BAA Request: On 2012 Sep 24 E. Horner noticed a very strong red
colour around part of the sunlit inner rim of Copernicus,
sometimes a 1/4 and sometimes 1/2 around the interior. Quite
likely this was some form of atmospheric spectral dispersion -
though the observer checked for similar effects on other craters
but saw none. But to be sure we would like to obtain some colour
images or visual observations of this crater. The minimum sized
telescope to be used would ideally a 6" reflector. Low elevation
angles for the Moon are ideal as we want to try to replicate
this effect if it is indeed due to atmospheric spectral
dispersion. Please send any high resolution images, detailed
sketches, or visual descriptions
to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .
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:
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 .
BAA Request: Any sign of colour on this crater? Exmaine it
through red and blue filters e.g. Wratten 28 and 44A. Also
would you say that the crater looks dull? We are especially
interested if you observe the cxrater under poor transparency
conditions. All observations, including visual descriptions,
sketches, or images should be emailed 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
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
BAA Request: In 1991 Dec 23 Bob Mizon (BAA) sketched the
crater Cleomedes and Mare Cisrium. In the floor of the shadow
filled Cleomedes was an dusky oval area - presumably the last
rays of the Sun reaching the floor. We would like yuo to
either sketch, or image, over time, how the shape of this oval
area changes, and eventually vanishes. How late in terms of
colongitude can it still be seen? Is there any hint of colour
present? Telescopes of aperture 6 inche or larger should be
used. Please send any observation
you make to:
a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
BAA Request: Sketches or images needed of Toricelli B - of
sufficient resolution to reveal shadow. All observations,
including sketches or images shouild 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
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 .
ALPO Request: Fracatorius - please try to image / sketch /
visually observe the interior shadowed floor of the crater on
the sunset terminator. Can you detect a central bright spot in
the dark dhadow filled floor of the crater? How does its
appearance change over time? Minimum aperture scope to use
9cm. Please send any images 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
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
Yerkes: a "Woodpecker" shaped shadow - 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. This particular Clair-Obscur effect was first
reported by KC Pau.
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: Can you see, or image, 4 points of light in the
shadowed floor of the crater? How do these change in
appearance over time? This is not a TLP but is still
interesting to observe as it might look like a string of
pearls effect. Please send any images, or sketches, 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
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 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 .
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
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.
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.
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
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: 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 .
ALPO Request: Try viewing the central peak through a red and
blue filter e.g. Wratten 25a and 38, and comparing the
brightness to the of the eastern sunlit rim. Does the size
of the central peak change between filters? If you do detect
colour here, obviously check for colour on other central
peaks. If taking colour images, make sure that you do
nderexpose slightly so as to avoid saturating the central
peak. All visual reports, 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