Aristarchus 1983 Oct 23 UT 19:00-01:30 Observer: Foley (Kent, UK,
12" reflector, seeing=II) noiced at 19:00UT an extended bright
spot on E wall and extending beyond. This was brighter than other
areas of the crater. There was also occasional star-like
glistening. Foley comments that the inside of Aristarchus was
slightly obscured. The TLP started fading from UT20:30 and
finished by 01:30UT. six out of nine independent observers
confirmed the effects seen. In total 14 observers observed, 9
reported back and 6 found abnormalities in Aristarcus though all
encountered variable seeing conditions - some had spurious
colour. Cameron comments that this was one of the best
recorded/confirmed TLP events. All CED brightness measurements
obtained were very high. Moore, Nicolson and Clarke (5" refractor
and 15" reflector, 230-350xseeing III) found the crater to be
very bright at 19:11UT through a 5" refractor and there was a
blob on the east rim (Bartlet's EWBS?) at 19:14UT. Nicolson also
saw a very bright star-like area on the eastern wall but this was
not defined as it usually is. The crater was also very bright at
22:43UT using the 15" reflector available to these observers. At
01:07UT they used a Moon blink and discovered that the bright
region was bright in blue light and less bright in red - although
this was not a detactable blink when switching rapidly between
filters. They found that the crater had returned to normal by
01:15UT. M.C. Cook (Frimley, UK, seeing III-IV) observed a large
diffuse spot on the east of the crater that was brighter in blue
than in red light and the CED device gave a high reading. J.D.
Cook (Frimley, UK, seeing III-IV) made a skecth that showed the
bright spot extended on the east wall - again the CED reading was
high and a lot of detail was visible on the floor. A.C. Cook
(Frimley, UK, seeing III-IV) also noted remarkable detail and the
bright (as confirmed by CED) blob on the eastern rim. G. North
(Sussex, UK, seeing III-II) also confirmed the bright blob on the
eastern wall. Wooller found the north west wall was a dirty
yellow colour - though no colour was seen elsewhere in or outside
the crater. Mosely found the crater to be bright and his sketch
revealed the extension of the bright blob on the eastern rim and
again a great deal of interior detail. Amery (Reading, UK, seeing
III) found Aristarchus to be "a brilliant splash against dulled
background in violet filter, especially polarizing filter. CED +
polarizer readings high, but not as high as previous night".
Mobberley (Suffolk, UK, seeing III-IV) remarked that "spurious
colour a total mess around Aristarchus & nothing abnormal seen".
A photograph was taken at 20:50UT reveals the bright blob and
entire detail. Peters (Kent, UK, seeingIII-II) observed
Aristarchus with a UV screen from 20:15-21:23UT and comented that
althogh being very bright, there was no variation between white
and UV. It was checked with a Moon Blink device and the radial
bands were clearly seen in white light, < in blue. The Cameron
2008 catalog ID=233 and the weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=4.
Aristarchus-Herodotus 1967 May 29 UT 06:40-07:25 Observed by Anderson
(Manchester, N.Hampshire, 10" reflector, x212, S=G, T=E) "After timing
sunset on Theophilus & Cyrillus turned to Aris.-Herod. At 0640 saw red-
brown color centered at ?=.685, eta=+.390. Glow strongest at largest
area at 0640. Decreased in area but not in intensity to 1/2 its size at
0648. At 0650 color gone. Seen again at 0658 but not so pronounced.
Faded out at 0700, obs. terminated at 0725. (Haas thinks it might have
been atm. dispersion at such low alt. of 12-17 deg)." NASA catalog
weight=1. NASA catalog ID #1038. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1981 Dec 16 at UT 17:45 B.W. Chapman, Kingston-Upon-Thames,
UK, 11.5cm refractor, seeing II, trasnparency Fair) found the
east outer ridge brighter in red - inclined to blue. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Alphonsus 2002 Sep 27 UT 00:00-02:15 Observed by Clive Brook (Plymouth,
UK) "Central peak was bright 00:00 UT but had faded by at least 2 deg
on the Schroter scale - no colour seen. Observer continued observing
until 02:15 UT but central peak had dimmed considerably by then"
On 1981 Dec 16 at UT 17:45 B.W. Chapman, Kingston-Upon-Thames,
UK, 11.5cm refractor, seeing II, trasnparency Fair) found the
west inner ridge lighter in red, and so to the east and south-
west floor. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1980 Oct 30 at UT03:19-03:41 P. Madej (Huddersfield, UK, 158mm f/4
reflector, seeing I-II, and transparency very good. Wratten 15 (yellow)
and Wratten 35 (purple) used. No spurious colour seen). At 03:19UT, the
observer noted that Mons Spitzbergen looked sharper at x52. At x72
bright flashes of a bright lunar gray to a light orange colour seen.
BAA Lunar Section TLP team alerted. At 03:32UT a yellow filter used and
the flashes were better seen, one flash approximately 20-30 sec apart.
At 03:31UT Madej used a purple filter and could not see Mons
Spitzbergen but did see the flashes (45-60 sec apart). cameron 2006
catalog TLP ID=118 and weight=3. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Plato 1980 Oct 30 UT 05:00-0704 Observed by F.C. Butler (SW
London, UK, seeing III, but worsening (but not as bad as IV)
towards the end of the observing period, transparency 100%
clear, 22cm Newtonian reflector, x144, x185). The floor seemed
quite devoid of detail, apart from a vague mottling seen during
the briefest moments of best seeing conditions. At the start of
the observing period he could just glimpse the central craterlet
at x185, but could not be sure. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Alphonsus 1958 Dec 03 UTC 11:00? Observed by Alter, Mt Wilson, CA, USA,
60" reflector "Photog. spect. showed floor of crater redder than
neighboring areas outside its walls. (Palm had a rep't for this date --
same area?). NASA catalog weight=4 (high). NASA catalog ID #710.
