On 2012 Mar 28 P. Grego (Cornwall, UK, seeing II, 100mm
refractor, x132) observed a patch of light just inside the NW
rim of Menelaus on the shadowed wall or floor. Computer
visulaiztions of the illumination conditions using a digital
elevation model failed to produce this effect. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Cepheus A 2000 Oct 04 UTC 08:15-08:50 Observer: Maurice Collins
(New Zealand, 90cm ETX) - observer noted that crater was
extremely bright - wasn't sure if this was normal and at the
time rated it as the brightest (contrasty?) crater that he had
ever seen on the Moon. Many years later he suspected that he may
have mis-identified the crater. This still leaves us with thr
problem as to why a crater should be so bright in this region,
and if so, which one? ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1915 Apr 21 at UT 1800? Houdard (France) noticed a special
occurrence south of Posidonius which he took as evidence of water
vapor. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=351 and weight=3. The ALPO/BAA
weight=2.
In 1982 Sep 24 at 22:45-23:40 K. Marshall (Medellin, Columbia) saw in
Theophilus an obscuration on the south west wall close to Cyrillus and
furthermore it had a red / mauve colouration (seen best in a 12mm Ortho
eyepiece). Through a Wratten 15 yellow filter the region was quite
bright. At23:40UT the obscuration faded. There was plenty of detail in
the region between Theophilus and Cyrils. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=
184 and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
A track of reddish light, like a beam, was seen
crossing the shadowed floor of Plato.This TLP has an ID
No. of 17 in Cameron's 1978 catalog and a weight
of 3. It has an ALPO/BAA weight of 2.
On 1887 Nov 23 at 16:15-17:00 UT Von Speissen & others of Berlin,
Germany, using a 3.5" refractor (x180), saw a "Triangular patch of
light (time in Middlehurst catalog wrong? Moonrise was at > 18:30h. If
year =1887, age=8.8 days & time OK. must be same observation as ID=256
in Cameron 1978 catalog - note similarity of names and also the
reference date). Cameron 1978 catalog ID=258 and weight=1.
Peirce A (Swift=IAU name) 1937 Mar? 23? UTC 22:00 Observed by Wilkins
(England, UK, 12.5" reflector) "Obscuration on floor if crater. Crater
invis. (similar to #394, 396)." NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA
catalog ID #412. Note this is almost certainly supposed
to be 1934 Dec 23!
SE of Ross D 1964 Aug 16 UT 04:18-05:20 Observed by Harris and
Cross (Whittler, CA, USA, 19" reflector?) "Bright area.
Condensations varying with time" NASA catalog weight=3. NASA
catalog ID #840. ALPO/BAA weight=3
Alphonsus 1967 Aug 13 UT 18:40-18:55 Observed by Horowitz (Haifa,
Israel, 8" reflector?) "Glow or hazy patch seen while using filters.
Brighter than background. Not seen after 2055 or next nite" NASA
catalog weight=3 (average). NASA catalog ID #1041.
On 1972 Apr 21 at UT19:01 Mattingly (Apollo 16 commander, in orbit
around the Moon, using his naked eyes) saw a bright flash from below
his horizon on the lunar farside (approximate longitude=180 deg). he
was dark adapted at the time. However no sesimic event was recorded and
so Cameron suspects that this was not a meteor impact but a cosmic ray
striking his eye. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1331 and weight=3. The
ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1979 Dec 27 at UT 05:32 D. Louderback (South Bend, WA, USA, 6"
reflector x240, seeing=3-6/10 and T=4) noticed "2 small high-sun areas
nr. Eimmart - brightening around Mare Crisium, except for interior of
Proclus - in blue light. They were brighter than 2 spots on Cap.
Agarum rated 8.5 & Proc. 9. Not as bright next night. Probably a real
blue light brightening". Cameron 2006 catalog ID=79, location on Moon:
(70E, 23N) and weight=4.
Morales of France?, observed "an illumination" in Kepler on 1884 Feb 05
at UT20:00?. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID is 241 and the weight=1. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1975 Mar 24 at UT22:28-22:19 P.W. Foley (Kent, UK) observed
vivid blue/green in Aristarchus. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Proclus 1975 May 24 UTC 22:00 Observed by P.W. Foley (Kent, UK)
"Brightenings(?). Seen by more than one obs. ? Foley recorded a ray
projection on photos, but not seen vis. by others." NASA catalog
weight=3? (average?). NASA catalog ID #1405.
