Means of Formation of Yogyakarta Crop Circle Remains a Mystery

Means of Formation of Yogyakarta Crop Circle Remains a Mystery
January 25, 2011
Annette Pipe

A crop circle appearing overnight in a paddy field in Yogyakarta, Indonesia elicits much speculation about its formation.

The Jakarta Post reported on 25 January 2011 the appearance of a crop circle in a paddy field in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The phenomenon was first observed by local residents on the morning of 23 January 2011; there were also reports of sounds heard during the night that were likened to those of some kind of flying object landing in the paddy field.

The crop circle, measuring 70 meters in diameter, was photographed from a helicopter by the Indonesian Air Force. Visitors have been flocking to the location of the strange discovery since the news broke, causing concern amongst farmers that their rice crops would be trampled and ruined. However, local residents have now turned this steady stream of visitors to their advantage and have begun to charge entrance fees for viewing the circle.

Crop Circles Formed by Extraterrestrials or Artistic Human Beings?
Crop circles in general are thought by some to be of supernatural significance, or to have been formed by extraterrestrial beings. Other people are dismissive of these beliefs, preferring the more worldly explanation that they are the handiwork of artistic human beings. The Yogyakarta crop circle is no different from others previously observed in different parts of the world in that theories as to its means of formation abound.

Soil Chemical Analyses Recommended for Crop Circle Investigation
Adopting a scientific approach to solving the mystery of the Yogyakarta crop circle, Moedji Raharto, astronomer and former head of the Bosscha Observatorium in Lembang, West Java speculated that chemical analysis of the soil in the location of the crop circle might reveal trace materials indicative of a visitation by a UFO or extraterrestrial beings, since such visits would almost certainly influence soil chemical composition.

Providing further explanatory information, Moedji made a comparison between the crop circle situation and that in which a meteorite enters the earth’s atmosphere and forms a crater. In the case of the meteorite, traces of elements not normally present in the area would be detectable in the crater. This should also be the case in the event that a UFO or extraterrestrial beings had made a visit to earth.

Moedji recommended that it would be a useful exercise to routinely perform soil chemical analyses in the investigation of crop circles. But the analytical work would be difficult, he cautioned, because of the likelihood that the elements introduced into the soil from a UFO would be rare and challenging to determine. In addition, elements which would be likely indicators of UFOs have not yet been identified.

Possible Involvement of High Voltage Power Lines Discussed
Suggestions have been put forward that high voltage aerial transmission power lines above the Yogyakarta crop circle may have played a role in its formation. However, Thomas Djamaluddin, head of atmospheric sciences and chief of astronomy research at the National Aeronautics and Space Agency refuted this speculation, claiming that it is not possible for rice stalks to be affected by an electromagnetic field. Furthermore, Thomas pointed out that “the majority of crop circles can be attributed to human activity.”

Continuing Debate
The debate concerning the cause of the Yogyakarta crop circle continues amid ongoing investigations by the Yogyakarta police who have reportedly obtained photographic documentation of trace evidence found in the paddy field and are continuing with their research.


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