Lunar Observing Schedule for: Israel - Jerusalem



Produced by the Department of Physics at Aberystwyth University, UK
Ill is percentage illumination of the Moon


2026-Apr-02 UT 00:29-02:02 Ill=100% Copernicus

     ALPO Request: Can you see a darkening on the northen floor of 
     this crater? All visual reports, sketches or color images should 
     be emailed to: 
     t o n y . c o o k @ a l p o - a s t r o n o m y . o r g


2026-Apr-02 UT 17:53-19:13 Ill=99% Mare_Humboldtianum

     BAA Request: Mare Humboldtianum. We are trying to replicate, 
     using modern day images, a sketch in Plate I in BAA The Moon 
     from published: 1950 Jun Vol 1, No. 1. Its for a sketch by 
     K.W. Aboneri from 1949 Sep 7. Please send any images to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Apr-03 UT 23:51-00:25 Ill=96% Mons_Vinogradov

     ALPO Request: Please supply images, or sketches, of this area, 
     especially covering the area to the east. Any size scope can be 
     used for this study. All observations should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Apr-04 UT 20:32-01:14 Ill=92% Geminus

     BAA Request: On 2011 Jan 21 Nigel Longshaw suspected the 
     eastern side of Geminus (on the border of the crater filled 
     shadow and the eastern illuminated rim) had a colouration to 
     it. This extended for a short distance from the floor shadow 
     into the illuminated rim width and spanned  from the north to 
     the south of the crater. For a comparison, Cleomedes was 
     checked but nothing unusual was noticed in its shadow. The 
     observer notes that Elger also saw colour here too. Its 
     probable that some natural surface colouration was observed, 
     but this needs to be checked out? Telescopes of aperture 4" 
     or larger are needed to observe this effect. If you have a 
     refractor, then try using this, otherwise a reflector will do 
     just as well. Please send any sketches, images, or visual 
     descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Apr-05 UT 21:04-02:37 Ill=86% Cyrillus

     BAA Request: Cyrillus. There is a small white craterlet just 
     north of the three central peaks. We are interested to receive 
     high resolution images of this in order to find out at what 
     selenographic colongitude, in the lunar evening, that it loses 
     it's white spot appearence. Please use scopes largher than 6 
     inches in diameter. 
     Please email these to: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2026-Apr-07 UT 01:36-02:35 Ill=78% Jansen

     BAA Request: On 2013 Aug 26 Peter Grego observed a dark patch 
     just east of Jansen D. He had not seen this before, therefore it 
     is important to repeat this observation under simuilar 
     illumination conditions. It maybe a buried crater? Ideally 
     suited to scopes of aperture 8" or larger. Please send 
     any high resolution images, detailed scetches, or 
     visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Apr-10 UT 01:10-01:41 Ill=51% Tycho

     ALPO Request: Colour imagery or visual skecthes needed of this 
     crater. Can you see or detect any colour on the rim? If 
     imaging, make sure you do not over expose the rim. Use a 
     reflector or SCT telescope. Minimum aperture allowed: 6". All 
     images should be sent to me on the email adrress below, 
     whether or not you were successful in capturing the central 
     peak: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Apr-10 UT 01:10-02:54 Ill=51% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-11 UT 01:42-02:52 Ill=41% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-12 UT 02:09-02:51 Ill=31% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-13 UT 02:33-02:50 Ill=22% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-19 UT 16:37-16:58 Ill=7% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-20 UT 16:37-18:08 Ill=14% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-21 UT 16:38-20:06 Ill=25% Earthshine: Lyrids: ZHR=15 (vel=47km/s) & Pi Puppids: ZHR=var (vel=18km/s)

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-22 UT 16:39-20:39 Ill=36% Earthshine: Lyrids: ZHR=15 (vel=47km/s) & Pi Puppids: ZHR=var (vel=18km/s)

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-23 UT 18:25-19:21 Ill=46% Apollo_11

     Apollo 11: This is what Mare Tranquillitatis would have looked 
     like on the night that Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong made the first 
     footprint on the lunar surface. Aim for the area north of Moltke 
     crater. The illumination and the shadows are exactly the same. 
     There is no scientific value in imaging this, but from the 
     nostalgic point of view it might be interesting to observe. Feel 
     free to send your observation in to the BAA or ALPO and we will 
     put it in our archives, but as we have a lot of these images 
     already, we may not publish it, unless it is exceptionally 
     high in resolution. Minimum diameter scope to use 
     would be 20cm, but larger apertures are preferred: 


2026-Apr-23 UT 18:25-18:45 Ill=46% Torricelli

     ALPO Request: On 2011 Dec 31 Raffaello Braga found the north rim 
     or Torricelli to be very bright at the start of the observing 
     session but dimmed considerably later. He was not sure on the 
     normal appearance of this crater, hence why it is really 
     imortant to establish this by re-observing under similar 
     illumination. Minimum telescope aperture required: 3", and try 
     to use a refractor if possible. Please send any high resolution 
     images, detailed scetches, or  visual descriptions to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Apr-23 UT 16:40-21:05 Ill=47% Earthshine: Lyrids: ZHR=15 (vel=47km/s) & Pi Puppids: ZHR=var (vel=18km/s)

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2026-Apr-24 UT 16:19-18:16 Ill=57% Albategnius

     Face of Albategnius: you can see the profile of a face in a shadow 
     from the eastern edge of this crater - this is a Clair-Obscur effect. 
     Clair-Obscur have no scientific importance and are just tricks of the 
     light that make us think we see something like a letter of the alphabet 
     or a shape or face. Clair-Obscur effects are scientifically pointless 
     to observe. However, if you want to be thrilled, or obtain an image to 
     impress someone then give them a go. If you do observe, or image this, 
     by all means send your observation into ALPO or the BAA, but we 
     probably won't publish, but will nevertheless retain in our archives, 
     just in case features elsewhere in the image are of interest to 
     future researchers.


