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 1985 Sep 04 at UT 22:15 A.V. Arkhipov (Russia) detected a bright
flash in Mare Tranquilitatis that lasted < 1 second and had a diameter
of < 2 arc seconds i.e. the limit of seeing resolution. The Cameron
2006 catalog ID=280 and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
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.
On 1994 Apr 03 at 11:23UT D. Darling (Sun Praire, WI, USA) noticed that
Copernicus crater had a red spot on the west wall (found using Moon
Blink filters Wratten 29 and Wratten 38). The ALPO/BAA weight=3.
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 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 UT 11:35-11:48 B. Hobdell (St Petersberg, FL, USA,
10" reflector) found that the south peak of Plato on floor glowed white
at 11:35UT, then a milky shade spread all aorind Plato's floor
(previously completely shadow filled). The needle like shadows started
to be indistiguishable through the sunlight (dawn on Earth). The cloud
like feature was washed out by daylight at 11:48UT and conformed to the
"white area except a tail that reached the cetre of Plato" Spurious
colour was not seen. The Cameron 2006 catalog ID=157 and weight=3.
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.
Proclus 1972 Jun 18 UTC 20:50-21:15 Observed by Kern (8.75E, 48.25N,
60mm refractor) "Yellow to white bright pattern at the NW wall, visible
only occasionally" S=4, T=3 Ref: Hilbrecht & Kuveler Moon & Planets
(1984) Vol 30, pp53-61.
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
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.
Messier A 1951 Aug 20 UT 01:48-03:00 Observed by P.Moore
(England, 8.5" reflector, x350). Bright cloud like circular
patch seen on S wall of Messier A. It was the brightest object
in the vicinity. Observations ceased due to the Moon setting
behind a tree. W.Haas thinks that this effect is not unusual at
similar colongitudes. Moore checked again under similar
illumination and still considers the Aug 20 appearance abnormal.
NASA weight=4. NASA catalog ID #545. ALPO/BAA weight=2.
On 1993 Dec 31 at UT 05:00-07:40 S. Beaumont (Cambridge, UK, 12"
reflector) "saw a patch of hazy light to NW (from c.p. alpha) at 0550
craters B & J shadow of alpha had not reached E wall yet, but at 0536
it did. Alpha > at 0550. Craters B & J to SE had faded, vanished at
0630. Hazy patch remained around peak, alpha low mainly to NE like a
comet's tail. Slightly reddish fringe to E wall. (shown in sketch)".
The above has been quoted in full from the Cmeron catalog because the
catalog desription is slightly ambiguous and any attempted summary
might make the description more unreliable. The cameron 2006 catalog
ID=470 and the weight=3. The ALPO/BAA weight=2.