Lunar Observing Schedule for: Netherlands - Amsterdam



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


2026-Jan-03 UT 22:21-00:30 Ill=99% Aristarchus

     BAA Request: Please compare the brightness of Aristarchus 
     with Proclus, Censorinus, or any other similar sized bright 
     crater, over time e.g. every 5 or 10 min. Can you see any 
     changes in brightness? If so which crater is the one that is 
     varying Apertures as small as 2" diameter can be used for 
     this work, so long as the magnification is of the order of 
     100x. Please send all brightness meaurements or image 
     sequences to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Jan-05 UT 06:01-06:04 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-Jan-06 UT 21:41-06:38 Ill=84% 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-Jan-10 UT 02:30-07:08 Ill=54% Earthshine: Kappa Cancrids: ZHR=? (vel=47km/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-Jan-11 UT 04:18-07:08 Ill=44% Earthshine: Kappa Cancrids: ZHR=? (vel=47km/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-Jan-22 UT 16:48-18:06 Ill=15% 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-Jan-23 UT 16:49-19:36 Ill=24% 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-Jan-24 UT 16:51-21:00 Ill=35% 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-Jan-25 UT 16:10-18:07 Ill=44% Ukert

     Ukert: a "V" on the Moon - 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-Jan-25 UT 16:10-18:07 Ill=44% Werner

     Werner: an "X" on the Moon - 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-Jan-25 UT 16:53-22:23 Ill=46% 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-Jan-25 UT 22:52-22:55 Ill=47% 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-Jan-26 UT 17:37-18:12 Ill=56% Plato

     BAA Request: It has been noticed that a bright carterlet can 
     appear very suddenly on the floor of Plato in between needle 
     like shadows, during local lunar sunrise. This happens in the 
     space of just a minute or so, and can look really quite dramatic.
     This effect was first spotted by Brian Halls on 2014 Oct 31 
     Please send any high resolution images, detailed scetches, or 
     visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Jan-26 UT 20:47-00:17 Ill=57% 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-Jan-26 UT 21:34-22:09 Ill=57% 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-Jan-27 UT 16:34-17:33 Ill=67% Apollo_17

     Apollo 17: This is what the lunar surface would have looked like when 
     Apollo 17 blasted off from the Moon. Aim for the area 
     south of Littrow. 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-Jan-29 UT 02:20-02:42 Ill=81% Sinus_Iridum

     BAA Request: Is there a dark shaded area on the floor of size 
     approximately ~1/4 diameter of Sinus Iridum and on western 
     interior by the rim? Telescopes as small as 2" apperture can be 
     used for this study at a magnification of approximately 110x. 
     Any visual descriptions, sketches or images should be emailed 
     to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2026-Jan-29 UT 18:21-00:51 Ill=87% Aristarchus

     BAA Request: Is there a bright spot on the west interior wall of 
     this crater? Compare it to other features and note if it varies 
     in brightness over time. Please send all reports or images to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2026-Jan-29 UT 19:49-20:46 Ill=87% 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-Jan-31 UT 02:11-02:58 Ill=95% Herodotus

     ALPO Request: Any sign of brightness changes or flashes from 
     this crater?. Minimum sized telescope aperture to be used: 4". 
     Any sketches, visual reports, or monochrome image sequences 
     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-Jan-31 UT 03:46-04:16 Ill=96% Prinz

     ALPO Request: Monitor this crater over time to see if there 
     are any brightness changes inside. A minimum sized scope to 
     use for this would be an 8" reflector. 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