LUNAR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVING NETWORK

1969

The Smithsonian Institution Center for Short lived Phenomena Annual Report 1969  dated 1 February 1970, had a report on the Transient Lunar Phenomena Observing Program conducted by the Lion Network. The Lunar International Observers Network was organized by Miss Barbara Middlehurst and included 216 astronomical observing stations in 30 countries. The network  is composed  of professional and amateur astronomers who have an interest in Lunar Transient Phenomena. The Network had the capability to monitor the Moon surface for 24 hours. The purpose of the observing programs was to record the nature, magnitude, frequency and distribution of the Lunar Transient Phenomena and to attempt to obtain independent confirmation from observers around the world.

The most significant contribution of the program was the intensive global observing program during the Apollo manned lunar missions. The ground based observers provided intense global coverage of the Moon for the 8 to 10 day period of the missions. This program could also work in reverse attempting to confirm on the ground anything the astronauts may see that was unusual. The LION network participated in the Apollo 8, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, and Apollo 12 lunar missions.

The lunar observing program consisted of systematic observations of the lunar surface at selected time periods to insure that coverage was obtained both from the ground based observer for possible L.T.P. and by the astronauts who were in lunar orbit. The observing program consisted of  observations of selected areas with a known history of L.T.P. and of lunar formations that were observable from the spacecraft. This was done during the spacecraft approach to the Moon, while in orbit and during departure. 

During the Apollo 10, 11, and 12 missions the Center for Short Lived Phenomena received a total of 169 L.T.P. reports for 31 lunar areas from 28 observing stations located in 19 countries. At least six series of simultaneous L.T.P. observations were made during the Apollo 11 mission. These were all reported in the crater Aristarchus on 19 July 1969, made from  18:45 to 24:00 U.T. The report further states that 12 observers from 6 countries located on 2 different continents and the astronauts located in lunar orbit made either simultaneous or overlapping observations of the Aristarchus crater and the L.T.P. activity. The collaboration covered a time period covering 5 hours and 15 minutes.

The following report of L.T.P. on 19 July 1969 at 18:45 U.T. is  taken from Smithsonian Institution Center for Short Lived Phenomena Annual Report 1969. "Between 1845 and 1847 the Apollo Astronauts reported "illumination" on the northwest wall of Aristarchus,  Pruss and Witte (Institute for Space Research, Bochum, Germany) Independently reported a 5 to 7 second 1/2 to 1 magnitude brightening of Aristarchus at 1846 GMT.  Between 1930 and 2400 GMT Gervais (Lodeve, France), Oliver (Sabedel, Spain), Da Silva, Maurao, And Cardoso (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Mosely (Armagh, Northern Ireland) and Vasquez (Valparaiso, Chile) all reported activity in Aristarchus."

It's important to mention that this took place when the Apollo 11 spacecraft was in lunar orbit, and the crater Aristarchus was only illuminated by earthshine. The age of the Moon at the time of the observation was 5.1 days old with a colongitude of 334.19. The lunar module landing in the Sea of Tranquility needed low sun angle to insure a safe landing..

NASA photo ID: AS11-37-5445 taken on 20 July 1969 

The photograph above showing the Apollo 11 Command / Service module as viewed from the Lunar Module in orbit during Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. 

Dialogue Between Houston and Apollo 11

The following is transcript of the actual dialogue recorded in 1969 from a radio 4 broadcast. The observation occurred on July 19, 1969, with the Apollo spacecraft in orbit around the Moon. The dialogue is between McCandless at Houston and the Apollo 11 crew.

Houston: Roger. And we got an observation you can make if you have the some time up there. There has been some L.T. events reported in the vicinity of Aristarchus.

Aldrin: Roger. We just went into spacecraft darkness-until then, why we couldn't see a thing down below us,  but now with the Earthshine the visibility is  - oh, pretty fair. I'm looking back behind me now. I can see the corona from where the sun has just set, and we'll get out the map and see what we can find out around Aristarchus.

Houston: Ok, Aristarchus is echo-9 on your A.T.O. chart. Its about 394 miles north of track however, at present altitude - which is about 167 nautical miles. It aught to be over - that is , within view on your horizon 23 degrees north, 47 degree west. and take a look and see if you see anything worth noting. Over.

Armstrong: Houston, eleven. It might help us a little bit if you could give us a time of crossing 45 west....then we'll know when to start searching for Aristarchus.

Houston: Roger, you'll be crossing 45 west at 77:04:10. or about 40 seconds from now. Over. Thirty seconds from now.

Aldrin: Houston, when a star sets up here there's just no doubt about it. One instant it's there and the next instant it's just completely gone.

Houston: Roger, we copy.

Aldrin: Seems to me since we know orbits so precisely and know where the stars are so precisely and the time of setting of a star or planet to a very fine degree, that this might be a pretty good means of measuring the altitude of the horizon.

Houston: Roger.

Armstrong: Hey, Houston. I'm looking north up towards Aristarchus, and I can't tell at a distance whether I am really looking at Aristarchus but there's an area that is considerably more illuminated than the surrounding area. It just has - seem to have, a slight amount of fluorescence to it.

Houston: Roger, eleven. We copy.

Aldrin: Looking out on the same area now. Well at least there is one wall of the crater that seems to be more illuminated than others. I am not sure that I am really identifying any phosphorescence, but definitely is lighter than anything else in the neighborhood.

Houston: Can you discern any difference in color of the illumination - and is that on inner or outer wall from the crater? Over.

Aldrin: I judge an inner wall in the crater.

Collins: No there doesn't appear to be any color involved in it Bruce.

Needless to say this gives great weight to the validity of this phenomena. It has been proved beyond a doubt that this phenomena is taking place inside the crater Aristarchus. Being witnessed by Astronauts proves that the phenomena exhibited in the crater Aristarchus is not the result of earth atmosphere or optical aberrations from the telescopes. but is a phenomena truly associated with the Moon surface. It amazed me that so little is made of this milestone in Lunar Transient Phenomena research but instead the critics appear to ignore the contributions made by Miss Barbara Middlehurst and her lunar observers.

The report further states "These observations represent the first reported simultaneous or overlapping L.T.P.  observations 1) from Astronauts in lunar orbit and ground-based observers, and 2) from ground-based observers on different continents."

NASA Photo ID AS11-44-6549 Earth rise from the Apollo 11 spacecraft.

David O. Darling

A.L.P.O. & A.L.S. Lunar Transient Phenomena Recorder.

If you wish to contact the recorder about this report on this page you can contact me at: dod121252@aol.com