Grimaldi 1839 Jun 24 UT 22:00? Observed by Gruithuisen (Munich,
Germany) "Smokey, grey mist". NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA
catalog ID #117. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1983 Oct 19 at UT 21:09-23:40 G. North (Bexhill on Sea, UK, seeing
III) found Aristarchus crater to be slightly blue in colour, and very
bright, despite the fact that no colour was seen elsewhere on the Moon.
At 22:08UT Foley (Kent, UK, 12"reflector, seeing II) obtained an
extremely high CED brightness measurement and also picked up a "blue-
violet" cast, especially inside the west rim, furthermore he saw noe
detail in it. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=230 and the weight=5. The
ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1989 Jun 17 at UT 06:33-07:16 R. Manske (Sun Prairie, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) sketched a nebulous spot near to Herodotus crater that at
06:49 (when he tried some filters out) was visile through red, blue and
yellow filters, though it was slightly fainter through the red filter.
The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=366 and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
Aristarchus 1963 Oct 30 UTC 22:00? Scarfe (Cambridge, UK)
observed a 30% enhancement at 540nm in the spectra of
Aristarchus. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID No. is 778 and weight
is 5. The ALPO/BAA weight=1 because Oct 30 is not mentioned in
Cameron's refernce.
In 1963 Oct 30 UT 22:00? Scarfe (Cambridge, UK) observed a
30% enhancement at 540nm in the spectra of Copernicus. The
Cameron 1978 catalog ID No. is 778 and weight is 5. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1 because Oct 30 is not mentioned in the ref
that Cameron give's to Scarfe's paper.
On 1981 Nov 10 at UT 07:54-08:22 D. Louderback (South Bend, WA, USA,
3" refractor and filters, seeing=2-3 and transparency=5) observed a
blue light at the Cobra's Head, near Aristarchus, that fell back down
to a normal brightness of 7. although the west wall (his point D) went
down to 6.5 (this was 8 back on Oct 5). The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=158
and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1983 Oct 20 at UT23:40 P. Moore (Selsey, UK) observed that
Aristarchus was brighter than normal (as measured with a CED) and much
more so that Censorinus, Menelaus, and Proclus craters (in turn).
Cameron comments that Moore is a very experienced observer. The
Cameron 2006 catalog ID=231 and the weight=4. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1976 Feb 14 at UT23:35-0053 LeCroy (Springfield, VA, USA, 4.5"
reflector, x75, S=6 and T=4.5). A blue haze was seen on the east side
of Aristarchus and red haze on the west side. At 00:00UT details were
more clear and at 00:24UT Aristarchus and Herodotus, were seperated. At
00:34UT colours were gone. At 00:35UT blue was on Aristarchus and the
area was bright, but was black in a red filter. At 00:53UT the features
were clear and the colour gone and the brightness had decreased to 9.
Cameron comments that the colour was not due to temp. inversion because
of being dark in the red filter, implying a medium). The Cameron 1978
catalog TLP ID is 1428 and the weight=1. This is an ALPO report. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1898 Apr 06 atUT 23:00 Pickering (Cambridge, Mass, USA, 15"
refractor?) observed in Schroter's valley and it's vicinity "Variations
in vapor col. Crater E now most conspicuous instead of C which is now
least conspic., but not covered with vapor. (in drawing 2 gaps show,
time est. fr. given ol. ". The cameron 1978 catalog ID=298 and weight=
3. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1989 Jun 20 UT 0628-06:58 R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) discovered blue on the north west inner wall and red on the
south east outer wall. At 05:39 he could see the blue but not the red.
No colour was detected on Tycho, but he thought that he could detect a
pinkish colouration over the whole Moon. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=
367 and the weight=1. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1975 Dec ?? at 19:00UT P.W.Foley (Kent, UK), and possibly P. Moore?
(Selsey, UK) - unusual events were reported which might have been due
to minor structral changes. Albedo=76% (=7.6?). Cameron 1978 catalog
ID=1425 and weight=3. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus 1975 Dec 19 UT 22:45 Observed by Foley (Kent, England)
"Suspected anomaly in it", NASA catalog weight=1 (very low). NASA
catalog ID #1424.
