Content uploaded by Jader Monari
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Jader Monari
Content may be subject to copyright.
The EMBLA 2000 Mission in Hessdalen
Massimo Teodorani, PhD
Astrophysicist, Scientific Supervisor of ICPH
http://www.itacomm.net/PH/
Scientific Consultant of CNR-IRA
Via Catalani 45 - 47023 Cesena (FC) - ITALY
E-mail: mteo@linenet.it
Stelio Montebugnoli, MScEE
CNR Leading Technologist and Director
Director of EMBLA 2000 Project
Stazione Radioastronomica CNR-IRA
Via Fiorentina - Medicina (BO) - ITALY
E-mail: stelio@ira.bo.cnr.it
Jader Monari, MScEE
CNR Technologist - Contractor
Stazione Radioastronomica CNR-IRA
Via Fiorentina - Medicina (BO) - ITALY
E-mail: jmonari@ira.bo.cnr.it
ABSTRACT. In August 2000 a team of italian physical scientists, working in collaboration with
Norwegian colleagues from Østfold College, carried out an instrumental expedition in
Hessdalen (Norway), which was just the first of a series of future scientific missions planned by
the joint italian-norwegian EMBLA Project. The expedition was aimed at studying unexplained
anomalous atmospheric luminous phenomena occurring in the Hessdalen valley since about 20
years, and it was particularly focussed to the study of the radio spectrum in the UHF, VLF and
ELF wavelength ranges. The employed radio spectrum analyzers, which were automatically in
function all the time for 25 days, permitted to discover highly anomalous periodic signals
which were caracterized by a spike-like and a doppler-like morphology and which were mostly
detected in the VLF radio range. Moreover, during the many planned skywatching sessions, it
was possible to sight repeatedly luminous atmospheric phenomena of both plasma-like and
structured types in varius points of the Hessdalen valley; some photographs were also taken and
subsequently analyzed. This paper represents a preliminary report on this mission, in which
both radio and visual phenomena are described. Some speculative physical models explaining
some aspects of the recorded anomalous radio signals are discussed.
1. Introduction
The EMBLA Project was born in 1998 as a joint research initiative between Istituto di
Radioastronomia (IRA) based in Medicina (Bologna - Italy) of CNR (Consiglio Nazionale
delle Ricerche) and the Østfold College of Engineering based in Sarpsborg (Norway). The
goal of EMBLA is of studying the electromagnetic behaviour of unexplained luminous
phenomena occurring recurrently in Hessdalen (Norway), by using sophisticated radio
receivers and spectrometers. After several meetings with Erling Strand and Bjørn Gitle
Hauge, assistant professors of Østfold College and principal investigators of “Project
Hessdalen,” it was finally decided to install the CNR-IRA instrumentation in Hessdalen
2
during the month of August 2000. Such instruments have been continuously operating for 25
days.
The Hessdalen phenomenology is officially well known since 1984 (refs. 10, 23, 24, 25, 29,
31, 32, 35, 37). Together with several other cases of recurrent luminous phenomena in the
world (refs. 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 26, 27), Hessdalen is the living proof that atmospheric light
phenomena can be particularly concentrated in specific areas of the world. The reason why
all this occurs is still unknown, even if several theories have been proposed (refs. 6, 21, 25,
34, 41). The phenomenon in Hessdalen was investigated for the first time with
magnetometric, radiometric and radar instrumentation in 1984 by Erling Strand and his staff
(ref. 23): such a pilot instrumental investigation was non-stop and lasted about 40 days during
a period in which the Hessdalen phenomenon was crossing a “flap” phase. This first effort
demonstrated that the light phenomenon is measurable indeed, beeing able to reflect radar
waves, to produce local magnetic perturbances and to cause unexplained “spike-like” radio-
signals in the HF-VHF range. The subsequent EMBLA project, which was put in practice for
the first time in the year 2000, was just aimed at examining closely the radio characteristics
of the Hessdalen phenomenon. Regarding the specific radio field, the main advantages of the
EMBLA Project in comparison with former measurements carried out by Project Hessdalen
in 1984 are the following ones: a) a much wider frequency range (in this case, expanded with
the ELF, VLF and UHF radio windows) and resolution, b) a much higher sensitivity, c) a
totally automated mode of data acquisition. As the Hessdalen phenomenon (HP) generates
light which, according to the previously obtained data, is able to affect the Earth’s magnetic
field, the current aim of the EMBLA project is to map out radio emission from HP and
thereby determine the spectral energy distribution, the emission mechanism and, in case, the
chemical composition of plasmoids due to HP.
Since august 1998 Project Hessdalen is operating with optical automated instrumentation
consisting of a very sophisticated video-camera. Compared with the 1984 observational
period, the monthly incidence of luminous phenomena in Hessdalen nowadays (1998-2000)
has sensibly decreased. On the other hand, the possibility of a constant monitor by means of
an automated video-camera, has highly increased the capability of recording the apparition of
such phenomena all the time. A Panasonic solid-state videocamera supplied with a wide-
angle lens, which is connected with a videorecorder and a Silicon Graphics Indy computer, is
currently installed in the Hessdalen Interactive Observatory (see Figure 1, refs. 1, 2, 28).
Such a system is able to perform every second a complete survey of an accurately chosen
area of the Hessdalen valley and to record any target whose luminosity is greater than a
threshold value; the recorded frames are immediately made available to researchers through
the web site of Project Hessdalen (ref. 29). Each of the recorded optical phenomena is re-
analyzed in a subsequent phase, in which case a selection of real “anomalous cases” is done
by carefully distinguishing such cases from identified objects (such as airplanes or celestial
objects). Uncertain cases for which only a preliminary analysis has been done, are considered
as well: a consistent number of such cases are possibly destined to be regarded as real
anomalous cases after a further analysis. The selected data furnished by the video-camera
which have been obtained so far are shown in Figure 2. Interestingly, by overlapping all the
video frames which were obtained during more than two years, it has been recently
ascertained that the luminous phenomenon is not characterized by preferential directions but
is uniformly and randomly distributed in the sky (see Figure 3).
