Plato 1938 Feb 14 UT 00:25 Observed by Fox (Newark, England,
6.5" reflector, x240) "Prominent gold-brown spot on E. wall
with yellow glow without definite boundary, spreading over
floor." NASA catalog weight=3. NASA catalog ID #431. ALPO/BAA
weight=3.
Harpalus 1969 May 19 UT 21:20-22:00 Observed by Marcomede
Rangel Nunes and Julio Dias Nogueira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
18" refractor). "Brightening in crater (inexperienced
observers). (Apollo 10 watch)." NASA catalog weight=0.
ALPO/BAA weight=1. NASA catalog ID #1126.
On 1990 Mar 29 at UT 19:00 L. Todd (England?) observed that Aristarchus
in Earthshine was very clearly seen and appeared to blink occasionally.
Foley (Kent, UK) also notcied variations in Aristarchus. The Cameron
2006 catalog ID = 396 and the weight=1. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
SE edge of Mare Crisium 1969 Jul 17 UT 20:00 Observed by
Hedervari, Hegyessy, Geller (Budapest, Hungary, refractor
x200 & x300) "Saw a "mediocre" yellow light. Area photographed
on 7/19/1969 but no LTP noted (Apollo 11 watch)" NASA catalog
weight=4. NASA catalog ID No. 1153. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
near Baillaud (60E, 60N) 1969 Jul 17 UT 20:13-20:25 Observed by Delaye
Marseilles, France, 6" refractor) and Donas (Gama, France, 10"
refractor). "Noted pulsations nr. crater on NE limb. Duration of pulses
were 2s. Saw again at 2015h & 2019h. Duration then @ 4s. No color seen.
mag of brightening @ 4 mag. Donas noted at 2016h at crater more
brightening than at limb. After 2019h nothing. (atm. ? these periods
are similar to those between blow-ups & excursions od star images in
seeing, but puzzling why it stopped. Apollo 11 watch). (indep.
confirmation)" NASA catalog weight=2 (poor). NASA catalog ID #1154.
On 1847 Dec 11 at 18:00UT Hdgson (Eversley, UK, x80 refractor and 40x
reflector) observed in Plato (Though it might have been Cape Agassiz or
Teneriffe Mts) a bright spot of about a 1/4 the angular diameter of
Saturn that varied intermittently and was at all times visible on the
night side of the Moon. The following day he glimpsed the same spot
rhough clouds. From his drawing the spot was ~5' below the true N.
point & near the following limb (IAU E. limb) Cameron comments that
Plato fits the angular distance better than the other two candidates
unless there was a large northern libration. The Cameron 1978 catalog
ID=125 and weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
In 1865 Jan 01 at UT 18:00-18:30? Grover (England? or USA?, seeing =
good and transparency = clear) observed south east of Plato at the foot
of Mt Blanc a small bright spot like a magnitude 4 star - slightly out
of focus. This bright speck remained unchanged for 30 minutes. The
Cameron 1978 catalog ID=137 and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1969 May 20 at UT 21:00-22:00 Bury (France, 4" refractor) observed
Aristarchus to be very bright, as an elliptical bluish spot at 21:00UT.
This observation was made during the Apollo 10 watch. The Cameron 1978
catalog ID=1128 and weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1969 May 20 at UT 21:10-22:30 Marcomede Rangel Nunes and
Julio Dias Nogueira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 18" refractor)
Harpalus brighter than Bouguer - this was during the Apollo 10
watch and Cameron comments that the observers were
inexperienced. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1129 and weight=0.