On 1989 Jun 21 at UT07:03-07:27, R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1
"refractor) found the colours pink and blue on Aristarchus, like the
previous day, however this time there was also an orange tinge on the
"back"" (North?) rim of Sinus Iridum and the same too on mare Crisium,
all the way past Plato, in the direction of Cassini. This colour was
not seen at higher magnifications. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=368 and
the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Jun 21 at UT 07:03-07:27 R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) saw orange on Cassini all the way past Mare Imbrium edge,
Plato etc - maybe atm. At high power (8mm eyepiece) & no filter. Saw no
hint of color (due to smearing at high power?)." The Cameron 2006
catalog ID=368 and the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Jun 21 at UT 07:03-07:27 R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) saw orange on Mare Imbrium edge all the way past Plato upto
Cassini - maybe atm. At high power (8mm eyepiece) & no filter. Saw no
hint of color (due to smearing at high power?)." The Cameron 2006
catalog ID=368 and the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Jun 21 at UT 07:03-07:27 R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) saw orange on Plato all the way past Mare Imbrium edge upto
Cassini - maybe atm. At high power (8mm eyepiece) & no filter. Saw no
hint of color (due to smearing at high power?)." The Cameron 2006
catalog ID=368 and the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Jun 21 at UT 07:03-07:27 R. Manske (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 1"
refractor) saw orange on the north? wall of Sinus Iridum and over a
large part of the north of Mare Imbrium - "maybe atm. At high power
(8mm eyepiece) & no filter. Saw no hint of color (due to smearing at
high power?)." The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=368 and the weight=0. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1981 Oct 26 UT 20:44-21:14 M. Mobberley (Bury St Edmunds, UK,
14" Cassegrain, seeing III) noticed an ~100deg wide fan on the
floor of Theophius, radiating on the central peak upto the
surrounding base of the wall next to Cyrillus crater. This fan
had a hint of yellow/red. The observer did not consider this to
be abnormal - there was certainly no loss of focus here as far
as the observer was concerned, and no mention is made of this
effect in later observations that night. Plenty of spurious
colour was reported. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus 1966 Aug 05 UT 05:22-05:38 Observed by Bartlett (Baltimore,
MD, USA, 4" reflector x93, x125, x281, S=4, T=5), "S. part of floor was
granulated & est. at 6 deg bright; faint yellow-brownish tint. Rest of
crater 8 deg bright white."NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA catalog
ID 963.
In 1937 Apr 29 at UT 09:30 Firsoff (Glastonbury, UK, 6" reflector and
filters) observed a slight greenish colour (Cameron says colour of
ground? no TLP?). The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=420 and Weight=4. The
ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Theophilus 1965 Jul 18 UTC 08:52-09:01 Observed by Cross, Ariola
(Whittler, CA, USA, 19" reflector, x450, S=4, T=3) "Red spots;
ruby red within a pink area on c.p." NASA catalog weight=5. NASA
catalog ID #885. ALPO/BAA weight=4.
1999 Jan 07 UT 01:57 C. Brook (Plymouth UK, 65mm refractor,
x125, seeing good) found this mountain unusually dull. In
contrast, Mons Pico, Montes Teneriffe, Montes Spitzenberg,
were all normal. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Plato 1825 Apr 08 UT 01:00 Observed by Gruithuisen (Munich,
Germany) "West part of crater brighter than east part". NASA
catalog weight=4. NASA catalog ID #106. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus 1971 Jun 13 UT 08:21 Observed by Bartlett (Baltimore, MD,
USA, 4" reflector x51, x93, x121) "S. part of floor was brownish &
granulated" NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA catalog ID #1296.
On 1982 Oct 08 at UT 04:15-04:30 W. Cameron (Silverspring, MD, USA,
3.5" reflector, x160, Seeing-very good) suspected blue tinge on north
west rim and brown/red on south east rim of Aristarchus crater + focus
was slightly difficult. No similar colour effect seen on other craters.
Cameron 2006 catalog ID=186 and weight=1. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1982 Oct 08 at UT 04:15-04:30 W. Cameron (Silverspring, MD, USA,
3.5" reflector, x160) found that Clavius had a "D" shaped crater on its
outskirts that made it appear to have a ridge crossing through it.