The data coming from the automatic video-camera may be well indicative of the realistic
trend according to hour and month followed by the Hessdalen lights, but not of the real
3
number of the appearing lights. The Hessdalen Interactive Observatory (HIO) is placed in the
most probable position to see lights, but: a) the angle of sight is limited to a bit more than
100°, b) the employed sensor is not able to record very faint or very short-lasting lights, c)
light phenomena which are very far from the HIO observatory or hidden by hills or occurring
on the opposite side of HIO cannot be recorded. Therefore, the statistics which is deduced
with the present observatory can be considered reliable in order to show a “relative
distribution” according to time, but the obtained numbers should be multiplied by a scale
factor which so far cannot be easily evaluated. The HIO observatory is also supplied with a
Fluxgate magnetometer which is able to furnish hour by hour the intensity of the local
magnetic field (ref. 30). At the present time, Project Hessdalen is going to expand soon the
available instrumentation with: a) new optical CCD sensors, b) an advanced radar, c) a new
magnetometer, d) a second observing station installed in a different point of the valley in
order to furnish a three-dimensional and stereographic representation of the phenomenon.
In such a way the huge efforts which have been done so far by means of the presently
working norwegian Hessdalen Interactive Observatory, are strictly connected with the present
efforts of the italian-norwegian EMBLA initiative in the radio field, which was born just
thanks to the pioneering monitoring work carried out by Project Hessdalen in 1984.
As a first test of this scientifical and technological joint international collaboration, in August
2000, in addition to the presently working automated videocamera, the current Hessdalen
Interactive Observatory has been equipped for about a month with a platform of automated
radio instruments which were projected by the technologists of the Istituto di
Radioastronomia (CNR). Such radio instruments (see Figure 1), just representing the
“EMBLA 2000” starting project, were the following ones:
A. ELFO unit. A VLF-ELF Correlation Receiver and Spectrometer connected to loop
antennas, and then sensitive to a magnetic field in the 1KHz - 14KHz range.
B. INSPIRE unit. A VLF Receiver and Spectrometer connected to a dipole antenna, and
then sensitive to an electric field in the 1KHz - 100KHz range (refs. 7, 8, 39).
C. SS-5 and SENTINEL-1 units. Two spectrometers connected to a 1420 MHz receiver with
5 and 10 MHz bandwidth at 10Hz and 10KHz resolution respectively (ref 17).
D. A wide-band antenna connected to an HP spectrum analyzer scanning from 0.1 GHz -
1.8 GHz.
All these instruments were computer-controlled and data, which were recorded automatically
and continuously, were stored on CD ROMs. This big amount of data (about 21 GBy,
compressed) will be analyzed in detail as soon as the post-processing phase will be in
progress.
4
Figure 1. LEFT. The Hessdalen Interactive Observatory (HIO). RIGHT. The EMBLA monitors inside the
HIO.
The italian-norwegian group, which was mainly composed by electronic engineers Stelio
Montebugnoli (director of the EMBLA 2000 Project) and Jader Monari, astrophysicist
Massimo Teodorani, electronic engineers Bjørn Gitle Hauge and Erling Strand, carried out
also a very intense skywatching activity during night-time. Luminous and peculiar
phenomena were repeatedly observed, and sometimes photographed, in different zones of the
Hessdalen area.
An exhaustive photographic report of the EMBLA 2000 mission has been published on the
web (ref. 16).
HOUR INTERVAL
NUMBER OF EVENTS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0.30
2.30
4.30
6.30
8.30
10.30
12.30
14.30
16.30
18.30
20.30
22.30
5
MONTH
NUMBER OF EVENTS
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
aug-98
sep-98
oct-98
nov-98
dec-98
jan-99
feb-99
mar-99
apr-99
may-99
jun-99
jul-99
aug-99
sep-99
oct-99
nov-99
dec-99
jan-00
feb-00
mar-00
apr-00
may-00
jun-00
jul-00
aug-00
sep-00
oct-00
Figure 2. ABOVE. Hourly number of luminous events reported in the period August 1998 - October 2000
(lower dark bar: ascertained anomalous cases, upper clear bar: still uncertain cases). BELOW. Monthly
number of luminous events reported in the period August 1998 - October 2000 (lower dark bar:
ascertained anomalous cases, upper clear bar: still uncertain cases).
Figure 3. Spatial distribution of luminous events (only yellow lights) reported in the period August 1998 -
October 2000. Big white lights in the sky are due to several positions of the moon during different periods,
which are overlapped in this frame. White lights on the ground are due to illuminated houses. Single
frames were acquired by the E.P. Strand’s Hessdalen Interactive Observatory, final cumulative frame was
obtained by M. Teodorani by using the “lightening” technique in the processing phase.
6
2. Radio spectrometric measurements
During almost all the month of August 2000 very anomalous signals were often recorded.
With the VLF “Inspire” receiver in particular, it was also possible to record “screen
snapshots” at any time in which, during the monitor by the personnel, it was possible to
detect such signals.
The anomalous signals which immediately attracted the personnel’s attention were the
following two ones:
I. SPIKE signals. Spike-like signals appeared in the range 3-7 KHz (see Figure 4) just as
very sharp and straight “narrow lines”. Spikes behaved in a strictly periodic way by
showing regularly “On” and “Off” phases.
II. DOPPLER signals. Doppler-like signals, which sometimes accompanied the spike-like
ones, appeared intermittently in the range 1-2 KHz as more or less inclined “broad lines”,
and covered a narrower frequency interval (see Figure 5) than the spike-like signals. From
the measured frequency shift it was possible to determine a velocity of the emitting source
which was changing in a very short time (of the order of some seconds) from 10.000 up to
100.000 km/sec. The inclination of “broad lines” was occasionally changing from
“negative” to “positive”: this clearly indicated that the doppler shift was both red-wards
and blue-wards.
Such anomalous signals, which occurred both at day-time and at night-time were also
accompanied and/or overlapped with several other types of signals, mostly irregular and
asymmetrical, many of which are suspected to be due to “natural noise” of solar or
atmospheric origin. No luminous phenomena could be reported while the personnel was
controlling the monitors of the radio spectrometers. Any kind of possible time synchronicity
of anomalous radio signals and anomalous light phenomena which were reported during the
skywatching activity, will be ascertained after all the radio data will be processed, as a
precise timetable of the luminous events which were sighted is available. During the EMBLA
operations, it was possible to exclude any possible interference due to other electronic
instruments or electric connections which were just near the used spectrometers. For instance,
although everything else was turned off as a test, the INSPIRE receiver continued to register
exactly the same signals.
A much more detailed behaviour of both kinds of signals has been recorded by the ELFO
receiver, by means of which it is possible to perform Fourier transforms. Analogously, the
SS-5 and SENTINEL-1 spectrometers showed anomalous signals too. As the signals recorded
with these 3 spectrometers didn’t allow an immediate and on-line check also because of the
practical impossibility of extracting snap-shots in these cases, a definitive diagnosis will be
possible only when the post-processing phase will be over.
