Office for Santa Fe, New Mexico, secured $50,000 in funding, to allow a detailed study of the evidence to commence – specifically in New Mexico. Very suspiciously, when it was announced that the program was going ahead, the FBI noted that the mutilations came to a sudden halt. This gave rise to deep suspicions that the mutilators were all too human and, having heard of the planned investigation, hastily backed away until matters calmed down – which they did, when the number of new reports trailed off to nothingness. With a distinct lack of new data to go on, the ambitious program was left to study a mere handful of cases – all of which it relegated to the work of predators and absolutely nothing else. Hardly surprisingly, this gave rise to the suspicions, among conspiracy theorists, that this was the goal all along: launch an investigation and assert that the mutes were the work of predators and nothing else, whatsoever, and then close the investigation down. If that was the case, then it worked all too well: the world of officialdom walked away from the mutilation problem, asserting that it had resolved the entire matter in down to earth terms, and assuring the public and the ranching community that there was nothing to worry about.
Evidently, however, there was something to worry about: no sooner had the project closed down, when the mutilations began again. And they still continue to this day. Whether the work of the government, the military, satanic cults, or deadly extraterrestrials, all that can be said of the cattle mutilations is that, officially, at least, they are no longer of any interest to the FBI or to any other arm of officialdom. A solid study of the investigations show that the FBI - just like us - were baffled, but did their best to find the answers. The mystery remains exactly that: a mystery. A really weird mystery. UFOs? Occult activity? Skinwalkers? Secret tests to see if new viruses might have got into the food chain? All theories are strange and usettling.
There can be very few people who have not heard of its infamous name. Many will be familiar with the extraordinary claims of what, allegedly, goes on there. It’s a place that is saturated in secrecy, cloaked in conspiracy theories, and, according to many, is home to Uncle Sam’s very own, highly classified collection of dead aliens, crashed UFOs, and extraterrestrial technology. Highly fortified, and guarded by personnel who have the right to use “deadly force”to protect its secrets, it is Area 51. Although Area 51 – as a classified installation, as a piece of popular culture, and as a magnet for UFO sleuths – has been known of since the late 1980s (when a maverick scientist, about whom much more later, spilled the beans), its origins can be found in the very earliest years of the Cold War.
It may surprise many to learn that, contrary to what the worlds of Hollywood and UFO research suggest, Area 51 is not buried deeply in the heart of nowhere and miles away from civilization. In fact, the surprising reality (to many) is that it is situated barely eighty miles outside of the city of Las Vegas. And, while Area 51 is the title that it is most associated with, the official name of the installation is far less infamous and far more bureaucratic: The Nevada Test and Training Range. It’s located on a dry lake bed called Groom Lake, which has been converted into a highly-classified – and decidedly off-limits - facility, one that is supplemented with huge airstrips, runways, hangars, and, so the rumor-mill goes – deep, underground installations that stretch for miles.
Access to the base is near-impossible; unless, that is, of course, one has the relevant, top secret clearance to do so. The airspace above Area 51 is officially designated a no-fly zone, to anyone and everyone except those attached to the base. Trying to drive to the installation is a pointless task, too: motion-sensor equipment and armed guards dominate the desert terrain, ensuring that no-on can get even within miles of the base. Try and do so and you run the very real risk of being detained, arrested, jailed, or, worse still, shot dead. As far as the origins of Area 51 are concerned, they date back to the height of the Second World War. Just one year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, what was then known as the Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field was created at the 4,409-foot-elevation lake. Its remote location provided the perfect cover for the military to undertake practice bombing missions and the testing of new weaponry. Even though the facility was scarcely of the proportions that it is today, the seeds of deep secrecy and conspiracy were already being quietly sown. It may not be exactly jaw-dropping to learn that the definitive origins of Area 51 began with none other than the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. Although the CIA was established in 1947, it was not until the around the turn of the 1950s that serious consideration was given to constructing a secret, out of the way, well-protected installation from which highly classified research could be undertaken. Given the time-frame, the Cold War era of the 1950s, the U.S. Government knew that it had to take steps to ensure that, at the very least, a balance of power existed between the United States and the former Soviet Union.
Richard M. Bissell, Jr., was a CIA officer who, from 1961 to 1962, held down the job of first co-director of the super-secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which operates much of the United States’ satellite-based surveillance technology. Back in the early 1950s, and before his NRO career began, Bissell astutely realized that there was a pressing need to keep careful watch on what the Soviets were doing, specifically in terms of constructing new military bases, atomic facilities, and aircraft that might pose distinct, serious threats to the security of the United States. So, a plan was initiated to develop a fleet of aircraft – reconnaissance planes designed to fly very fast and very high – that could secretly spy on the Soviets, by penetrating their airspace and securing high-resolution photography of what the Reds were up to. The aircraft was the Lockheed U-2 and the operation was codenamed Project Aquatone.
Obviously, secrecy was paramount and the definite name of the game. Since intelligence data had shown the Soviets had spies in place all across the United States, and even within seemingly secure military facilities and aircraft research centers, a decision was taken to have the project developed not at an existing plant or installation, but at an entirely new one, specifically built for the task. Richard M. Bissell, Jr., was the man who made it all happen. The first thing that Bissell did was to make a careful study of a detailed map of the entire United States. He was specifically looking for somewhere out of the way, largely inaccessible, easily protected, and that would offer a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape – in the event that Communist spies attempted to engage in a bit of localized espionage.
One of those that Bissell approached was a man Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, a brilliant aircraft engineer and designer, and the brains behind both the U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird. He scouted out various places in the United States; eventually settling on one that he felt most fitted the bill that Bissell and the CIA were looking for. In Johnson’s own words, regarding one, particular, scouting operation, he said of the site in question: “We flew over it and within thirty seconds, you knew that was the place. It was right by a dry lake. Man alive, we looked at that lake, and we all looked at each other. It was another Edwards, so we wheeled around, landed on that lake, taxied up to one end of it. It was a perfect natural landing field ... as smooth as a billiard table without anything being done to it.” Johnson was, of course, talking about Groom Lake. Area 51 was about to be born.
Given that the location was blisteringly hot, inhospitable in the extreme, and filled with nothing but deserts, dry beds, and mountains, something had to be done to entice people to come out and work there. Johnson had a brainwave: he decided to christen it Paradise Ranch. It paid off. It was during the first week of 1955 that things really got moving: that was when a group of surveyors arrived on-site, primarily to figure out the logistics involved in constructing a huge, 5,000-foot-long runway. It wasn’t just the construction of the primary runway that began in earnest; the building of workplaces, a couple of rudimentary hangars, and even more rudimentary places to house the workers commenced. In other words, back then, Area 51 was little more than a desert equivalent of a North Pole outpost. As the months progressed, however, the workers were blessed with a couple of sports halls and a small cinema.
To ensure that the Russians didn’t get word of what was afoot at the base, careful steps were taken to ensure that, at any and every given moment, the numbers of people on-site were kept to the bare minimum. That meant, essentially, hardly anyone would stay for lengthy periods of time (all of the workers would be flown in from, and back to, the Lockheed plant), and discussion of what was going on less than 100 miles from Las Vegas was strictly off-limits. The secrecy level was amped up even further when, in July 1955, two things happened: (a) a small, permanent CIA presence was established; and (b) the very first U-2 made its arrival at the base, having been secretly flown in aboard a large, cargo aircraft that was leased out to the CIA. Only days afterwards, the first of a near-unending series of flights began between Lockheed’s Burbank facility and Area 51.In the years that followed, such groundbreaking aircraft as the U-2, the Blackbird, and the A-12 were tested, refined, and flown at Area 51 – all, largely, to try and find ways to keep the Soviet threat to a minimum.
As the demand for yet further advanced aircraft to be produced, taken to the skies, and modified, so did the need for Area 51 to be expanded in both scope and size. As a new decade dawned, a company called the Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company - which, in the 1980s, did contract work for President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program – got involved. A huge new runway – in excess of 10,000-feet - was designed and built by REEC. Numerous hangars, in which the many and varied prototype aircraft could be hidden from any and all aircraft that might intrude too close to the base, were soon constructed. The Department of the Navy provided more than 120 prefabricated, small homes for those that had long-term contracts.To cope with the concerns that the Soviets might try and figure out what was going on, by making high-level flights over Area 51, just two weeks into 1962, highly classified legislation was prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that even more airspace was denied to anyone and everyone without official clearance. There was a good reason for this: February 1962 marked the date on which the first A-12 was flown into Area 51 for testing.
As the 1960s progressed, so did the work of staff at Area 51. One part of that work – a very significant part - revolved around the capture and exploitation of foreign technology. Over the years, the U.S. military acquired a number of Soviet military aircraft, specifically MIGs. Some were the result of defections by Soviet pilots; others were secured after aerial accidents. Numerous, studious examinations of the Soviet technology was undertaken at Area 51, under such projects as Have Ferry, and Have Drill. By the time the 1970s were up and running, Area 51’s finest were focusing a great deal on what has since become termed as Stealth technology – in essence, the ability to render an aircraft invisible to radar. Much of the highly-classified research that led to the construction and deployment of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk (more popularly referred to as the Stealth Fighter) and the Northrop B-2 Spirit (better known as the Stealth Bomber) was undertaken out at Area 51 – by which time the word “vast” barely begins to describe the base. A countless number of aircraft-hangars, underground labs, facilities built into the sides of the surrounding mountains, and new runways were part and parcel of Area 51.
For the most part, no-one – aside from those elite figures in the military, the intelligence community, and the government – knew anything of Area 51 from its creation in the 1950s and right up until the latter part of the 1980s. The late eighties, however, was when everything changed and Area 51 became not just a big name, but somewhere that was forever thereafter inextricably tied to the UFO phenomenon. On a now near-legendary night in March 1989 a man named Robert Scott Lazar made distinct waves amongst the Las Vegas media – and, ultimately, amongst the staff and highest echelons of Area 51, too. According to Lazar – who would only speak under the pseudonym of “Dennis” - for a few months in the latter part of 1988, he worked at what one might term a subsidiary of Area 51. Its name: S-4. As, George Knapp, the host of KLAS-TV, listened intently as Lazar told his story. It was one of fantastic and out of this world proportions – quite possibly, literally. Lazar claimed that at least nine alien spacecraft were stored at Area 51, all of which were being studied by a small group of scientific personnel who were having varying degrees of success in understanding and duplicating the technology. As an alleged, full-blown whistleblower, Lazar was a man both scared and sporting a target on his back. And, now, we all know of the rumors and tales. How many of them are the real deal? That's the question that has circulated since the late 1980s.
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Over mijzelf
Ik ben Pieter, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Peter2011.
Ik ben een man en woon in Linter (België) en mijn beroep is Ik ben op rust..
Ik ben geboren op 18/10/1950 en ben nu dus 74 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Ufologie en andere esoterische onderwerpen.
Op deze blog vind je onder artikels, werk van mezelf. Mijn dank gaat ook naar André, Ingrid, Oliver, Paul, Vincent, Georges Filer en MUFON voor de bijdragen voor de verschillende categorieën...
Veel leesplezier en geef je mening over deze blog.