Cameron 2006 catalog ID=186 and weight=1. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Apr 26 at UT 10:22-10:44 D. Darling (Sun Praire, WI, USA, 3"
refractor, x36-x140) found that the eastern half of Plato crater was
dark - and he checked this using several eyepieces. moderate
magnification resolved the dark region into bands, but too high a
magnification (x140) made the bands dissappear. The Cameron 2006
catalog ID=362 and the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1981 Oct 18 UT 22:14022:16 M.Mobberley (Bury St Edmunds, UK,
14" Cassegrain, seeing variable, transparency misty) found that
the central craterlet on the floor of Plato was not visible,
despite it being visible under similar colongitudes on other
nights. Might be due to observing conditions, but observer
suspicous. At 02:08 the observer comments that the central
craterlet was ellusive, and at 02:42, though it is uncertain
whether they regarded it as suspicous still at this stage?
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Triensecker Rille 1915 Jul 03 UTC 00:00? Observed by Markov (Russia)
"Several spots changed their shapes compared with Gordeenko's depiction
on 5/23/12 see #339; which cannot be explained by light variations."
NASA catalog weight=3. NASA catalog ID #356.
On 1891 Sep 23 at UT 22:00 Pickering, based at Arequipa, Peru, and
using a 12" reflector, saw in Schroter's Valley and the vicinity
"Varitions in vapor column. Drawings. Time estimated from given
colongitude)." Cameron 1978 catalog ID=272 and weight=1. ALPO/BAA
weight=1.
In 1919 Feb 21 at UT 22:00? an unknown English observer observed in
Lexell crater an intensely dark line going out from it. The Cameron
1978 catalog ID=370 and weight=1. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1981 Sep 20 at UT 08:00-09:40 D. Darling (Sun Praire, WI, USA,
12.5" reflector, x342, seeing=excellent) detected the small crater on
its western rim But not on the eastern floor. This was odd because both
are equal in size, furthermore smaller craters could be seen and the
Moon was at a high altitude above the horizon, so seeing not a problem.
Cameron 2006 catalog ID=154 and weight=3. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus 1978 Oct 23 UT 06:30-06:34 V.A. Sage (Bristol, UK,
10.25" reflector, x250, Wratten 44a and 25, seeing II) noted
that Aristarchus was surrounded by a dark area in the blue
filter. They did not regard this as a TLP at the time. However
because Aristarchus is surrounded by blue material in real life,
this should have been brighter? For this reason, despite the
observer regarding this as a negative TLP, an ALPO/BAA weight=1
has been applied.
"Observed early morning Moon, with 60mm OG x120, from 02-20 to 02-45
hrs UT targeting Plato, Aristarchus, and Alphonsus. From 02-20 to 02-30
hrs UT. Aristachus showed a faint pink colouration, where the light
material contacted the darker Mare surface. This was not seen after 02-
30 hrs UT." Transparency very good, seeing somewhat unsteady at first,
improving later on. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1891 Sep 25 at UT 20:00 Pickering, based at Arequipa, Peru, and
using a 12" reflector, saw in Schroter's Valley and the vicinity
"Varitions in vapor column. Time estimated from given colongitude)."
Cameron 1978 catalog ID=273 and weight=1. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus and Cobra Head 1968 Jul 18 UT 00:50-01:30
Observed by Moseley & Corvan (Armagh, N.Ireland, 10"
refractor, x255) and by Moore (Selsey, England, 3" refractor,
x 120) "Distinct red glow & obscur. 1st at 0050 S. of C.H. &
same size. At 0052h saw color on S.wall of Aris. Both
persisted till 0100h then both (faded, then brightened, then
faded. Plato, Gassendi & Kepler checked with neg. results.
Obscured areas reached greatest extent at 0125h wgen it was
1/2 size of C.H. & SSE (ast. ?) of it. Moore was alerted to
it & saw it in blink, but not vis. at 0107-0220". NASA
catalog weight=5. NASA catalog ID 1085. ALPO/BAA weight=4.