Anyone of the 4 employed spectrometers acquired continuously data during one month, for a
total amount of 21 GBy (compressed) stored in CD ROMs. The main post-processing
procedures which are currently carried out by the EMBLA team, are described in a final
technical note at the end of this chapter. Such planned measurements (including “WAV”
signals) must allow to build up a quantitative picture of the recorded radio phenomena,
regarding the whole period (about one month) in which spectrometers were in function.
7
Figure 4. Spike signals recorded with the INSPIRE receiver (Y axis: frequency, X axis: time)
8
Figure 5. Doppler signals recorded with the INSPIRE receiver (Y axis: frequency, X axis: time).
ABOVE. Blue-shifted signals. BELOW. Red-shifted signals.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The following post-processing procedures are currently executed:
a) Internal Noise Extraction. In order to eliminate any possible source of instrumental noise in the
data.
b) External Noise Evaluation and Extraction. In order to evaluate or eliminate any source of noise
due to well-known natural sources such as solar activity, atmospheric and ionospheric activity,
earth or rocks activity and human artificial causes (refs. 34, 35, 37, 39, 41).
c) Micro Periodicity. In order to measure the exact time intervals during which spike events occurred.
d) Periodicity of Doppler Reversal. In order to establish the length of the cycle between redshifts and
blueshifts in the doppler signals.
e) Period Variability. In order to verify if, when and how the duration of spike-to-spike intervals vary
with time.
f) Macro Periodicity. In order to evaluate how long is the duration of any period of time in which
spike and doppler events are continuously present, and to verify if such periods occur with a
precise order or logic or if they occur erratically.
g) Signal Intensity. In order to measure the exact amplitude of any interesting signal (spike or
doppler) and verify with which mode the signal is appearing (smoothly or sharply) and/or
disappearing.
h) Signal Morphology. In order to verify if, when and how there are different types of spike or
doppler signals.
i) Frequency Bandwidth or Shifts. In order to verify if, when and how the frequency window in
which spikes or dopplers are present gets narrower or broader, or if some bandwidth shift occurs in
such events.
j) Radio-Optical Synchronicity. In order to deduce what was the radio behaviour around the time in
which light phenomena were sighted.
9
3. Optical Sightings and Typology
The operating team was also devoted to the visual observation of luminous phenomena. Such
kind of skywatching was carried out mostly at the Aspåskjölen site (also called “Vista
Point”), but also near the Finnsåhögda mountain and in Bredslettet not far from the Öyungen
lake. Different types of visual observations were done and only in two cases it was possible
to take photographs of the phenomenon. The personnel was equipped with the following
portable facilities: a videocamera, a reflex camera mounted on tripod, an image intensifier /
IR viewer, binoculars, a fast optical detector, a mini X-ray detector and a Geiger counter;
moreover powerful torches (crypton and xenon types), mini-lasers and compass, were used in
order to signal the positions of different groups of skywatchers. Not all the facilities could be
used in order to monitor the light phenomena: the videocamera, the reflex camera, the
binoculars and the image intensifier, were the mostly employed facilities.
During the observations which were carried out, it was possible to ascertain that the so called
“Hessdalen phenomenon” is really multiform. The phenomenon showed to be characterized
both by pulsating lights and by approximately constant or slowly variable lights, both by
plasma-like lights without a defined countour and by lights with a very defined contour or by
lights which were co-moving following a precise geometric shape, both by short-lasting and
by long-lasting lights, both by lights on the ground and by lights in the sky. Moreover, videos
of pulsating lights at their maximum showed a saturated core (see Figure 6), which was
indicating that during the maximum the luminous intensity reached extremely high values.
The observed phenomena (see Figures 6, 7) are schematically described as follows.
TYPE 1. Strong irregularly pulsating white lights.
Distance: 20-25 Km, Direction: south, Position: between two mountains, Color: white,
Duration: 10-30 seconds for each pulsating event, Regime of motion: approximately standing
still, Number of Events: several events during 3 nights, Luminosity: very high with drastic
change of radiating surface and with an occasionally saturated nucleus, Shape: approximately
spherical, Height above the ground: probably few meters, Dimensions: from 1 to 10 meters,
Time: 23.00 - 01.00, Witnesses: 4-6, Sighting Location: Aspåskjölen, Report type: visual,
video (see Figure 6), intensified/IR, binocular and photographic (photos underexposed).
10
Figure 6. Pulsating light sighted from Aspåskjölen (TYPE 1). ABOVE. The present image is the result of
summation of 15 (1/25 sec) close video frames (video acquired by J. Monari and processed by M.
Teodorani). BELOW LEFT. This frame was obtained when the light, which shows a saturated core,
was at the maximum intensity (video acquired by J. Monari and processed by J. Monari and M.
Teodorani). BELOW RIGHT. 3-D Point Spread Function of the same light at maximum.
11
TYPE 2. Faint regularly pulsating light with color changement.
Distance: 6-7 Km, Direction: north, Position: very low in the sky (about 10°). Color: white,
red, green, blue, Luminosity: more or less faint - changing from star-like to planet-like,
Color, Surface and Luminosity Change Rate: 1-2 seconds, Duration: 40 minutes, Number of
Events: 1, Regime of motion: standing still, Shape: approximately spherical, Height above
the ground: probably 500-800 meters, Dimensions: unvaluable, Time: 00.43 - 01.25,
Witnesses: 3, Sighting Location: Bredslettet (not far from Öyungen lake), Report type: visual,
binocular and photographic (photo very faint).
TYPE 3. Point-like flashes.
Distance: 300 meters - 3 Km, Directions: all, Position: low in the sky just over the top of the
hills, or on the ground. Color: white-blue and orange (one case), Luminosity: normally
strong, Duration: ½ seconds, Number of Events: many, Regime of motion: standing still or
erratically moving, Shape: point-like or, more seldom, line-like, Time: at any hour of the
night, Witnesses: 2-3, Sighting Location: everywhere in the valley, Report type: visual.
TYPE 4. Diffuse flashes in the valley
Distance: 1-2 Km, Direction: west, Position: low in the valley or on the ground. Color: white,
Luminosity: very strong, sudden illumination of all the valley, Duration: ½ - 1 seconds,
Number of Events: 2, Time: 23.30 - 24.00, Witnesses: 1, Sighting Location: hillside up to
Finnsåhögda south, Report type: visual.