The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 2011 Apr 07 UT 19:45-20:10 Aristarchus was seen to be “very
bright” in Earthshine. Giorgio Sancristoforo (Milan, Italy,
203mm SCT, atmospheric seeing good) noticed Aristarchus to be
exceptionally bright (Sketch supplied) at around 20:00 and was
the first to report this. Although he did not record the start
and end times, he commented that the effect lasted 20-30 minutes
and then was significantly reduced in brightness. Although
direct comparison in terms of brightnes could not be made with a
star, he thought Aristarchus to be brighter than +0.7 in
magnitude (Saturn). Furthermore Aristarchus was visible when
daylight was still present, when looking through the telescope,
although it could not be seen with the naked eye due to too much
extraneous light. Aristarchus was probably white in colour, but
the observer was partly colour blind and so was uncertain. Not
much detail was seen elsewhere in Earthshine, even when the sky
darkened, and he was not able to see Kepler or Copernicus, just
the limb. No details were seen in Aristarchus itself, for
example no ray to the SW was visible. It later transpired that
Lajos Bartha (Budapest, Hungary, 70mm refractor, x83, seeing
conditions good) had observed Earthshine even earlier from
UT19:45-20:10 and noticed a bright area close to the edge of the
Moon that he later confirmed was Aristarchus. When he started
observing the sky twilight was still a deep blue, but the dark
side of the Moon was seen both with the naked eye and through
the telescope. Earthshine was medium in brightness and grey in
colour. Copernicus and Kepler were weak in brightness but
certainly visible. There was some scattered light from the
sunlit side of the Moon noticed, but not enough to obscure
Copernicus and Kepler from visibility. As a test he moved the
telescope around and the bright spot moved with the Moon and so
was not a glare problem. The following day he checked Earthshine
again but found that the bright spot was not so conspicuous. As
a footnote, Tim Haynes (UK) had been observing an occultation of
37 Tauri, much earlier at 19:14UT, through 10x50 binoculars. He
commented that Earthshine was visible, but that he hadn't
noticed Aristarchus - though he was not looking at the Moon
specifically to see this crater. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 2002 Aug 12 at UT 19:27 James Cook (Chelmsford, UK) detected a flash
on the Moon. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1789 Mar 30 at UT 20:00? Schroter (Lillienthal, Germany) observed
two flickering spots on the eastern edge of Grimaldi and near Riccioli.
This was on the Earthlit side of the Moon. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=
57 and the weight=4. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1789 Mar 30 at UT 20:00? Schroter (Lillienthal, Germany) observed
two flickering spots near Riccioloi and on the eastern edge of
Grimaldi. This was on the Earthlit side of the Moon. The Cameron 1978
catalog ID=57 and the weight=4. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1981 Oct 02 P. Madej (Huddersfield, UK, 77mm refractor,
seeing I to II) noticed that at 20:48 UT Aristarchus had a 2nd
magnitude star-like point on the NE rim (x38). At x83 he could
see a small disc of around 3-6 arc sec in diameter, and at
x111 it looked the ame but bluish-white in colour. He was able
to see Aristarchus, Herodotus, and Vallis Schroteri.
Observations ceased at 21:27 UT due to trees blocking the
view. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1966 Sep 20 at UT 03:22 Three Astronet observers (Phoenix, AZ, and
Los Angeles, CA, USA) (independently?) reported flashes in Grimaldi
crater. One observer was in Phoenix AZ, and another in Losa Angeles,
CA, so probably not due to the atmosphere. Cameron comments that the
astronaut Schmidt on Apollo 17 saw a flash in it while orbiting the
Moon. the Cameron 1978 catalog ID=977 and the weight=5. The ALPO/BAA
weight=4.
On 1969 Jul 19 at UT 1845-18:47 Pruss and Witte (Bochum, Germany, 6"
refractor x36 and binoculars) saw brightenings in the north west wall
of Aristarchus for 3-7 seconds of about 1 magnitude over the
background. From orbit at UT 18:46 the Apollo 11 crew Armstrong,
Aldrin, and Collins (in orbit around the Moon and using the naked eye)
were asked to take a look at Aristarchus after Earth-based reports of
TLP activity. Armstrong reported (after the solar corona had set, on
the night side) that probably Aristarchus "to be considerably more
illuminated than the surrounding area. It just has - seem to have, a
slight amount of flourescence to it". Collins reported a moment later:
"Looking out on the same area now. Well at least there is one wall of
the crater that seems to be more illuminated than the others. I am not
sure that I am actually identifying any phosporesecence, but that
definitely is lighter than anything else in the neighborhood". Houston
then asked if the crew could detect any colour and if the inner wall
was the inner or outer part? Aldrim commnted that it was the inner
wall and Collins mentioned thatno colour was incolved. The Cameron 1978
catalog ID=1165 and weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1969 Jul 19 at UT 19:30-21:30 Gervais (Lodure, France, 4.5"
refractor?) saw the whole region of Aristarchus and its environs
as brighter than normal. Two photographs were obtained. The
Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1156 and weight=5. At UT 20:30-20:55
Oliver (Spain, using a reflector) found the Aristarchus to have
brightened by about 1 magnitude. From UT 20:12-20:30 the crater
had been normal. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1167 and the
weight=2. At UT 21:00-00:35 P. Mourilhe Silva (Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, 19.5" refractor) saw Aristarchus as a very bright
elliptical shape which extended to the north like a bridge
between two points. Jose M. L. da Silva and Ronaldo Mourao (Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, 13" refractor) saw a brightening on the
north west wall from 21:24-23:22UT intermittently but cont'd.
Wall was extraordinarilly bright, along NW wall brighter.
Moseley (Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK, 10" refractor) detected
an unusual bright, along north west wall, brighter than normal
in Earthshine and brighter than crater. It was not constant, but
pulsated irregularly with frequency of 20 seconds and amplitude
0.75-1.0 magnitudes. No colour seen or obscuration though lokked
for. Clouds interrupted observations. Vasquez (Valparaiso,
Chile, 12" reflector) saw it as a very luminous point of
magnitude 1. Wairy Cardoso (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12"
reflector and 18" refractor) noted a bright. 1s??? The Cameron
catalog ID=1168 and the weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=4.
Theophilus 1969 Jul 19 UT 19:30-21:30 Observed by Fox (Notts.
England, 6.5" reflector) and Ringsdore (England, 15"
reflector). Fox saw intermittent glow in Theoph. for > 2h
(time not given). Ringsdore confirmed. (Apollo 11 watch)"
Confirmed by Baum 21:00-21:20UT. NASA catalog weight=5. NASA
catalog ID No. 1166. ALPO/BAA weight=4.
Fracastorius 1973 Mar 09 UT ~19:57 Robinson (Devon, UK) saw a
Moon Blink (colour) in this crater. This crater is long
suspected of giving permanent blinks due to natural colour. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
South Pole 2011 Apr 08 UT 19:30-20:00 A.Kemp (Mold, Flintshire, UK) observed that the
Leibnitz peaks at the southern pole stood out sharply. However one of the peaks was “shining
like a spot light. So bright that I couldn’t make out its shape”. – image clear and steady with
excellent transparency and seeing in the 70mm f/13 refractor (25mm and 10mm eyepieces).
Inspections during the above time period revealed no changes in brightness. Previous
observations of this area had never shown such an unusual brightness, and Arthur likened the
brightness to “a maximum brightness of Venus shining amongst 2nd magnitude stars”. The
observer was an experienced observer. ALPO/BAA weight=2.
Grimaldi 1969 Jul 19 UT 20:39-20:45 Delaye (France, 25cm
refractor) saw a bright bluish spot near Grimaldi. 20:43 a
flash was seen by Thinon. Delaye saw flashes at 20:44 and
20:45. Between 21:00 and 23:00 (J. M. L.) da Silva (Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, 19.5" refractor) saw a bright spot on the W
(IAU??) of Grimaldi. However there is a bright spot near
Grimaldi, so this maybe normal. NASA ID = 1167. The ALPO/BAA
weight=2.