On 1989 Jun 28 at UT 08:39-09:00 D. Darling (Sun Praire, WI, USA,
3" refractor, x36) discovered that at this time Mons La Hire was the
brightest feature on the Moon. LaPrice was also very bright. Cameron
quotes that Darling recorded that LaHire had a brightness of 7.0 and
LaPlace=7.5. Darling did not think that this was a TLP. The Cameron
2006 catalog ID=369 and weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1989 Jun 28 at UT 08:39--9:00 D. Darling (Sunpraire, WI, USA, 3"
refractor, x36) noted that promontorium LaPlace was very bright.
LaHire brigtness was 7.0 and LaPlace was 7.5. Darling suspects
that this was not a TLP because "as did not have mother-of-perl
appearance as seen on Piton at times"The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=369
and the weight=0. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Grimaldi 1971 Jun 18 UTC 02:12-02:31 Observed by Jorgensen
(Denmark, 36" refractor, 60, 200x, seeing good) "Dark reddish
spot in SW part of crater. At 60x. Became clearer at 200x &
seen in midwest also. At 0331h phenom. clearest in west, while
S. region had faded. Air turb. & dawn ended obs. at 0331h.
Seen best in yellow filter, well in red, invis. in green &
blue." NASA catalog weight=3. NASA catalog ID #1298. ALPO/BAA
weight=3.
Closest parts of the Moon at Saturn appearing from
occultation were dull and hazy. Was this an effect of
the lunar atmosphere or a high haze and halo around the Moon?
Cameron's 2006 catalog extension gives this an ID No. of 3
and a weight of 1. The ALPO/BAA catalog weight is also 1.
Aristarchus 1973 May 27 UTC 01:09-01:56 Observed by Theiss (51N, 9.67E,
75mm reflector) "3 diameters of Aristarchus around its center: orange
bright area from 01:09-01:56" Ref: Hilbrecht & Kuveler, Moon & Planets
Vol 30 (1984) p53-61"
South Pole 1839 Jul 07 UT 02:00? Observed by Gruihuisen (Munich,
Germany) "Twilight" NASA catalog weight=3 (average). NASA catalog ID #
118. ALPO/BAA weight=2.
In 1919 Dec 19 at UT 04:00 Scholes (Huddersfield, England? USA)
observed near Littrow a conspicuous ink-black mark (North of Cape
Argaeus or S of Kittrow, The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=374 and the
weight=1. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Reiner 1986 Jun 04 UT 09:15-09:33 Observed by Darling (Sun Praire, WI,
USA, 12.5" Newtonian x79, x40, x35, Seeing 6, sky clear and steady -
Moon 9deg above horizon). David Darling was out on the morning of 4
June observing the planet Mars. While studying Mars the crescent Moon
rose giving me a splendid view of the earthshine portion of the disk.
As the Moon rose higher into the sky he decided to turn the telescope
onto it to the earthshine region of the Moon. He made it a practice
to examine this region of the Moon to monitor for craters that appear
to glow under this light. While observing he became aware of a black
spot located in the sunlit portion of the Moon about 60 miles west of
the sunset terminator. At first he thought the black spot was a shadow
being cast by a large mountain or crater. When looking at his lunar
charts he could not locate any feature that would account for it. As he
continued to study the black spot he realized that it appeared darker
than any shadows on the Moon. It was at 4 June 1986 4:15 A.M. CDT or
9:15 U.T. when he first sighted the phenomena and it was at 4:25 A.M.
CDT or 9:25 U.T. that he realized he was seeing a lunar transient
phenomena event. It was at this time that he could start to see silvery
filaments or streaks in the black patch. Between 9:23 and 9:25 U.T. he
watched the black patch disappear. When the black spot had disappeared
he found that the location of the black spot was over the crater
Reiner. he estimated that during the L.T.P. event that area covered by
the black cloud was approximately 40 to 50 square miles. He also had
examined other formations on the Moon during this event and none were
exhibiting the same phenomena witnessed over the crater Reiner.
Southern cusp obseved by H.Hill (UK) on 1984 Jul 25. Solar
Selenographic colongitude=232.6. Observer noted a dusky ill-
defined strip in Earthshine extending beyond the southern cusp
that appeared "atmospheric". Note that this is almost certianly
not a TLP but is worth checking out if the libration and solar
colongitude is similar, just to verify that this is what the Moon
normally looks like. ALPO/BAA weight=1.