TYPE 5. Three co-moving lights in the sky: the “Triangle”
Distance: undetermined, Direction: from south to north, Position: moving in the sky from 20°
(low over horizon) up to 80° along a maximum circle which was close to the zenith, Speed:
about 30°/min, Color: white-yellow, Noise: none, Duration: 2-3 minutes, Regime of motion:
complex of 3 co-moving lights in an exact triangular disposition, which first moved linearly
and slowly towards the observers, then stopped for 5-10 seconds at an height of about 80°
while doing a 90° rotation around its axis, la stly slowly disappeared (about over the
observers’ vertical), Number of Events: 1, Luminosity: slowly changing from Jupiter-like
intensity to star-like intensity, Shape: point-like lights disposed in a geometrical configuration
(exact equilateral triangle) - underlying dark triangular object visible with binoculars,
Radioactivity: normal level, Height above the ground: undetermined, Angular Dimensions of
the Triangular Complex: 3-5°, Time: 24.00 - 24.15, Witnesses: 4 (2 groups), Sighting
Locations: Aspåskjölen and near Finnsåhögda, Report type: visual, binocular, intensified/IR
and Geiger.
TYPE 6. Small stationary light in the wood
Distance: about 100 meters, Direction: east, Position: standing still behind the first row of
trees and just in front of the meadow in Aspåskjölen, Color: white-yellow “neon-like”, Noise:
a whistle while its light was slowly turning on, Duration: about 10 minutes, Number of
Events: 1, Luminosity: constant and at low level (100 W bulb-like), Shape: elliptical (with
very defined contours clearly distinguished by binocular sight), point-spread-function not
resembling a plasma-like object, Height above ground: about 2 meters, Dimensions: 30-40
12
cm, Time: 23.00 - 23.30, Witnesses: 3, Sighting Location: just in Aspåskjölen, Report type:
visual, binocular and photographic (see Figure 7).
Figure 7. RIGHT. Small light sighted near the trees in Aspåskjölen (TYPE 6). Photograph was obtained
with a 200 ASA film, zoom-lens set at 70 mm and an exposure-time of 10 sec (photograph and
processing by M. Teodorani). LEFT. Processing of the enlarged image (above) and 3-D Point Spread
Function (below).
A delegation of the Hessdalen inhabitants was met, thanks to writer Peder Skogaas’ initiative.
Without telling them what the EMBLA team saw during the previous nights, their own
stories and sketches regarding the period 1981-2000 were just listened and carefully
evaluated. They had the occasion to report very often many of the same phenomena which
the EMBLA personnel saw in August 2000. These persons hope that scientists and their
equipment can furnish a definitive answer to what they repeatedly saw in Hessdalen.
4. Discussion
The EMBLA staff came back to Italy with a big amount of radio data, also having had
repeatedly the opportunity of sighting anomalous light phenomena. The sighting of light
phenomena has a value of a pure “witness report”, as unfortunately this year it was not
possible to bring sophisticated instrumentation aimed at taking optical measurements such as
CCD frames and spectra: this specific procedure has been planned for a further phase of the
EMBLA Project (refs. 34, 36, 38, Appendix A). Anyway it must be recognized that the
extraordinary match between the sightings by the EMBLA team and the ones reported over
and over again by the Hessdalen inhabitants plays in favour of the existence of the visual
phenomenon in the bi-modal form with which it has been reported since at least 20 years:
without any sort of doubt unstructured and plasma-like lights often co-exist with “structured
objects” for a reason that is not possible to explain by now, except when the EMBLA Project
will be in a condition to couple current radio measurements with sophisticated radar-assisted
13
optical astronomy-like measurements (ref. 36). On the basis of the multiple witnesses and of
the critical weight that was given to the stories which were expressly told by a delegation
from Hessdalen, it has been possible, at least, to be able to form a more correct idea of the
Hessdalen phenomenon as it appears since a long time in that norwegian valley. The
sightings of type 1 up to 4 match very well the first accurate technical report by Project
Hessdalen (ref. 10, 23, 24). The sightings of type 1 up to 2 are also very similar to
phenomena observed elsewhere in the world (refs. 3, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 26, 27).
Moreover, the sightings of type 5 up to 6 are extremely similar to previous reports in other
world areas (refs. 3, 9, 11, 18, 40, 47) and partly similar to what is reported also by Project
Hessdalen itself (refs. 10, 31, 32).
What is of scientific importance in this EMBLA 2000 mission, the first one of a series, is the
fact that it was possible to monitor accurately for an entire month and without interruption the
radio range of the electromagnetic spectrum and that, after the predictably very long post-
processing phase will be completed, there will be the possibility to map precisely the
electromagnetic field in the Hessdalen area. Moreover, it will be soon possible to check
which radio signals have been recorded at the moments of optical sightings: this check could
emphasize the value of visual reports even more.
The EMBLA group is already in a condition to declare that the “spike signals” which were
recorded in the VLF range resemble almost exactly similar signals which were observed by:
a) the norwegian spectrometers in 1984 in the HF-VHF range (ref. 23), b) microwave
astrophysicists in Antarctica in 1991 in the UHF range (ref. 22), c) the "Elfrad group" in 2000
in the ULF range (ref. 4). All this shows very clearly that spike signals may be recorded in a
hugely broad frequency range. What is not known yet is if such signals are simultaneously
received at all the frequency windows or if there is a temporal shift from one frequency
window to another. In order to ascertain this it will be necessary to check what the other
EMBLA spectrometers (ELF and UHF) have recorded all together. Next year the installation
of an ULF spectrometer has been planned too.
According to the highly peculiar signals which were occasionally extracted from snap-shot
frames (spike and doppler signals) coming from the INSPIRE receiver, it is already possible
to sketch logical-speculative physical models which could explain both the spike and the
doppler signal morphology. Such models, by now, can be deduced by purely geometrical and
intuitive considerations.
A) What could cause Spike Signals ?
1. Spike signals could be caused by an uniformly emitting possibly spherical source which is
periodically turning on and off with a pulsational mode and with a rate of the order of
some fraction of second for any spike event (see Figure 8).
2. Spike signals could be caused by a rotating spherical, cylindrical or disk-like source with
an emitting spot on its surface. In such a case the observer could detect the signal only
when the emitting spot is directed towards him (during intervals of the order of some
fraction of second). The width of any recorded spike signal could depend on the surface
area of such an hypothesized emitting spot (see Figure 8).
