BAA Request: Do the appearance of the bands on the crater rim
vary (blur) in appearance over time? Compare them to bands in
other craters e.g. Herodotus, Kepler, Copernicus. If you do
see any variations in sharpness, see how it relates to
atmospheric seeing condtions. All images or sketches should
be emailed to:
a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k
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
ALPO Request: Please examine the crater through red and blue filters e.g. Wratten 25 and 38A. Can y ou see both the NE and SE
walls in the blue filter? Which is the brightest of the two
walls and what does it best compare in brightness to elsewhere
on the Moon? Can you see a thread like strip along the NW wall?
How dark is the interior shadow and can you see a thread of
light effect in this that was parallel to the illumnated eastern
wall? The minimum sized telescope to use would by 6" aperture or
larger (prefrably a refractor if you have one). Please send any
detailed sketches or high resolution images 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ALPO Request: On 2012 Feb 28 Raffaello Braga noted that only the
tip of the central peak was visible. Most of the crater was in
darkness - this was normal at this stage in illumination. When
viewed through a red filter, the central peak was visble, but
however when viewed through a blue filter it was invisible.
Please try to observe this crater visually with red and blue
filters, to see if you can replicate this effect? If so then
check for similar effects on other craters on the terminator.
Otherwise try to obtain some high resolution colour images. This
work is suitable for telescopes of 4" aperture or larger - if
you have a choice of a efractor or a reflector, please try the
refractor. Please send any observations you make to:
a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
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
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
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.
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.
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.
BAA Request: How early can you see the central peak of this
crater illuminated by scattered light off the crater's west
illuminated rim? High resolution and/or long exposures needed
to capture detail inside the floor shadow. 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
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 .
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.
ALPO Request: On 2013 Apr 22 Paul Zellor noticed that the two
closely spaced NW dark bands in Aristarchus had some (non-blue)
color to them. Can we confirm his observation of natural colour
here? Ideally you should be using a telescope of 10" aperture, or
larger. Please send any high resolution color images, detailed
sketches, or visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .
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
BAA Request: Aristarchus area - We are trying to explain an
observation from Meudon Observatory in France made in 1881 of
a bright rope-like effect seen in the vicinity of this crater.
Please send any images to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .
BAA Request: Cavendish E - we are attempting to check out two
reports made on 2021 Jun 22 UT 20:44 and 2025 Sep 04 UT 20:04
which both said that part of the northern rim of this crater
was as bright as Aristarchus. Visual observation or images
- high resolution and/or wide angle (to compare with other
bright features) would be welcome. Telescopes of aperture 5",
or larger, should be used. Please send any images to:
a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .
ALPO Request: Take a look at the bright area on the crater
floor, and the bright east facing part of the western rim, in
red and blue light e.g. Wratten 25 and 38A. Do these look
brighter to you in red or blue light? If you have these filters,
is it the fact that the Wratten 38A filter, being denser, makes
these areas brighter in one filter than in the other? Test them
out on other features. Any visual descriptions, sketches or
colour 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
ALPO Request: Compare the crater in red and blue light - if
possible use Wratten 25 and Wratten 38A filters. If its
brighter in one filter than the other, is this because one
filter is a lot darker than the other, or is the effect
confined only to this crater? Any visual descriptions,
sketches, or colour 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
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 .
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
BAA Request: On 2012 Jan 09 UT 21:01-21:08 Hahn crater was
imaged by Nick Hazel (Beverley, Yorkshire, UK, Nikon D7000 with
70-300 zoom at max, with 2x teleconverter, at f9, 1/320 sec, ISO
400 – tripod mounted, mirror up), A series of images were taken.
The 21:06 one showed a grey column cutting across the central
floor of the crater from the west and then bisecting the eastern
rim. All detail inside is completely invisble. Some (but not
all) of the other images showed a more blurred view of this
feature. It is possible that this was a seeing ripple effect, or
just the natural appearance of shadings on the Moon at this
time, however we would like to capture images of this area to be
sure. Small aperture telescopes or telephoto lens similar to
Nick's can be used. Try switching the tracking off to see what
effect motion blur has during the exposure - to see4 if this
replicates the effect. Please send any images you take to:
a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k