Lunar Observing Schedule for: Russia - Vladivostock



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


2026-Feb-03 UT 20:37-21:04 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-Feb-05 UT 13:55-21:30 Ill=85% 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-Feb-08 UT 20:18-20:30 Ill=56% 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-Feb-09 UT 20:00-21:49 Ill=46% Earthshine: Alpha Centaurids: ZHR=6 (vel=58km/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-Feb-20 UT 09:19-10:05 Ill=9% 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-Feb-21 UT 09:20-11:18 Ill=17% 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-Feb-22 UT 09:21-12:32 Ill=27% 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-Feb-23 UT 09:23-13:45 Ill=39% 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-Feb-24 UT 13:08-15:05 Ill=50% 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-Feb-24 UT 14:19-15:25 Ill=50% 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-Feb-24 UT 09:24-14:57 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-Feb-24 UT 15:06-15:25 Ill=51% 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-Feb-25 UT 11:02-14:57 Ill=61% 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-Feb-25 UT 11:49-12:23 Ill=61% Tycho

     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 


2026-Feb-25 UT 15:38-16:33 Ill=62% 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-Feb-25 UT 15:57-16:33 Ill=62% 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-Feb-27 UT 09:18-10:16 Ill=81% Apollo_15

     Apollo 15: This is what the lunar surface would have looked like when 
     Apollo 15 blasted off from the Moon. Aim for the area 
     of Rima Hadley. 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-Feb-28 UT 10:00-10:57 Ill=89% Aristarchus

     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 .


2026-Feb-28 UT 11:29-12:28 Ill=90% Gassendi

     BAA Request: Please either observe visually with red and blue 
     filters, or image with a colour webcam, the floor of this 
     crater. On two occasiobns colour was detecred here which might 
     be natural or more likley a combination of poor seeing 
     conditions and atmospheric spectral dispersion (or chromatic 
     aberation) on a bumpy area of the floor of this crater. 
     Minimum aperture used should be 6" or 15cm. Any visual 
     descriptions, sketches, or images should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2026-Feb-28 UT 15:03-17:12 Ill=90% 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-Feb-28 UT 16:26-16:48 Ill=91% Aristarchus

     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 .