In some cases it was possible to verify that the intensity of spike signals was slowly
increasing or decreasing: this observational evidence could be interpreted as the gradual
14
approaching or receding of a pulsating or rotating optically invisible radio-emitting source.
In some other cases it was possible to observe that the spike signals were appearing or
disappearing abruptly (see Figure 4): this evidence could be explained by very fast
velocities of the moving source or by the sudden onset of pulsation or rotation of an
invisible source which was standing still nearby. There are not elements yet to ascertain if
such a source is of natural origin (ref. 6, 21, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 41) or not (ref. 3, 9, 10, 11,
32, 33, 34, 38, 40, 46, 47) and no elements to verify if the perturbing region is located in
the local atmosphere, on the ground, or underground.
OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON
OFF
ON OFF
Figure 8. A sketch of two alternative ways to explain spike signals. ABOVE. The pulsating model.
BELOW. The rotating model.
B) What could cause Doppler Signals?
The very high measured velocities (10.000 up to 100.000 km/sec) cannot be produced by a
physical body in fast motion. The only realistic possibility according to the accepted physics
theory is that such a velocity is due to particles which are accelerated to semi-relativistic
velocities by an unidentified rotating spheroidal body and that the particle acceleration occurs
along a more or less collimated magnetic axis (see Figure 9, already cited in an interview [ref.
5]). In order that the doppler signal appears as such and with a periodical mode, it is
necessary that the magnetic acceleration axis B is misaligned in comparison with the rotation
axis A: in such a way a “lighthouse effect” would be observed. It is possible to obtain
different doppler configurations according to: a) the angle between axes A and B, b) the angle
15
between the rotation plane and the line of sight C, c) the opening angle of the beam of
accelerated particles. Let’s assume that rotation occurs in the same plane as the line of sight.
If the angle between A and B is zero no signal should be observed (velocity relative to
observer = 0) unless the opening angle of the particle beam is very wide. If the angle between
A and B is non-zero it could be possible for the observer to receive a periodic signal with a
moderate doppler velocity (velocity relative to observer > 0). If the angle between B and C is
zero, then it is possible to receive periodically an highly doppler-shifted signal (velocity
relative to observer >> 0): in such a geometric configuration the maximum doppler (blue-
shifted) velocity could be reached.
SPPE: Spinning and Precessing Particle Accelerator
A
(North Pole)
B
BLUE-SHIFT
ì
Beam Opening Angle
C
Dv
í
RED-SHIFT
(South Pole)
Dt
Figure 9. The SPPE model proposed to explain doppler signals. A: Rotation Axis, B: Particle Acceleration
Axis, C: Direction to Observer, Dt: Translatory Motion of the Body, Dv: Vertical Motion of the Body.
In order to explain signals characterized by a rapid change of the doppler effect amplitude
(see Figure 5) it is necessary to invoke the following three possibilities: i) the angle between
A and B changes, being the angle between A and C fixed, ii) the opposite situation as i), iii)
the velocity of the accelerated particles is intrinsically changing.
Assuming the SPPE model, in order to explain the observed “doppler reversal” (from
blueshift to redshift, or viceversa) which can be noticed in Figures 5 and 10, it is necessary to
hypothesize that particle injection, which is modulated by rotation, is mono-polar: I)
blueshifts are due to particles which are injected when the beam is aimed at the observer, II)
redshifts are due to particles which are injected when the beam is opposite to the observer.
This can happen or from the north pole or from the south pole of the magnetic axis B (see
Figure 9), but not from both of them.
16
Anyway a mono-polar behaviour seems not to be the rule, as some other signal features
coming from our INSPIRE snap-shots show that the inclined doppler shifted lines are
sometimes substituted by a continuous “band” which is almost always interrupted by periodic
voids (see Figure 10). Such a broadened “band” could be the result of the “melting down
effect” due to the co-existence of both blue and red-shifts which would work simultaneously.
In such a case one would be induced to invoke the onset of a bi-polar mode for particle
outflow, in which both approaching and receding beams would be observed together (see
Figure 9). The periodic appearance of voids would occur at the instants in which the bipolar
beam is neither approaching nor receding the observer: this happens only when the bipolar
magnetic axis lays on a plane which is perpendicular to the line of sight, in which case the
relative velocity of the particles ejected from the north and the south poles of the magnetic
accelerating tube, becomes zero. The instants in which a zero relative velocity is reached
(twice in a single rotation cycle) are very short because it is assumed that the bipolar outflow
is rotating more or less fast. All this means that the time-duration of the voids is linearly
dependent on the velocity of the spinning body. In such a way we have two extreme cases: a)
very fast rotation causing an almost continuous band, b) very slow rotation causing a band
which is interrupted by large voids. All these specific configurations have been encountered
in several of the obtained 38 snap-shot frames.
ν
t t t
Figure 10. LEFT. Red-shifted signal. CENTER. Blue-shifted signal. RIGHT. Mixture of blue and red-
shifted signals, resulting in a continuous “band” interrupted periodically by voids.
In conclusion, by taking the obtained data into account and by assuming that the SPPE
intuitive model is valid, one is induced to suspect that an inclined precessing and collimated
magnetic particle accelerator is ejecting semi-relativistic particles by alternating monopolar
and bipolar modes, by changing both the spin velocity and the beam opening angle.
In general, such an emission mechanism is very similar both to the “pulsar mechanism” (refs.
14, 43) and to the “relativistic ouflow mechanism” in astrophysics (refs. 44, 45), which in the
present case are combined in a very specific framework. In such a configuration it is not
known if relativistic particles are accelerated continuously or intermittently: in the second
case we would have a more complicated signal morphology.
As in some cases spike and doppler signals were present together, one is induced to think that
the “mystery source” is characterized both by a purely pulsing radio emitting behaviour
(maybe due to a rotating spot) and by a particle acceleration mechanism which produces in
some way radio waves too. The second aspect is really very interesting: astrophysical
mechanisms of particle acceleration, which can be found in particular in the “extragalactic
jets” (ref. 44) and in some high-energy stars such as SS433 (ref. 45) produce radio radiation
indeed, whose emission mechanism - the well-known “synchrotron” - is due to relativistic
electrons which are accelerated by highly intense and collimated magnetic fields. Maybe
something in a much smaller scale is imitating what is normally happening in a much larger
17
scale: are they unknown high-energy mechanisms of our atmosphere, or the consequence of
some propulsion mechanism of unknown origin? Does it exist in nature some kind of
atmospheric mechanism which is able to extract particles (electrons and/or nucleons) from
the interior of an optically invisible “plasma ball” and eject them outside through a channeled
magnetic rail at semi-relativistic velocities?
