“FLYING SAUCERS” RECALL OTHER SKY PHENOMENA

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 6

“FLYING SAUCERS” RECALL OTHER SKY PHENOMENA

Current excitement over “ flying sauGers ” is reflected in several letters to-day from 1 Star ’ correspondents. One describes a “ celestial sideshow ” seen by him at Miller’s Flat on May 11; another recalls a “ strange yellow star ” which zig-zagged across the Mosgiel sky five weeks ago; a third tells of a meteor which several earlier observers reported last Friday night; a fourth describes a fireball and‘several meteors, seen the same evening; and a sceptic propounds in four lines of verse his theory to account for “ flying saucers.” Here in that order are the correspondents’ letters: — MILLER’S FLAT SPECTACLE. Sir, —In your issue of Thursday, July 10, a short article appeared headed, ‘ Flying Saucers Not Seen' by Dunedin Astronomers or Public.’ It ended by suggesting that “ flying discs ” are but a figment of mass hypnosis. On the evening of Sunday, May 11 (which is some weeks before this particular kind of celestial sideshow received any publicity), I was picked up by arrangement to be motored home from Coal Creek. We reached Miller’s Flat at dusk or a little after, and the other three occupants of the car (who had been awheel since early morning) went into the Bridge Hotel for tea. Having already had tea at Coal Creek, I stayed outside on the road, and got into conversation with a young man whom I took to be an employee at the hotel—for one reason, because he spoke of a rabbiter having cashed “ here with us at the bar,” in the week previous, a substantial cheque (£32) for four days’ trapping for the Alexandra canning factory. During our conversation I was standing facing downstream (towards Beaumont) , while he was facing upstream (towards Roxburgh). Suddenly he broke off and said excitedly ; “ Look at that; I’ve never seen anything like it.” I wheeled round in time to see the tail end'of the display; but, as he said, I missed most of what he saw. However, what I did see impressed me so much that on the emergence of my three friends from tea 1 told them they had missed an extraordinary sight. On learning that it was “ just a sort of shooting star,” they exhibited an interest polite, but perfunctory and transient.

The display was such as, in the course of a fairly long- experience in both Australia and New/Zealand, I can only call unique. I opened the Dunedin papers on the Monday and was quite nonplussed at. finding no. mention of it, either then, or later, in the shape pf telegrams from correspondents elsewhere. Disappointed, 1 let interest flag until it was revived a few days ago by a description in the cables about “ Flying Saucers as bright discs pursuing a horizontal course through the heavens.” Both my Miller’s Flat acquaintance and myself remarked on the diameter of the projectile as being not much less than that of a full moon, and its trajectory; as being quite horizontal. *' I have; only to add that the meteor appeared in the north-western sky, somewhat nearer the horizon that the/ zenith; that its course was from north-' east to south-west, i.e., from our right to slightly past, our left, front, where it faded “ from the stern,” as it were, the final phase being; a vividly illuminated jagged line, comparable to the method’ employed by mechanical’ draughtsmen to indicate • continuance .of a shaft beyond the limit /If our ‘ local scientists are sufficiently interested, it should not be difficult for them to get into touch with my coobserver .at Miller’s. Flat, .particularly as he had a more prolonged view than myself. I regret not being able to indicate the time any more precisely than somewhere about 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, 1947.—1 am. etc., Karitane. R. P. Bell. ZIZ-ZAGGING STAR. Sir,—“ Flying saucers ” seem to' be the most discussed subject at present, so I would like to mention that five weeks ago my sister drew my attention to a strange, yellow-coloured star. I first noticed it over Mosgiel. It took four minutes to travel across the sky towards Green Island and out to sea. When it was halfway it zigzagged in its course for a quarter of a "minute, and then carried on out of sight. The time was 11 p.m. when first observed. The night was cloudy, with a few breaks here and there, with no other stars visible. Wo were able to follow its course through these breaks. I have never seen anything like it before or since.—l am, etc.. Mosgiel. Resident. FRIDAY’S METEOR. Sir.’- —I was fortunate last Friday evening to. see the meteor. It fell from the north in a slightly westward direction, lighting up the whole place with a greenish radiance. It was going so fast it looked like a long streak. Then it exploded into flame, and trailed smoke. The pieces burnt up immediately. From tfie tune it was first seen to the end, barely three seconds elapsed. There was not the slighest resemblance to “ flying saucers” or even ■“ beer glasses.”—l am. etc.. Watchman. Kaikorai Valley. fireballs and meteors. gi rj —The paragraph in last night’s • Star ’ containing my views on the phenomena visible in the Dunedin night sky last Friday evening attributes to me an erroneous statement which requires correction. Together with many other citizens, I observed a spectacular fireball in the early evening, while later a number of bright meteors flashed across the northern heavens until fog prevented further observation from the city area. It was my intention to draw attention to the following facts:—First, such displays are not unusual, for on any night ol the year watchers of the starry skies are sure to see an occasional “ shooting star.” Indeed, the number of those which reach naked-eye visibility is several millions every 24 hours. Secondly,. meteors are generally grouped in swarms of vast dimensions, each consisting of innumerable members. Because of this swarming tendency, astronomers have shown for the Southern Hemisphere the month of July exhibits maximum meteor activity. Similarly, a study of fireballs reveals a marked maximum at the end of June and the heginning of July. Thus the chances of encountering such objects is considerably increased at this time of the year. Solar activity is notinvolved in this variation. —T nm etc., K. D. Adams. POETIC THEORY. Sir.— The stars above retain their courses, But now, O Lord, we’ve flying saucers. I’ve found they move a trifle quicker, I Depending on your choice of liquor. I ERC,