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: 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 .
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
Imaging the western hemisphere during Artemis II:
Please image some features on the Moon near the western limb as the
Artemis II mission will be capturing images of the western hemisphere
and especially the western limb the closer it gets to the Moon. Images
can be in colour or monochrome. Note that this maybe during your local
day time, in which case use a monochrome camera and a red
or near IR filter to reduce scattered light from the sky. To find
out what part of the Moon Artemis II is seeing look at
https://www.nasa.gov/ and click on "Live Views from Orion" OR
use the interactive web tool:
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis-ii/arow/ and click on
the small disk (the Moon) on the bottom left
Update 5/4/2026 - we have heard that astronauts will be looking at
Glushko crater from 21:10-21:18UT and then the Mare Orientale region
from 21:18-21:34UT, so try to image the limb region towards these at
these times. Alas I don't have other craters on the nearside to give
you at the moment unless a more detailed list becomes available. Its
possible that their observing times may vary slightly as they may
want to look at certain features for longer. They will lose contact
with Earth at 22:47UT i.e. behind the Moon. For observers in the
northern hemisphere, expect the Moon to be very low down in the
sky. Southern hemisphere observers will gain a better view. From the
north Americas unfortunately it won't be visible.
Earthshine during Artemis II:
Please video the east/north eastern area of the Moon
on the night side. We are trying to look for impact
flashes at the same time the Artemis II crew are looking
for impact flashes. Its unlikely that earthshine will
be visible but try to max out the gain even if it means
the terminator is a bit saturated. If it helps to reduce
the glare try a red or near IR filter. A 12 or 16 bit
camera may offer some advantages in that the dynamic
range can cope with both the day and night side. Frames
rates of at least 15 fs are needed. Do not attempt to
use impact flash detection software to detect flashes
as all of these will produce false flashes from sunlit
mountain peaks scintillating in atmospheric seeing. It
maybe better to wait to hear when astronauts say they
have seen flashes and check the video at that specific
UTC. Alternatively try playing the video at 5 frames
per sec and look for flashes manually - we can check
for these and rule them out using other peoples video
taken at the same time. Most will be cosmic rays. Please
register with https://lif.mi.imati.cnr.it and upload
your observations here. If you find that the observing
window is in daylight, where you are, then you won't
be able to see any earthshine. So instead suggest that
you either take monochrome or colour images of the
east / north eastern day side of the Moon, that
the astronauts will see after emerging from the far
side, or you can try using a monochrome camera with a
red or infrared filter, and increasing the gain until
the dayside is just saturated, and video the night
side on the north east & east area. You will not have
the same sensitivity as astronomers who are observing
at night in other parts of the world but its better
than nothing and were there to be an especially bright
flash (unlikely) then you might just detect it. To
find out what part of the Moon Artemis II is seeing look at
https://www.nasa.gov/ and click on "Live Views from
Orion" OR use the interactive web tool:
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis-ii/arow/ and
click on the small disk (the Moon) on the bottom
left. Just out of interest Artemis will be
seeing Earthrise at 23:27UT in case you want to
photograph the Moon at this times as they are
photographing the Earth. Some have asked how to calibrate
the camera so that magnitudes of any flashes can be
determined. Try capturing video of mag 2.7 star Tau Scorpi
which will be quite far off the eastern limb of the Moon
before and after the observing session. You can also try
for some of the brighter stars in nearby globular clusters
M4 & M19 but these will be a challenge in view of the
glare from the Moon.
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: On 2013 Sep 01 a lunar astrophotographer,
Maximilian Teodorescu, imaged a dark dusky cicular area to the
SE of Hermann D. The odd thing is that simulations show that
there should not be a circular low lying depression here. It
maybe a dust ring on his camera, but it did feature in the Lunar
Picture of the nDay (LPO) web site on 2013 Sep 13. 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
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
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
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:
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
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.
ALPO Request: On 2010 Apr 20 Ivan Bryukhanov observed an
orange-brown tint a little to the west of Zollner and Kant
craters. A refractor would be suitable for this, although any
sized scope larger than 4.5" aperture would suffice. Its
possible that this might have been related to the low
altitude of the Moon, therefore observing with the Moon down to
about 15-5deg above the horizon is acceptable for this to see if
we can replicate colour here. Please send any images, detailed
sketches, or visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k
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.
BAA Request: Please image or sketch this area, looking
especially for two bright points of light on the edge of the
termiator. A scope of at least 4" aperture is needed for this
observation. All images or sketches should be emailed 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: 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 .
"Jewelled Handle": in Montes Jura - this is a Clair-Obscur effect. Its
an illuminated arc. 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.
Cassini's Moon Maiden at Promontorium Heraclides - 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.
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
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 .