Such qualitative interpretative models are not certainly the last word in order to explain the
way in which the emission mechanism works effectively, but it is a first stimulation to think
of what may be happening with some of the radio signals in Hessdalen, in order that after the
post-processing phase will be over it could be possible to carry out a numerical simulation
which could favour or reject the present models.
Finally, it is very probable that when all the 21 GBy total amount of (uncompressed) data will
be fully processed, many radio signals due to the solar activity, which just on August 2000
was at the maximum of its 11-year cycle (ref. 42), will be repeatedly found. Some irregularly
oscillating signals were found indeed: they could be due to enhanced solar activity, and it will
be ascertained in a further phase. Nevertheless, differently from what was deduced during a
previous analysis of the Hessdalen phenomenon (refs. 25, 35, 37), at the present time strong
doubts exist that the extremely regular signals which were detected this year have something
to do with solar activity. Anyway the EMBLA team will try to ascertain even more if spike
signals in particular are caused by an unidentified transmitter due maybe to some electric
machinery working in Hessdalen, even if already now there are also doubts that such devices
like electric saws, for instance, can be working uninterruptly fo a so long time and also during
the night-time.
5.
Conclusion
Doing science means mainly applying two concepts: “exploration” and “understanding”. A
third concept, “formal representation”, is also important, but it is a mean, not the goal. What
is happening in some places in the world seems to teach us that we certainly know much of
physics but not all of it. The very fortunate circumstance of having at our disposal very
sophisticated technology for the measurement of radiation at any wavelength, is the best
chance for us to carry out a quantitative analysis of what is still unknown. In such a way we
are in a condition to build up new models for a more complete description of our physical
world. Our main goal is to know which relation exist between the Hessdalen-like lights and
the detected peculiar radio signals. This task can be reached only if the luminous component
of the Hessdalen phenomenon can be accurately studied by means of portable astronomy-like
sensors and analyzers such as CCD imagers and spectrographs: we can obtain such kind of
data simply by joining together a mini-telescope, a multi-filtered CCD camera, a TV camera,
a diffraction grating, a polarimetric filter and a Pentium notebook, all at the cost of the order
of $ 10000 or less, and apply them to the study of anomalous lights (see Appendix A). This
technique, which can be applied more succesfully to the study of lights of the “stable” types 1
and 2, is really very naive but the predicted scientific results would be huge. Much more
sophisticated optical instrumentation has been projected indeed (refs. 34, 36). The philosophy
of this exciting research is extremely similar to the one which we use to study celestial
objects, where we are able to deduce physical mechanisms at work by analyzing the entire
spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation. Only a difference: the Hessdalen-like phenomena
(refs. 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27) are just here and the emitted radiation is so intense
18
that we can say that we have at our disposal a very good laboratory, with which, by obtaining
very high S/N ratioes, we are in a condition to do a much more accurate physic s than in the
case of faint celestial sources.
Acknowledgments
The authors of this article are deeply indebted with the following persons and groups:
1. Renzo Cabassi and his staff of the ICPH (Italian Committee for Project Hessdalen: see
Appendix B) for putting at the disposal of Dr. Massimo Teodorani all the necessary money
funds to participate to this scientific expedition, and for the intellectual, moral and technical
support before and after this mission.
2. CNR technicians A. Cremonini, F. Tittarelli, S. Mariotti, A. Maccaferri and A. Cattani,
without the precious contribution of whom the installation of antennae, receivers and
computers, and the scientific mission itself would have never been possible.
3. Assistant Professors Erling P. Strand and Bjørn Gitle Hauge of the Østfold College of
Engineering, and Thor Stuedal head of the Holtålen Centre, for their huge hospitality and for
the perfect organization of the joint italian-norwegian scientific meetings and stimulating
daily joint research work.
4. Writer and journalist Peder Skogaas, for his exquisite ospitality, for having shown to some
of us wonderful natural landscapes, and for his precious intermediary role in putting us in
contact with the Hessdalen population.
5. Science writer Dr. Hanne Finstad and all the journalists who interviewed us by showing
interest in our mission and by recognizing its scientific importance for the near future.
References
1. Aakeberg S., Giertsen T., Kjaernsrod R., Pettersen K., Solem L. (1994) “Videofolgesystem”, Technical
Report E-94-05, Østfold College of Engineering (Norway).
2. Agnalt S., Filtvedt H., Farah Y., Keyse M., Hanski K.I., Dolson A.S. (1994) “Automatic Measurement
Station”, Technical Report E-94-04, Østfold College of Engineering (Norway).
3. Cornet B., The Pine Bush Phenomenon (USA), http://www.monmouth.com/~bcornet/ .
4. ELFRAD (2000), ‘Anomalous Data Recordings’, http://www.elfrad.org/2000/anomaly.htm .
5. Finstad H. (2000) ‘Spennende funn i UFO-bygda Hessdalen’, World On-line,
http://www.world-online.no/mult/mult_center_000814.321965.shtml , August 2000.
6. Fryberger D., “A Model for Ball Lightning”, Rapport 1997:5, Østfold College (Norway), pp. 1-82.
7. Gori F., ‘Lo spettro radio nel Progetto Hessdalen’, CQ Elettronica, Novembre ‘95, p. 22.
8. Gori F., ‘Fenomeni Luminosi nell’Atmosfera Norvegese’, Lo Scrittoio,
http://www.LoScrittoio.it/Pages/FG-0800.html , Sabato, 12 Agosto 2000.
9. Haines R.F. (1994) Project Delta: a Study of Multiple UFO , L.D.A. Press.
10. Havik L. (1987) UFO Fenomenet, Vision Forlag (Norway).
11. Hill P.R. (1995) Unconventional Flying Objects: A Scientific Analysis, HR.
12. Jasek M., The Tagish Lake Phenomenon (Canada), http://www.ufobc.org/yukon/tagish.htm .
13. Yakimov V., The Perm Phenomenon (Ural Mountains - Ukraine), http://www.ufo.ural.ru/ufopics.htm .
14. Lang K.R. (1980) Astrophysical Formulae, ed. Springer & Verlag.
15. Mallet J., The Ontario Phenomenon (Canada), http://members.tripod.com/~FieryCelt/ORB.html .
16. Monari J., EMBLA 2000, Istituto di Radioastronomia CNR, http://bracco.bo.cnr.it/embla2000/home.html .
17. Montebugnoli S. et al. (1998), ‘Upgrade of the mini spectrum analyzer’, in: Conference Paper,
Astronomical and Biochemical Origins and the Search for Life in the Universe, IAU Colloquium 161,
Publisher: Bologna, Italy, p. 701.