Mare Crisium 1826 Apr 12 UT 20:00 Observed by Emmett (England?) "Black
moving haze or cloud". NASA catalog weight=2 (low). NASA catalog ID
109. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1990 Mar 31 at UT 21:30 L. Jackson (England, UK?) observed a red
glow in Earthshine in Gassendi as shown in a sketch. Apparently
Gassendi can often show up red colours (according to Cameron) but
rarely is this seen in Earthshine. Foley saw the sketch and suspects
that the location was Gassendi. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=397 and
weight=2. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1969 Jul 20 at UT 19:55-20:10 Delaye, Thinon, Donas, and Jourdran
(Marseilles, France, 10" refractor, x60) saw between 19:55-20:04UT
Aristarchus to be bright and in it pulsations with 10 sec duration. At
20:05UT it's spot brightened, at 20:08:50-20:35:50UT brightening and
pulsations of variable duration. At 20:55:50UT just a feeble flash.
Cameron comments that this is probably not atmpsheric effects as the
period is too long - also it was during the Apollo 11 watch. The
Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1175 and th weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1969 May22 at UT2045-2105 Wald (Zurich, Switzerland) observed the
pinkish colour in Aristarchus was less marked tonight. The astronauts
were alerted and at 22:12 reported no activity but could see the crater
and Earthshine was strong near the terminator. Apollo 10 watch,
spacecraft far from the terminator. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1134
and the weight=2. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
Atlas 1969 May 22 UT 21:20-21:40 Observed by Germann, Wild, Vieli
(Zurich, Switzerland, 6" reflector) "Rim towards the sun was bright.
Part of time was interrupted. (Apollo 10 watch)" NASA catalog weight=3
(average). NASA catalog ID #1135.
Theophilus 1969 Jul 20 UT 18:40 Observed by Delaye, Thinon, Donas, ?
ourdan (Marseilles, France, 10" refractor x60) "Saw a flash on the c.p.
of mag 1.0, duration 0.1s, no color. (meteor?) (Apollo 11 watch)".
NASA catalog weight=1 (very low). NASA catalog ID #1174.
Hyginius Cleft 1966 Jul 25 UT 04:40 observed by Kelsey (Riverside, CA,
USA, 8" reflector, x300) "Points at opposite ends of cleft were very
brilliant in red Wratten 25 filter & very dull in blue Wratten 47
filter. Richer uncertain if real LTP." NASA catalog weight=1. NASA
catalog ID #957.
Theophilus 1969 Jul 21 UT 19:30-21:45 and 21:00-22:00 Observed by Fox
(Newark, England, 6.5" reflector,) and Baum (Chester, England, 4.5"
refractor) (S=6, T=4) "At wall, adjacent to Cyrillus was a redish glow,
then obscur. (Fox). Baum saw intermittant white-blue shimmering as if
glowing thru dust glowing & upsurge in brightness on c.p. Gradually
faded to normal at 21:20. 1st time ever seen by him tho. obs. since
1947. Image sharp, no haziness. (indep. confirm. of activity, but
details differ, but same time, Apollo 11 watch)." NASA catalog
weight=5. NASA catalog ID #1180. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1991 May 21 at UT05:30-06:15 J. Green (Orangevale, CA, USA, 11"
reflector) photgrapphed a broad bright band stretching east and north
of Cassini crater in 3 exposures taken 10 minutes apart. This
photographic sequence shows a gradual widening towards Cassini and by
the 3rd exposure the band is touching (and then obscuring) Cassini. A
"fan" was visible in the north east and WSW directions, later this was
seen as rays and this was even seen in the view finder of the camera.
Cameron comments that this might be lens flare but suspects that it
would not have been seen in the view finder. The Cameron 2006 catalog
ID=427 and the weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
Mons Piton 2022 Aug 04 UT 19:41-20:10 T. Smith (Codnor, UK,
16inch Newtonian, x247, Seeing IV) mountain was very bright
and red around its eastern slopes. An examination of the
bright and contrasty Proclus crater revealed that to be
relatively colour free compared to Piton. An examination of
other features, north and south along the terminator revealed
some tinge of coloiur but not as strong as on Mon Piton. Mons
Piton examined with a yellow filter at 19:50 and still showed
red along the eastern side, other features along the
terminator had no colour through the filter. Video images by.
A.Cook (Newtown, UK) made earlier at 1929 & 19:40 UT, (in the
SWIR (1.5-1.7 microns) did not reveal Mons Pico as especially
bright - but resolutioin was poor. A friend of Smith, phoned
up the next day to say that they saw a mountain on the limb
exhibiting red on the 14th August. Probably the redness was
due to atmospheric spectral dispersion as the Moon was low,
and it was especially visble on Mons Piton as this is an
exceedingly contrasty object on the terminator. ALPO/BAA
weight=1.
North of Bessel 1969 May 1969 May 23 UT 22:54. Nelson Travnik
(Observatorio Flammarion, located at 45.58W, 21.87S, f/15
10cm refractor, Kodak Tri-X, 1/15 sec exposure, sky
conditions excellent). Dark spot photographed just north of
Bessel - could be a photographic defect?. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Plato 1887 Nov 23 UT 20:00? Observed by de Speissens (France?)
"Luminous triangle on floor. Klein says it was sunlight affect. (but
similar to Klein's own obs., #190. Fort says never seen before nor
since)." NASA catalog weight=0 (very unlikely). NASA catalog ID #256.
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Piton 1960 Nov 27 ? UT 00:00? Observed by Schneller
(Cleveland, OH, USA, 8" Reflector, x53), "Red obscuration
concealing peak, @10m2 (if near SR, date is 27th; ancillary
data given for 27th -- date not given)." NASA catalog weight=
3. NASA catalog ID #731. ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1965 Sep 03 UT03:00-05:00 D.Harris (Located near Whittier
College, Whittier, CA, USA, using a 10" f/8.2 Newtonian
reflector, x78 & x208, seeing 5-6, transparency 2-0) observed a
ridge obscured SSW of Ross D. No drawing was made, only a
written description. "Ridge not visible near crater; possible
white patch 1/3 Ross D diameter" The ridge is the wrinkle ridge
extending NNE from Ross D, a well established often visible
feature. Harris comments that this was not one of the better TLPs
seen near Ross D, and there were no independent observers,
neverless he was ceratin of this being a TLP, and it was
consistant with other activity seen near this crater between 1964
and 1970. Cameron 1978 catalog ID 891 and weight=3. ALPO/BAA
weight=2.
Censorinus 1969 May 24 UTC 21:10-22:15 Observed by Jean
Nicolini (Sao Paulo, Brazil, 12" reflector) "It was brighter
than Proclus between 2130-2145h. A very tiny cirrus veil
present & Censor. appeared less bright & Proc. continued to
look normal. Weather worsened at 2215h. (Apollo 10 watch)."
NASA catalog weight=2. NASA catalog ID #1144. ALPO/BAA
weight=1.
Theophilus 1978 Nov 08 UT 20:49-22:00 Observed by J.D. Cook
(Frimley, 12" reflector, 6mm Ortho eyepiece, seeing III-IV)
Orange discolouration seen on ESE crater floor. Moon blink
tried, but no blink detected. By 21:10 the effect had lessened,
but was still orange. By 21:50-21:58 the effect was smaller and
perhaps more on the SE of the floor. Colour confirmed by Foley.
Fitton may also have been observing. At 22:00 A.C. Cook observed
and commented that a darkish, perhaps brown-orange colour seen -
but suspected it was probably spurious colour - but by now the
seeing was V. J.H. Robinson, whilst doing a Moon Blink sweep of
several features, including Theophilus, had not noticed anything
unusual 18:50-19:10. By 22:30-22:35UT, he still could not detect
a blink, but noticed intermittent darkining on the shaded area
on the E. floor, but seeing was now IV. The darkening was more
noticeable in blue than red light. BAA Lunar Section
observation. 2006 Cameron catalog ID #40 weight=3. ALPO/BAA
weight=1.
Birt 1955 Apr 15 UT 03:20-05:00 Observed by Capen (California
Seeing=Excellent) "Small craters between Birt & wall were invis. at
times under excellent seeing, while craterlets on w.side were
continually obs." NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA catalog ID #586.