ARISTARCHUS

15 July 1989

02:00 to 04:20 UT

by

David O. Darling

In every manner of research that takes place in the world of science there is always one event that stands out from all others. This event took place on 15 July 1989 from 02:00 to 04:20 hours U.T. and consisted of three separate observing locations, and eleven different observers participated. This observation proved that the color effects reported on the Moon are not always atmospheric related and that not all observers have the same color perception or the ability to see these color events.

Observers who participated: Robert Manske, David Weier, Keith Curtis, Joe Keyes, LeRoy Yanna, Eric Norman, Gene Knutson, Jerry Sullivan, Tom Eichman, and Craig Radi who all observed through the SCT C11 located at the Carl Fosmark Jr. Memorial Observatory. I (Robert Manske) alerted David O. Darling, who was not present, who activated the T. L. P. Network.

The story begins when Robert Manske of the Madison Area Astronomical Society was the first to observe a pinkish tinge to the rim of Aristarchus. The following is his report: “I was the first one to observe a pinkish tinge to the rim of Aristarchus in the area marked MP1 in the accompanying sketch (fig. 1). I was using the 8mm Clave. I called for Dave Weier to observe, and we then called others who were present. The pinkish color was made much more pronounced when we began to use the 7mm Nagler. The accompany sketch combines the observation of myself, Weier, and Keith Curtis. MP1, MP2, and MP3 represent areas where I saw a pinkish color. The M prefix indicates Manske, the P represent pink, the numeric suffixes indicates relative brightness with area MP1 being the brightest. Regions MP1 and MP2 appeared to extend along the top of the ring wall. Region MP3 existed on the outside of the ring wall. I also saw an area MW, white in color, on the inside of the ring wall.

Figure 1

The arrow from CP points to the region where Keith Curtis saw perhaps a hint of pink. It seems to be identical to the eastern most tip of region MP1. CB points to an area which Curtis thought was greenish-blue! It seems to be identical to the region MP3, the region which I thought was the weakest shade of pink.

WP points to an area which Weier thought was slightly pinkish. This area is clearly on the outside of the ring wall and seems to extend beyond the ejecta blanket.

The approximate location of the terminator is drawn in. This is from memory, so it’s not particularly accurate. It is meant to display the fact that sunrise has just occurred for Aristarchus and not yet for Herodotus or the Cobra Head.

The drawing was developed from the original sketches made by myself and Keith Curtis at the C-11 using the 7mm Nagler.

I will now report on other observers and their comments. This part of the report is developed from notes taken at the scene by David Weier. The orientation generally had Herodotus roughly by the 11 and 12 o’clock position. Due to the right-angle on the C-11, the region MP3 was at about the three o’clock. Most observers got a chance to observe with both the 7mm and 8mm lenses. The 8mm was used from 02:00 until about 02:30 at which time the 7mm was put in. The parentheses suggest identifications with areas on the sketch.

Jerry Sullivan: 7mm: Two white spots, one at 9 o’clock (perhaps MW), the other at 1 o’clock (MP1?). 8mm: yellowish, perhaps borderline pink region at 3 o’clock (MP3?).

Tom Eichman: 8mm: nothing outstanding. 7mm: a bright area at 1 o’clock, no color (MP1?)

Joe Keyes: 8mm: nothing outstanding. 7mm: slight color along the rim. He did not note where on the rim.

LeRoy Yanna: 8mm: pink on bottom at 2 o’clock (near MP1 but apparently further down the inside of the ring wall). Pink on the ridge at 2 to 3 o’clock (in the area of MP1 and MP3).

Eric Norman: 7mm nothing outstanding. Eric was at the eyepiece for only a few seconds.

Craig Radi: 7mm nothing outstanding.

Gene Knutson: 7mm yellowish tinge at 8 to 9 o’clock (MW).

At about 03:00 UT thickening clouds precluded further observations. At this time I went to LeRoy Yanna’s house to call David Darling so the TLP Network could be alerted. Darling himself was clouded out, but he informed me that Don Spain in Kentucky and two observers in Los Angeles also confirmed the event. I understand that they also reported a pinkish coloring on the west rim of Aristarchus.”