2026-Apr-24 UT 16:21-17:06 Ill=57% Ptolemaeus

     BAA Request: Examine the floor visually, sketch, or image to 
     show the progression of the shadow spires across floor. If 
     observing visually, how would you describe the appearance of 
     the central lit area on the floor? If imaging, do a time lapse 
     e.g. 1 image per minute to show the progression of the shadow 
     spires. We are asking for these observations following an 
     observation by N. Travnok (Brazil) on 2020 Jul 27 UT 23:00 who 
     commented on an unusual appearance to the floor. It would be 
     really useful to have visual observing of the appearance and 
     please note down what the seeing conditions are like. If you 
     want to image it at high resolution, please go ahead but 
     remember that any image stacking should not be from sections 
     of video of longer than 1 min duration as the shadows change 
     in length rather quickly at sunrise. Any sketches, visual  
     descriptions, or images taken, should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Apr-24 UT 17:07-22:08 Ill=57% Montes_Caucasus

     Monte Caucasus: "shadow face" silhouette Clair-Obscur effect. 
     Clair-Obscur effects have no scientific importance just tricks 
     of the light that make us think we see something like 
     a letter of the alphabet or a shape or face. Clair-Obscur 
     effects are scientifically useless to observe. However, if 
     you want to be thrilled, or obtain an image to impress someone 
     then give them a go. This effect on the southern end of Montes 
     Caucuses looks like the side silhouette of a cartoon human face. 
     We are still slightly undertain about the precise colongitude 
     range, so if you do not see the face, try again later. If you 
     do observe, or image this, by all means send your observation 
     into ALPO or the BAA, but we probably won't publish, but will 
     nevertheless retain in our archives, just in case features 
     elsewhere in the image are of interest to future researchers.
     Note that we have some uncertainty in the colongitude range 
     - so if you don't see it, please tells us the date and UT so 
     we can make some improvements in the predictions.


2026-Apr-25 UT 16:11-16:54 Ill=67% Plato

     Plato's Hook: a hook like effect in one of the shadow spires in Plato, 
     near a rim - this is a Clair-Obscur effect. It was first seen by 
     H.P.Wilkins in 1952. Clair-Obscur have no scientific importance and 
     are just tricks of the  light that make us think we see something 
     like a letter of the alphabet or a shape or face. Clair-Obscur 
     effects are scientifically pointless to observe. However, if you want 
     to be thrilled, or obtain an image to impress someone then give them 
     a go. If you do observe, or image this, by all means send your 
     observation into ALPO or the BAA, but we probably won't publish, 
     but will nevertheless retain in our archives, just in case 
     features elsewhere in the image are of interest to future 
     researchers.


2026-Apr-25 UT 17:35-19:55 Ill=68% Eratosthenes

     ALPO Request: This request comes about because of two 
     observations. Firstly on 2009 Nov 25 Paul Abel and others 
     detected some colour on the inner west illumntated slopes of 
     this crater. No similar colour existed elsewhere. On 2012 Aug 
     25 Charles Galdies imaged this crater and detected a similar 
     colour, approximately in the same location, though he also 
     imaged colour elsewhere. It is important to replicate this 
     observation to see if it was natural surface colour, 
     atmospheric spectral dispersion, or some effect in the camera 
     that Charles was using, namely a Philips SPC 900NC camera. 
     The minimum sized telescope to be used would ideally a 8" 
     reflector. Please send any high resolution images, detailed 
     sketches, or visual descriptions to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Apr-25 UT 17:54-19:51 Ill=68% Clavius

     Eyes of Clavius: you can see this crater with two eyes, Clavius C and 
     Clavius D - this is a Clair-Obscur effect. Clair-Obscur have no 
     scientific importance and are just tricks of the light that make 
     us think we see something like a letter of the alphabet 
     or a shape or face. Clair-Obscur effects are scientifically pointless 
     to observe. However, if you want to be thrilled, or obtain an image to 
     impress someone then give them a go. If you do observe, or image this, 
     by all means send your observation into ALPO or the BAA, but we 
     probably won't publish, but will nevertheless retain in our archives, 
     just in case features elsewhere in the image are of interest to 
     future researchers.


2026-Apr-27 UT 16:31-16:59 Ill=85% Campanus

     BAA Request: Please can you verify that the central peak of 
     this crater is difficult to disern, and that the floors of 
     both Campanus and Mercator are generally devoid of detail. 
     Telescopes no smaller than 6" aperture should be used with 
     magnifications of approximately x180 for visual observations. 
     Images or sketches are welcome too. The purpose of this 
     request is to verify a description of the craters made by SPA 
     observer Steve Bush on 2014 Jan 31 IT 22:00-22:30. 
     Observational reports should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k 


2026-Apr-28 UT 17:30-18:57 Ill=92% Bullialdus

     ALPO Request: Can you detect any colour, inside the crater, on 
     the floor and elsewhere? Can you image any colour? Minimum 
     telescope aperture needed: 6", and if possible try using a 
     refractor. All images or sketches should be sent 
     to me on this email adrress: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Apr-28 UT 22:55-23:53 Ill=92% Alphonsus

     BAA Request: Monitor the central peak for brightness changes. Do 
     they change with atmospheric seeing conditions? Any brightness 
     measurements or image sequences made should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2026-Apr-30 UT 21:25-22:24 Ill=99% Plato

     BAA Request: Two observers have reported colour on the rim 
     around this colongitude, once in 1938, and again in 2013. Please 
     take a look and report what you see, and where on the rim. 
     Please send any high resolution images, detailed sketches, or 
     visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .