by Philip Elrod
The most difficult thing for science to explain is something that appears to be beyond our range of current understanding.
Today, we routinely use and accept as normal many things that, until quite recently, were thought to be impossible.
NASA is the governmental agency responsible for monitoring all events in both near and deep space. Near space is Earth’s solar space while deep space is billions, if not trillions, of times larger in size. A good comparison would be to think of our solar system, near space, as a single grain of sand on a huge beach, the huge beach being the entirety of deep space.
Monitoring such vast expanses of space is an awesome task, and even NASA can’t do it all, even with their enormous resources. Therefore, they have come to value the work and findings made by the world of amateur astronomers. These amateurs are dedicated and extremely knowledgeable people who have contributed greatly to the field of astronomy.
Obviously, any new object identified in space is extremely interesting, but if a new object is in our solar system, it is very significant for both scientific and security reasons. Each new sighting is analyzed to determine whether its pathway through the solar system could be a threat to Earth.
Both asteroids and comets have struck the Earth throughout history. Asteroids consist of rocky materials while comets are more like giant, dirty snowballs hurtling through space. Both can have a devastating effect when they impact a planet, so, for the sake of simplicity, the term “asteroid” will be used for both.
Asteroids have struck Earth’s surface many times in the past, occasionally with catastrophic consequences that changed the course of history. Such an asteroid struck north of the Yucatan Peninsula sixty-five million years ago transforming the Gulf of Mexico and possibly leading to the demise of the dinosaurs. Even in recent times, there have been significant strikes. In 1908, an asteroid about fifty-five feet in diameter struck in Siberia causing massive destruction of a huge area.
Today, small asteroids continue to strike with relative frequency. Many astronomers firmly believe that it is only a matter of time until another large asteroid will strike the Earth with unbelievably devastating results, possibly destroying all higher forms of life. A prominent NASA official asked how Earth could prepare for such an event, replied, “We could pray.”
Fortunately, such an occurrence is not likely, at least not in the foreseeable future. But NASA is still alert and interested in any new object discovered in Earth’s solar system.
With so much space to cover, it is easy to understand why NASA monitors the world of amateur astronomy. Space is big enough for as many eyes as available to watch for something not seen before.
When it comes to anything in, nearing, or even close to our solar system, NASA wants to keep on top of it. And NASA, along with others, is sending probes further and further into deep space regularly. Perhaps other intelligent beings out there somewhere share our curiosity about the possibilities of intelligent life outside their world. If a probe from another civilization enters our solar system, NASA wants to know about it.
The Night Sky Network is used extensively by the amateur astronomy community as the common means of communicating observations. It is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology, or Cal Tech as it is commonly known. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory also runs the Deep Space Network for NASA, which is the professional astronomer’s version of the Night Sky Network.
Akiro Matsumoto was well known to both the Night Sky Network and NASA. His report created quite a sensation, and both the Night Sky Network and NASA immediately responded by searching their databases using his dates, times, and coordinates for the sightings.
Amateurs from all over the world eagerly zeroed in on the coordinates, as well.
Could this object be a giant asteroid? Would it present a danger to Earth? If not an asteroid, what could it possibly be?
Even the European, Russian, and Indian Deep Space Networks reported they were searching the area and time in question.
Only the Chinese Deep Space Network failed to indicate any interest, but this was not uncommon, as they seldom released any reports on their activities.
****
Akiro Matsumoto paced the floor anxiously as he waited for confirmation of his sightings. It was already Monday—a full three days after he made his report of the object, but no one else had reported such a sighting. He became more and more frustrated and more and more concerned. Surely he could not have been the only person in the world who had made the observation. No news was not good news.
Akiro, again, began to doubt that what he had seen was real.
Someone, somewhere, must have seen something. This object was far too big and far too bright to remain undetected. Astronomers are constantly working throughout the night, professionals during the week, and Amateurs primarily on the weekend. Akiro was now thoroughly confused and more than a little concerned. He had published his report. What if his sightings proved to be an aberration? Would they laugh at him? He could hardly bear the thought of losing face. Any such mistake would surely wreak havoc to his reputation in the field.
Again and again, he reviewed his actions and his findings. The equipment and software functioned perfectly. The object could move rapidly and then come to a sudden stop. How could this be an aberration or a mistake? He had hardly slept these last three nights and spent his waking hours in anguish.
And then it happened. Out of the blue, a Chinese radar astronomer named Lei Ling Zhang reported sighting the object. He confirmed its enormous size, the apparently incredible speed at which it traveled, and finally, that it had come to a dead stop. Also, the report added the most startling information of all: it had then completely disappeared!
Akiro was ecstatic. He had been right. “Thank you, Lei Ling Zhang," he repeated over and over again. After a few minutes, he settled into his chair and again contemplated the strange phenomenon. Both the sighting and the great speed of travel had been confirmed. And its disappearance? That was probably why no others saw the object. It had been visible for only a short time, and in a part of the sky that few paid any attention to whatsoever.
“What was it?
What in the world—no, what in the universe could this thing be?”
****
Hours before Akiro Matsumoto began to celebrate the confirmation of his fantastic find, Lei Ling Zhang, more than a thousand miles away and two hours ahead in time, was returning to his observatory in China. Before leaving for the weekend on Friday, he had asked his assistant, Eu-meh Feng, for a very specific report and he was anxious to review it.
Lei Ling was the project director at the Chinese radar telescope facility located in Xinjiang, northwestern China. He had earned the respect of his colleagues and was proud to be in charge of his current project. As usual, it was military in nature and classified. Thanks to his status at the facility, he was allowed to participate in postings to the Night Sky Network, but his reports were always scrutinized by his superiors before he could post them. He was extremely cautious not to include anything that might not receive a security clearance. Nevertheless, the approval process was painfully slow and frustrating.
Akiro Matsumoto's posting had caught his attention just before leaving for the weekend last Friday, and he immediately noted the proximity of the coordinates to an area his radar telescope had been working during the previous week. There was little interest in the astronomy community in this obscure area of the sky, so Lei Ling was quite intrigued that he and Akiro had been observing the same area of space. He was even more intrigued that the Japanese amateur astronomer had seen something that he had not.
As a dedicated radio astronomer, he would retrieve his work from the database and compare it to that of the Japanese. He would love to stay and check this out personally, but there was no time. He would have to give the assignment to one of his associates.
The last bus to his home village would leave in thirty minutes from the local station. If
he missed it, it would be another full day before he could leave, and that would be totally unacceptable. This weekend was his mother’s birthday, and as an only child, he felt a great responsibility to honor her on this special and auspicious day.
Lei Ling also planned to visit Soo Lin, a village girl who had been his childhood friend even though she came from a poor background. Eventually, they had become very fond of each other. Both knew, however, that their backgrounds would never allow them to marry.
His mother, an extremely traditional woman, had always objected to their relationship and certainly would never agree to their marriage. Over the years, she had cautioned him many times about the importance of an acceptable wife.
She warned him of the dangers of modern marriages and how these so-called love marriages often resulted in unhappiness and divorce. He must uphold ancient family traditions. His family would have the final say in selecting the girl he would marry.
He knew that he could never go against her will, so, this weekend, he would meet Soo Lin for the last time. Neither had ever doubted that this day would come. They would go their separate ways, and he would marry an educated young lady from the city while she would wed some young man from the village. But it would not be easy to put her behind him permanently. She was intelligent, very beautiful, and beneath her peasant garb was hidden a body that would excite any man.
Lei Ling glanced at his watch and was alarmed at how little time remained. He went to the main laboratory to search for Eu-meh Feng, one of his assistants. She was a well-respected radar astronomer in the group; she was quite attractive with delicate features and a quiet demeanor. He found her fascinating and admired her intensely, but every time he spoke to her, his words just tumbled out of his mouth in a foolish jumble. It was most embarrassing especially for someone of his status at the facility.
He found her at her desk studying a report intently. He approached her and muttered a quick greeting. He sat down in the chair next to her and quickly mumbled his request for her to review his data during the weekend.
He had prepared detailed written instructions that he placed on the desk beside her. Lei Ling jumped to his feet nervously, and as he did, he brushed the note with his sleeve, and it fluttered quietly to the floor, unnoticed by either one of them.
Eu-Meh silently shook her head at his very poor social skills. Nevertheless, he was one of the nicest looking men at the laboratory, and he was also her supervisor.
Lei Ling hurried away from Eu-Meh’s desk and left the building to catch his bus.
Normally, when he gave a weekend assignment to a subordinate, Lei Ling would call to check on the progress of the report he had requested. However, in his remote village, there was no cell phone service. He didn’t even think of calling in. There was a great celebratory meal for his mother with many delicacies and special dishes.
Neighbors and relatives brought gifts that his mother accepted graciously. He stood mutely at her side, and she proudly proclaimed his education and accomplishments.
The guests were impressed even though he was embarrassed by the accolades. After all, he was the only person in this small, country village that had ever moved away and achieved so much.
He did find time to talk with Soo Lin. They had both, long ago, accepted the fact that they could never be anything but friends. Now the day had come, and both accepted the end of their relationship without emotion or tears. Their worlds would be forever separate, and each wished only happiness for the other.
Afterward, he caught the bus that would take him back to the observatory. It was the same bus and the same driver that had brought him to the village. There were only a few other passengers, and Lei Ling settled back for a long trip back to his lab.
He had much to think about before they finally reached their destination. Eu-Meh would be in those thoughts. He simply had to get control of himself. He must learn to present himself to her with confidence. He was becoming more and more infatuated with her each time he saw her. He just had to get it together and make her know of his interest.
