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.
A.S.Williams of West Brighton, UK, using a 2.75" Acromatic refractor
(x75, definition good, but it was too windy to use the 5.25") noticed
that the mare was a mass of light streaks and spots. This was not
considered unusual, but these features were unusually plain, distinct
and brught, especially the streaks. The observer could not recall
seeing the streaks so bright and clear with this instrument before, and
indeed hardly ever with the larger 5.25" telescope. The observer
continued to observe Mare Crisium on many nights for several months and
comments that such an unusual exhibition was later seen perhaps once
every 2-3 lunations. They are uncertain how much this effect depends
upon the state of the Earth's atmosphere. This TLP does not make it
into the Cameron 1978 catalog and so may not be a TLP - however it has
been included, just in case, and to try to understand what was actually
seen. ALPO/BAA weight=1.
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.
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.
Proclus 1984 Jul 06 UT 20:29-20:43 light green spot observed by Madej
(England) in the central region. No colour seen elsewhere. At 20:10
Foley (Kent, UK, 12" reflector) had seen a small extending of darkening
in the south east floor (not present 2 hours before) and a lot of fine
detail - though everything was normal again by 22:50UT. At 22:15 Amery
(Reading, UK) found a large dark spot on the south east floor. Other
observers: J and A.cook (Frimley, England) could not confirm but their
seeing was IV and tranparency was poor" Mobberley found no colour and
also no detail on the floor. BAA Lunar Section Report. Cameron 2006
catalog ID=248 and weight=3. ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Plato 1882 Mar 27 UTC 20:10-21:00 Observer: A.S. Williams (Brighton,
UK, 5.5" saw the shadow filled floor of Plato at Sunrise with a
"Glowing and curious milky kind of light". About 1 hour after sunrise
at Plato, there was no trace of this effect. The TLP filled the whole
floor except at a quarter of the diameter from the east wall which was
actually quite black. The observer saw a curious phosphorescent glimmer
at sunset (April11th?). Cameron comments that Birt, Nelson and Waugh
saw obsecuring mist or fog in Plato on many occasions. Cameron 1978
catalog ID=229 and weight=3. 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.
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.
Alphonsus 1958 Nov 29 UTC 22:00? Observed by Wilkins (Kent, UK,
15" reflector) "Near site of Kozyrev's outbreak saw a circular
patch, black pit center, & red, round masses all around it."
NASA catalog weight=4. NASA catalog ID #708.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.
Aristarchus 1978 Nov 19 UT 22:40-23:05 Observed by Pedler
(UK, 12.5" reflector, x200, seeing fair) Blue colour seen and
could not focus on this part, where as other craters were
nice and sharp in this filter. Aristarchus darker in red
light. all other craters were normal in red. Attempts to
change the eyepiece did not make any difference to the blue
colour. Cameron 2005 catalog ID=43 and weight=4.
ALPO/BAA weight=3.
Gassendi 1971 Jun 13 UT 07:22-08:05 Observed by Raimundo Nonato
da Silva (Parnaiba, Brazil, 9.5" reflector, x180) "At 0755h
variation on W.(IAU?) edge of crater "brightness seemed to
become a little darker" as it was gugacious (foggy?), Was not
sure it was a LTP. Other features & it were normal from 0658-
0755h". NASA catalog weight=1. NASA catalog ID 1295. 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.
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.
"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.
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 1971 Jun 16 at UT 07:08-07:09 Raimundo Nonato da Silva
(Parnaiba, PI, Brazil, 9.5" reflector, x90, seeing=good)
observed during a lunar eclipse that the Straight Wall
surroundings were darker than an observation from two days
earlier. At 07:09UT tonality became clearer. As dawn was in
progress and atmospheric turbulence, not sure if it was a TLP?
Other features were normal. The Cameron 1978 catalog ID=1297 and
weight=1. 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.
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.
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"
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.