Persons
Profiles of the key individuals who have contributed to the investigation and documentation of the Moonshaft mystery.
Walter Pavliš
Speleologist & Field Researcher
Walter Pavliš is a Czech speleologist and field researcher who has dedicated years to systematically exploring cave systems in the mountain ranges around Stará Ľubovňa in search of the Moonshaft. His expertise in cave surveying and underground navigation has been instrumental in narrowing down suspected locations.
Key Contributions
- •Systematic cave surveys in the mountain ranges around Stará Ľubovňa
- •Field documentation of vertical shaft features
- •Coordination with Slovak Speleological Society expeditions
Petr Sittek
Archivist & Historical Researcher
Petr Sittek is a Czech researcher and archivist who has uncovered and preserved key historical documents related to the Moonshaft legend. His archival work has surfaced rare primary sources, including materials from the 1970 APRO expedition planning and documents from the MUFON UFO Journal.
Key Contributions
- •Discovery and preservation of 1970 APRO expedition documents
- •Archival research in international UFO and paranormal research collections
- •Sourcing and sharing of primary documents with the research community
Ted Phillips
Physical Trace Researcher
Ted Phillips was an American researcher widely regarded as the world's foremost authority on physical trace cases — incidents where UFOs or unidentified phenomena reportedly leave measurable effects on the environment. A colleague of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Phillips was one of the experts assembled by APRO in 1970 to evaluate AntonÃn Horák's Moonshaft account and plan a scientific expedition to Czechoslovakia. The expedition was ultimately called off, but his involvement illustrates the level of credibility the Moonshaft claim commanded among serious researchers of the era. Ted Phillips has since passed away. His work is continued by Thomas Ferrario.
Key Contributions
- •Expert evaluation of the Moonshaft claim during APRO's 1970 expedition planning
- •Collaboration with Dr. J. Allen Hynek on the proposed Czechoslovakia investigation
- •Field methodology contributions to the international research effort