Lei Ling arrived back at the observatory early Monday morning. He wanted to be sure he was there before Eu-Meh left from her weekend duties. She smiled as he approached her desk.
“What were your findings on the coordinates that I left with you to confirm? They are outside our project data set, and I wanted to make certain that we did not miss something important.”
Her smile quickly turned to a frown. “What? Outside our project data set? I did not hear you say anything like that. My understanding was that you wanted me to examine our regular project data. I heard nothing about any specific coordinates. I examined the data thoroughly and found nothing unusual.”
Lei Ling was stunned and embarrassed. “What about the instructions that I left on your desk? Did you not read it? My instructions were explicit.”
Eu-Meh seemed to take an affront to this. He could read this in her eyes. “There were no instructions on my desk. I did what I understood that you wanted me to do.”
Now, there was a bit of glare in her eyes. “You must be clearer when you want something done, especially if it is important.”
Lei Ling bowed his head slightly and apologized to her. What could have happened to the instructions? It didn’t matter now. The task wasn’t completed. Without another word, he hurried to the radar telescope in the control room. Eu-Meh silently followed with a confused look on her face.
Lei Ling had already retrieved the telemetry tape from last week's work and was loading it into the tape drive by the time Eu-Meh entered the control room. He then quickly moved to the computer console and entered the date and time for his search. The tape started spinning and in less than a minute it had stopped.
He moved to the computer console and entered the scanning parameters to include the entire field but excluding the area of the military project to avoid any possible leak of classified information.
The scan took approximately eight minutes. Eu-Meh and Lei Ling were silent, but tension filled the air. He gently placed his hand on hers, almost without thinking, and explained. “Please, forgive me; I was rushing to catch the bus for my village. It was my mother’s birthday. I prepared a note with the instructions and placed it on your desk. But the note must have been lost. It’s my fault completely. You are an excellent scientist, and your work is without blemish.”
He removed his hand from hers and looked into her eyes. She saw the anguish there and gave him a gentle smile in return. He did not need to be an astronomer to experience the heavens. Her smile had brought him there.
They turned to the computer screen and pressed the icon for the analysis view. They both gasped at the image before them. It was huge—no, it was immense—and it had been moving at an incredible speed in excess of 999,999 kilometers per hour, the maximum speed his instruments could display. In a very short period it apparently came to a dead stop!
The report reflected Akiro Matsumoto’s findings perfectly. Unbelievable. Even more mind-boggling was the indication that the object had, after coming to a complete stop, suddenly disappeared!
Lei Ling scrolled backward and stared at the image. Akiro had described it as a sphere; probably because he was observing it in visible light, and the object had been very bright. Lei Ling's image, on the other hand, was a radar image, and it was obvious that the shape was not a sphere.
It was a strange, elongated shape that tapered at the front and back ends. If it were not for the size, he would surely think that it was an alien spaceship! But the size, it had to be at least 300,000 kilometers long and only slightly less in width!
“Unbelievable!” Lei Ling exclaimed, “It’s twice as big as the planet Jupiter! That is not possible. Nothing that had to be fabricated could be that big!” Lei Ling said aloud, but he was talking to himself. Continuing, he said, “And if it were possible to build something of that enormous size, what could its purpose be?”
This discovery was startling news and the world of astronomy needed
to know about it as soon as possible. China would certainly have an important role in this discovery. Lei Ling immediately placed a call to his supervisor to request authority to report what he had found. As expected, the supervisor said that he could not authorize it himself, but he would call the administrator in charge and get back to him.
He did not allow his excitement to replace his normal composure. There was work to be done, and he would ask Eu-meh to continue to help him. It would give him the perfect opportunity to prove to her that he wasn’t always a bungling fool in her presence. He suddenly saw visions of their relationship blossoming into friendship, and perhaps even into something more intimate.
Approvals never came quickly. It could be hours or even days before an answer would be received. All requests were reviewed with suspicion and all possible ramifications studied before approval would be made.
Lei Ling was more than surprised to receive approval in only five hours. Such a thing had never happened before. However, he knew that the superior doing the review was well known for drinking a bit too much rice wine on the weekends. Perhaps he had a hangover today and just wanted to get it done quickly. The importance of the object was well documented in Lei Ling’s report. He would never know the truth, but later, he would believe that there might have been some heavenly intervention in the quick response.
Astronomers love nothing more than to make a discovery or to read about someone else’s discovery. Discoveries were often proudly reported in the media and created great excitement for professionals and amateurs alike. Now, this new report would create quite a stir. The original report had been made by a respected amateur while the second report was from a Chinese radio astronomer. Two different types of observation were involved, each one made by an astronomer of established credibility. Each sighting was made in different parts of the world. The world of astronomy took these sightings seriously.