19
18. Page T. & Sagan C. (eds.) (1972) UFOs: a Scientific Debate , Cornell University Press.
19. Rutledge H.D. (1981) Project Identification: the First Scientific Field Study of UFO Phenomena,
Prentice Hall.
20. Simondini A. & S., The Victoria Phenomenon (Argentina),
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/3184/victo.htm .
21. Smirnov B.M. (1994) ‘Long-lived Glowing Phenomena in the Atmosphere’, Physics-Uspekhi, 37 (5), p.
517.
22. Smoot G. (1993) Wrinkles in Time (Chapter XIII), USA.
23. Strand E.P. (1984) “Project Hessdalen 1984: Final Technical Report”, Articles,
http://hessdalen.hiof.no/reports/hpreport84.shtml .
24. Strand E.P., Pictures of the Phenomenon, Project Hessdalen, http://hessdalen.hiof.no/pictures/ .
25. Strand E.P. (organizer) (1994) FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE UNIDENTIFIED
ATMOSPHERIC LIGHT PHENOMENA IN HESSDALEN (Contributions by D. Fryberger, B. Smirnov,
E. T. Grigorev, E. Manykin, S. Protasevich, P. Devereux, H. Evans, G. Arnhoff, B. G. Hauge, E. P. Strand,
M. Teodorani, Y.Otzuke, Y. S. Zou), Hessdalen, Norway, 23-27 March 1994 (summary at:
http://www.hiof.no/crulp/workshop/workshop_program.html).
26. Strand E.P. (1995) The Min-min Phenomenon (Australia), “Min-min Light” i Australia, Project Hessdalen,
http://www.hiof.no/hiof/avd/it_aut/prosjekter/hoit/html/nr2_96/erling_i_australia.html .
27. Strand E.P. (1996) The Popocatepetl Phenomenon (Mexico), Reiserapport fra Mexico 1996’ Project
Hessdalen, http://hessdalen.hiof.no/rapporter/mexico-reise96.shtml .
28. Strand E.P., Automatic Measuring Station, Project Hessdalen, http://hessdalen.hiof.no/station/ .
29. Strand E.P., Interesting Pictures from the Automatic Station, Project Hessdalen,
http://hessdalen.hiof.no/station/2000/ , /1999/ and /1998/ .
30. Strand E.P., Last Magnetic Field Measurements, Project Hessdalen,
http://hessdalen.hiof.no/station/magnetic.shtml .
31. Strand E.P. (1999), QT Video Clip, Project Hessdalen, http://hessdalen.hiof.no/pict/1999/991204-
7Mbyte.mov .
32. Strand E.P. (2000), “Project Hessdalen”, Articles, http://hessdalen.hiof.no/reports/Hessdal-
article2000.shtml .
33. Sturrock P.A. (1999) The UFO Enigma: a New Review of the Physical Evidence, Warner Books.
34. Teodorani M. & Strand E.P. (1998) “Experimental Methods for Studying the Hessdalen-Phenomenon in the
light of the Proposed Theories: a Comparative Overview”, Rapport 1998:5, Høgskolen i Østfold (Norway),
pp. 1-93.
35. Teodorani M. & Strand E.P. (1998) ‘The Hessdalen Luminous Phenomenon: a Data Analysis’, Ufodatanet
Reports, http://www.ufodatanet.org .
36. Teodorani M. (2000) ‘Physics from UFO Data’, EJUFOAS (European Journal of UFO and Abduction
Studies), Vol. 1 (1), pp. 2-26 / specific version published also in Ufodatanet Reports,
http://www.ufodatanet.org .
37. Teodorani M. & Strand E.P. (2000) ‘Data Analysis of Anomalous Luminous Phenomena in Hessdalen’,
EJUFOAS (European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies), Vol. 1 (2), pp. 64-82.
38. Teodorani M. (2000) ‘Physical data acquisition and analysis of possible flying extraterrestrial probes by
using opto-electronic devices’, EPR (Extraterrestrial Physics Review), Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 32-37.
39. THE INSPIRE PROJECT, http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/inspire/ .
40. Von Ludwiger I. (1998) Best UFO Cases - Europe, NIDS (National Institute for Discovery Science -
USA).
41. Zou Y. S. (1995) ‘Some Physical Considerations for Unusual Atmospheric Lights Observed in Norway’,
Physica Scripta, Vol. 52, p.726.
42. Monitor of Solar Activity: www.oma.be/KSB-ORB/SIDC/index.html and:
http://web.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SOLAR/solar.html.
43. Shapiro S. L. & Teukolsky S. A. (1983), Black Holes, White Dwarfs, and Neutron Stars: The Physics of
Compact Objects, ed. John Wiley & Sons.
44. Brindle A. H. & Perley R. A. (1984), ‘Extragalactic Radio Jets’, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., Vol. 22,
pp. 319-58.
45. Margon B. (1984), ‘Observations of SS 433’, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., Vol. 22, pp. 507-36.
46. SETV (Search for Extraterrestrial Visitation), http://www.setv.org/ .
47. Meessen A. (2000), “Analyse et implications physiques de deux photos de la vague belgie”, Inforespace,
Revue n° 100, pp. 5-40.
20
APPENDIX A. Optical Portable System
The next expeditions to Hessdalen and to other possible areas of the world where the
luminous phenomenon occurs more often, will be characterized by the use of optical
equipment by means of which it is possible to obtain a full scientific treatment of the acquired
data. The following CCD cameras are a suitable choice:
• LISÄÄ Megapixel CCD Camera
(see: http://www.ozemail.com.au/∼atsscope/lisaa.html and
http://63.169.124.2/apogee/lisaa/lisaa_full_description.htm)
• LISÄÄ Guider TV CCD VideoCamera
(see: http://209.35.233.35/apogee/lisaa/lisaa_full_description.htm)
A possible scientific goal in the optical range is intended to be reached in the following way:
A) Connecting the LISÄÄ Megapixel with:
I - MEADE LX200 8" Telescope
(
see: http://www-personal.umich.edu/∼jstys/articles/lx90.html)
This kind of altazimuth mounted telescope offers the possibility to have an automatic
scanning and pointing, via telecommander, which permits one to choose any velocity and to
aim at the target in a stable way. The telescope can be also programmed to scan automatically
specific fields of sky. It is also possible to write down in a further phase a software which
tells the telescope to point automatically when a light appears, just as a sort of alarm-
triggered shutter. The alarm would come from a wide-field video-monitor system (see B)).
