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| The image above shows
the large craters Mersenius (on the left) and
Gassendi. Note the small patch of light in the
lower edge of Mersenius. These images are enlargements
of another image that is on this site - refer
to the photo of Tycho
and Gassendi. |
The image shown here was taken during a waxing
gibbous phase on 23 October 2004, at about 2am.
None of the other photos from the series taken
that night/morning (about 40 in total) show similar
aberrations.
Astronomers from F W Herschel (1738-1822) through
to Sir Patrick Moore have believed in the existence
of these elusive events.
A number of areas on the moon have been recognised
as sites for such events.
The bright crater Tycho is always high on the list
as is Aristarchus. These TLPs take the form of glows
and obscurations, often around the edges of the
lunar 'seas' and certain craters.
It would seem that the interest in TLPs is increasing
and most have been observed by amateur astronomers.
It is now thought that they are the result of the
release of gas from the Moon's interior.
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