David O. Darling, Sun Prairie, WI:

I received the call from Robert Manske about the color event on the crater Aristarchus, I had not gone with the observing group since I was waiting for daughter # four to be born and did not dare travel where I could not be reach by phoned. I was also dealing with cloudy skies and so did the next best thing and called individuals on the L.T.P. Network. I did not say anything that would suggest to the observers what to look for in their observation. When I called them I just informed them that a color event was taking place on the crater Aristarchus. I called Don Spain of Fairdale, KY and Richard Smith of Los Angeles, CA. The following are the reports submitted by these two individuals.

Don Spain, Fairdale, KY:

Mr. Spain was using a 90mm Maksutov at 30X & 60X. Observed from 3:59 to 4:15 UT.

“I received a call from David Darling at about 03:30 UT about the possibility of a TLP event at or near Aristarchus. He said it was a color TLP but that was all he knew as he had received the report from a member of the TLP network and he, David, was clouded out.

I quickly set up my scope and observed the Aristarchus area. There “appeared” to be a pinkish or light red “glow” along the western wall, not unlike the color fringe from a poorly corrected refractor, except there was no corresponding blue fringe. I checked other bright areas, Tycho, Jura Mts., and Schiller, but none showed any sign of color. This would seem to indicate that a true TLP was occurring. The only problem I have with the observation is the terrible seeing and cloud conditions. Still I will give the event an 80% probability of being a true TLP. Since I have no idea of what the other network member (s) saw a close comparison should confirm or deny my observation.

Personal note: The observing conditions were sort of like a poor Hollywood horror movie. Streamers of dark clouds drifted in front of the moon through out the observation giving a rather eerie effect. I almost expected to hear the cry of a werewolf or the flapping of a vampire.”

Richard Smith, Los Angeles, CA:

Mr. Smith was using an 8 inch Newtonian Reflector at 370X. Observed at 4:20 UT.

“I saw orange or reddish orange on southern rim or crater, my two friends saw pink. The phenomena was easily visible but averted vision seemed to help. Color fringe observed by friend around other bright areas at same time. Confirmed by me, but not as obvious as around Aristarchus. Rising sun illuminating west wall, but crater’s shape very distinct. From similar phenomena observed around Jupiter at low altitude, would guess atmospheric refraction as cause. See enclosed photo (Fig 2).

Figure 2

CONCLUSIONS: This lunar transient phenomena report as I said earlier is, in my opinion, a five star event. Between the three reports eleven people looked through a telescope and not every individual saw the same thing. Several important things are shown with this observation. The first factor being that the changing of the eyepiece from 8mm Clave to a 7mm Nagler made considerable difference in their ability to resolve the color on the formation. The second factor is that not all the observers at the observatory with Robert Manske could see the color effect, or they saw it as a different color. Its an important factor that’s individuals are unique in their color perception and not every one see color the same. The third factor is the great distance between the three observing sites. The distance between southern Wisconsin and Louisville, KY is 464 miles. Between Southern Wisconsin and Los Angeles, CA it is about 2000 miles. We have 2000 miles distance between Louisville, KY and Los Angeles. Having such a great distance between observers would eliminate the possibility of it being an atmospheric effect. The fact that I had very little information provided to me when I activated the alert prevented me from leading or coaching the observers as to where to look. They all peg the location on the southwest rim of the crater independently from each other.

The most important thing that is shown by this observation is how important it is to establish and observing network so that confirmations can be conducted. This could have been an observation that did not carry the weight it does and could be easily dismiss as atmospheric or poor collimation of the telescope. This was even expressed by one of the observers as a possible cause. But the fact that so many observers were able to see the same phenomena gives credibility to the belief that this phenomena is very real and it is in fact taking place on the lunar surface.

Graph © 2004 by David O. Darling, Director L.T.P. Research.

The Moon during the entire time of the observation did not exceed 25 degrees but all three saw color on the crater.