III. 23 Sep 77 U S S R NATIONAL AFFAIRS SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

This document is a compilation of TASS reports dated September 23, 1977, covering three distinct topics. The first report details the launch of the Prognoz-6 automatic space station, designed to study solar radiation and the Earth's magnetosphere in cooperation with France. The second report describes an 'unusual natural phenomenon' observed over Petrozavodsk, Karelia, on September 20, 1977. At approximately 0400, witnesses reported a large object appearing as a 'medusa' that moved slowly toward the city, showering it with fine rays. The object later turned into a bright semi-circle and moved toward Lake Onega, disappearing into a gray cloud. The phenomenon lasted 10-12 minutes. Yu. Gromov, director of the Petrozavodsk hydrometeorological observatory, confirmed that weather observation posts recorded no atmospheric deviations and that no technical experiments were occurring at the time. He noted that the event was witnessed by many people and could not be dismissed as a simple mirage. The final report notes that the Aeroflot IL-62 jet set two world records for distance and average speed on a closed route.