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Re: Watching meteorites fall on the Moon
- To: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com, rmarlin@network-one.com
- Subject: Re: Watching meteorites fall on the Moon
- From: Louis Varricchio <varricch@aero.und.edu>
- Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 16:32:35 -0500
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- Resent-Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 17:33:27 -0400 (EDT)
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On the other hand--Many reputable lunar astronomers--like Kozyrev, Patrick
Moore, and retired NASA astronomer Winifred Cameron (to name a few)--have
observed so-called Transient Lunar Phenomena (TLP) events also called
LTPs--Lunar Transient Phenomena (take your pick). Many observers keep track
of TLP events as members of of the Association of Lunar & Planetary
Observers; ALPO for short
--yes, like the dog food : )
In the early 1970s, NASA cataloged many years of TLP observations--the TLPs
seem to be centered on many of the same sites (this NASA report is available
on the Internet; not sure where now as looked at it about two years ago, but
maybe if you check out the ALPO web site for more info on TLPs there may be
a link to it).
The now famous October 1958 TLP event, centered at the lunar crater
Alphonsus, was observed by several observers around the world. Kozyrev's
observations included a spectral study of the reddish glow. The data showed
a strong hydrogen line. Also, if these rare flashes represent periodic
pyroclastic lunar eruptions, then there might indeed be lightning
associated with them!
So, whatever's going on, or inside, the Moon, these skilled observers have
observed it. Some astronomers strongly refute TLPs as the result of poor
observing conditions, eye strain, or "mirages," etc. (TLP observing is a
demanding pursuit requiring patience and long hours at the eyepiece.
Observers use a special disc mounted on the telescope called a "Moon Blink"
device; it's a tool which aides in observing these elusive flashes (the ALPO
site explains its function). While most of these TLP events are probably
volcanic according to many lunar astronomers, some of the "flashes" observed
might be lunar impacts. Oh, I believe some TLPs have now been captured on
video by CCD cameras.
Louis Varricchio
Environmental Information Specialist/Research Associate
Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, N.D. 58202-9007 U.S.A.
Telephone: 701-777-2482
E-mail (in N.D.): varricch@umac.org
E-mail (in Vt.): morbius@together.net
>>> "Gene Marlin" <rmarlin@network-one.com> 06/14 3:30 PM >>>
The mention of the visibility of small lunar impacts combined with unaided
eye limits is very interesting, because before people knew any "better",
there were reports of "lightning" and "volcanoes" on the Moon.
I can provide references if emailed privately.
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