On 1994 Jan 04 at UT21:00 J. Nibbering (Rosendaal, Netherlands)
obtained a photograph that shows a large crescent of light centred on
Tycho crater, but includes also: Lilius, but not to Clavius. Cameron
suspects strongly that it was caused by camera lens flare. The Cameron
2006 catalog ID=471 and the weight=5. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 2009 Jun 16 at UT 03:20-03:40 P. Morgan (UK, 30.5cm reflector, x400,
seeing=6/10 and transparency=5/5) observed a large diffuse ashen-like
effect over the shadow filled floor of Plato. The effect was lighter
towards the south. Observer checked the effect with both left and right
eyes and it remained the same. Unusually no shadow spires from rim
moutain peaks were seen. A check for colour in the region effected
revealed none. As time progressed, terrestrial twilight encroached. A
sketch was made. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1981 Oct 21 at UT13:40-13:45 D. Louderback (South Bend, WA, USA,
10" reflector) observed a cloud on the north east quadrant of
Aristarchus crater, and also covered the bright spot on the east wall
(Cameron says that the east wall bright spot is Bartlett's "EWBS".
Louderback mentions that this TLP gave Aristarchus a diamond ring
effect. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=157 and weight=3. The ALPO/BAA
weight=2.
Aristarchus 1976 Nov 16 UT 06:15 Observed by Bartlett (Baltimore, MD,
USA, 3" refractor, 54-200x, S=4, T=5) "Crater very dull except EWBS=
9deg & large. W.glacis=5deg & inner E.wall 6deg. Floor is dull 5deg,
c.p.=10 deg. SWBS has disappeared. No viol. anywhere" NASA catalog
weight=4 (high). NASA catalog ID #1460.
On 1788 May 01 at UT 01:00? Schroter (Lilienthal, Germany, reflector
used) observed a small depression near Aristarchus, 1, that had a
strong glimmer. The Cameron 1978 catalog weight=4 and ID=45. The
ALPO/BAA weight=2.
Aristarchus 1961 Dec 3 UTC 03:05-03:40 Observed by Kozyrev (Crimea,
Soviet Union) described in NASA catalog as: "Emission lines in spectrum
of c.p. red & blue, H2 identified, several km2 area. Projected into
shadow cast by W. wall. Source rose to a height above the crater. 50"
reflector used NASA catalog weight=5 (very high). NASA catalog TLP ID
No. #756.
Rocca 1938 Apr 26 UTC 09:30 Observer Haas? (NM?, USA, 12"? reflector)
"Colored (dark?) area was intensity I=1.0". NASA catalog weight=4
(high. NASA catalog ID #434.
On 1977 Dec 07 at 04:24UT (assuming that this is not local time) V.M.
Chernov (Soviet Union) observed that the north cusp was more than 180
deg and a bright dot seen. Ashen light visible. Moon 3.5 days before
New Moon. On 6th Dec at 04:20UT the cusp was seen to be normal. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
On 1977 Dec 07 at 04:24UT (assuming that this is not local time) V.M.
Chernov (Soviet Union) observed that the south cusp was more than 180
deg. Ashen light visible. Moon 3.5 days before New Moon. On 6th Dec at
04:20UT the cusp was seen to be normal. The ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Plato 1972 Jun 19 UT 21:40-22:30 Observed by S.A. Jones
(Swansea, Wales, 12" reflector x150) and Moore (Selsey, England,
12.5" reflector x450) "Noted a bright area in the center. Moore
noted nothing unusual & he tho't obs. saw one of permanent light
patches" NASA catalog weight=0 (very low). NASA catalog ID #
1336. ALPO/BAA weight=1
Plato 1907 Jan 22 UT 20:00 Observed by Fauth (Germany?) "Glow of light
in part of crater" NASA catalog weight=3 (average). NASA catalog
ID 327.
On 1938 Mar 13 at UT 04:00-06:00 Barker (Chestnut, England, UK) noted a
slight reddish colour in Plato. However Fox (Newark, UK, 6.5"
reflector, x240) saw none on the south east wall, but instead saw a
yellowish glow on the southern floor at the same time (confirmation?).
Appearently Fox saw the same effect on Apr 10, 11, and May 8-11, then
on June 8-10. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=432 and the weight=5. The
ALPO/BAA weight=3.
On 1891 Sep 16 at UT 19:00? Pickering, based at Arequipa, Peru, and
using a 12" reflector, saw in Schroter's Valley and the vicinity
"Dense clouds of vapor apparently rising from its bottom and pouring
over its SW wall torrds Herodotus. He says no activity till day after
sunrise & ceases a few days before sunset. (Part of an extensive
observing of only a few features under all aspects of lighting.
Drawings and Phtos obtained." Cameron 1978 catalog ID=269 and weight=1.
ALPO/BAA weight=1.
Aristarchus 1972 Jun 25 UTC 22:42-22:51 Observed by Quindeau (8deg 35'
E, 51deg 25' N, 60mm refractor) "Bright point at NE wall of crater".
Ref: Hilbrecht & Kuveler, Earth Moon & Planets, Vol 30, pp53-61 (1984).
In 1942 Feb 02 at UT 18:20-19:15 Y.W.I. Fisher (Brussels,
Belgium) a whitish glow near the Earthlit limb, near to
Kepler (37W, 7N). The duration of the event was 55 min.
The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=488 and weight=2. The
ALPO/BAA weight=1. Ref. p220-221 IAU Symposium
No. 14 - The Moon.