II - Filter-Carrier Wheel
It incorporates: 1) the U, B, V, R, I bandpass filters 2) a polarimetric filter, and 3) a
RAINBOW OPTICS (ROS) diffraction grating (see: http://redshift.home.pipeline.com/
spectroscope.htm). In such a way it is possible to shift in a matter of few seconds to the
following modes: i) photometry in different bandpasses (U ultraviolet, B blue, V visual, R
red, I near-infrared), ii) photo-polarimetry by means of a polarimetric filter, iii) spectroscopy
by means of a diffraction grating.
Equipment A) is just the “analytic instrument” for the scientific study of the photons emitted
by luminous phenomena.
B) Connecting the LISÄÄ Guider with:
I - Zoom Lens
(of any good type, such as TAMRON).
II - TV Monitor
21
(see also: http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/stv_announcement.htm)
The Guider and the Zoom Lens are intended to be attached to the body of the MEADE
telescope, by using the "piggy back" mode. This system, which can also work autonomously,
can be used both to get a movie of a luminous phenomenon, and as a guider for the telescope
or as a target searcher. The system B) can trigger the system A), and the TV monitor can be
placed many meters far from the equipment, or also very far away if one uses data link from a
remote station.
In such a way it is possible to change the field of view by switching the Zoom Lens, and to
monitor the chosen field by taking a movie at the same time. The CCD Guider takes a
continuous movie of the target, while the CCD Megapixel takes scientific frames whenever it
is necessary. The search for the field is carried out by starting with the zoom lens in wide-
angle mode and immediately later by narrowing the field centered on the target. When the
field is chosen and narrowed, then the telescope plus its attached camera starts to work. This
operation could last few seconds.
On the basis of the EMBLA 2000 experience in Hessdalen, in some cases it is objectively
possible to aim quite easily the telescope at the lights without any need of tracking, as
sometimes they stand still for a long time (see paragraph 3). An exposure of few seconds or
less is sufficient to obtain CCD frames of photometric, polarimetric and spectroscopic kind.
And it is possible to shift from one mode to another in 1-2 seconds.
C) Connecting the LISÄÄ Guider and Megapixel CCD cameras to a Pentium computer
The instruments are intended to be connected with a powerful computer (of the Pentium III
class) to be chosen between the best types of the notebook type.
In conclusion, the complete optical portable platform comprises two CCD cameras (one for
taking scientific frames like in astronomy, and one for taking movies and for guiding), one 8"
reflecting telescope which can be quickly automatically aimed at the target, 5 bandpass filters
for photometry, one polarimetric filter for photo-polarimetry, one diffraction grating for
spectroscopy, one zoom lens attached to the body of the telescope, and one Pentium computer
that controls all the data acquisition operations. Such operations are intended to be preceded
by a preliminary sky survey by using individual IR goggles in order to promptly locate any
luminous object, also the faintest, in the area. The computer is also equipped with specific
software which allows one to process and analyze professionally all the data in a subsequent
phase.
The frames obtained by using the analytic system described above can furnish a photon-
collecting capability, a spatial resolution, a quantum efficiency and a dynamic range which
are much greater than the ones of a camcorder, so that many surface details can be recorded
also in the faintest sources. In such a way it is possible to answer several questions of
scientific interest. How is the light precisely distributed on the radiating surface? Which is the
exact form of possible morphological anomalies such as protrusions, tubes, beams or spots?
How much energy is emitted from a given light-surface point? Are there dark shadows inside
the luminous objects? How does the light change if one changes filter or polarization angle?
Is there a solid-like structure or dark surface, on or close to the luminous object? Is the
spectrum a continuum or line spectrum and which is the emission mechanism of the luminous
22
source? Is the source temporally variable photometrically and/or spectroscopically, by
assuming that many sequential frames can be obtained of the same target?
The chosen strategy is just to bring and use such a portable optical equipment in different
“hot points” of the Hessdalen valley, in the ambit of a “scientific skywatching.”
The flow-chart which illustrates schematically the described equipment is shown below.
23
MEADE LX200 8”
Reflecting Telescope
Altazimuth Mounting
Automatic Scanning and Pointing
LISÄÄ MEGAPIXEL
CCD Camera
POLARIMETRIC FILTER
Filter-Carrier Wheel
U B V R I FILTERS
RAINBOW OPTICS
Spectrographic Grating
TAMRON 28-300 mm
Zoom Lens
Piggy Back Telescope Mount
LISÄÄ GUIDER
CCD TV & Camera
+
LCD Monitor
Night Owl Tempest Compaq
ANALYSIS
UNIT
GUIDING
UNIT
24
IR Goggles Pentium III Portable
Computer
Preliminary “Eye Alarm” Data Acquisition and
Processing
APPENDIX B. The Italian Committee for Project Hessdalen
Italian Committee for Project Hessdalen.
With this definition at the end of July 2000 a private research center has been founded,
initially aimed at supporting and divulging researches to be carried out with a scientific basis
on luminous atmospheric phenomena which are recurrently observable in several areas of our
planet, with a particular interest for the Hessdalen valley in Norway.
In the first weeks of August 2000, the Committee furnished his contribution to these
researches with the active attendance in Hessdalen of his scientific co-ordinator astronomer
and astrophysicist Massimo Teodorani, the first italian researcher who took an interest in the
norwegian phenomenon, and author of numerous scientific papers on this subject (some of
which at the section “reports” of the web site http://www.ufodatanet.org).
The next aims are to probe even further into the investigation of the Hessdalen phenomenon
and to carry out a reconnaissance in other sites of Earth, including Italy, where recurrent
signals of Luminous Phenomena in Atmosphere have been reported, in order to monitor
suitably them with the installation of recording instruments in prospect and collect data.
The Committee is composed of 9 promoters: Renzo Cabassi, Nico Conti, Roberto Labanti,
Maurizio Morini, Marco Orlandi, Marco Piraccini, Roberto Raffaelli, Massimo Silvestri and
Alessandro Zabini.
Italian Committee for Project Hessdalen.
Renzo Cabassi
http://www.itacomm.net/PH/
