TLP?

[richbyers]

seen a very bright speck of light on the moon's southern pole last night, right at the tip on the terminator and the only thing i could come up with was that it was transient lunar phenomena, which i dont really know about so is this correct or am i not understanding TLP right?

Also if it wasnt does anyone know what it could have been (alien with gigantic mirror?!)

cheers

rich

[Bizibilder]

Almost certainly a mountain peak catching the sunlight. You often see various features catching the light within the pitch black shadow of the Moon. As the Sun rises, high peaks catch the sunlight first.

A TLP is normally a very difficult to see colour or brightness change in a specific area of the Lunar surface (some places being more likely than others).

[yeti monster]

Was that not the northern tip of the crescent? I may have got all base over elbow with my observations last night.........

[brianb]

TLPs are very subtle ... I agree that you were almost certainly seeing a mountain peak catching the sunlight.

[richbyers]

southern tip, i thought it wasnt as i compared it to observing aristarchus (sorry about the spelling!) and it was more reflection light

rich

[yeti monster]

Yes, southern, silly me I was all mixed up!

Tonight I was lucky enough to see the lunar X, purely by chance as I hadn't intended on any lunar looking at.

[argonaut]

I agree that it was probably a reflection. I have looked for the TLP phenomenon for almost all my observing life. There are out-gassing events which have occured in the past. There are certain areas of the Moon where these TLP events have been regularly plotted. A Google search is the best idea on this subject if you would like more info. A fascinating subject for me.

Glen.

[richbyers]

cheers for the info guys

rich

[Ibbo!]

see this for a pic

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-lunar/104428-tip-iceberg.html

[richbyers]

yes thats very similar to what i viewed, it was there again last night, going to have a better look tonight if its clear

rich

[Bizibilder]

Look all along the terminator - you will see dozens (sometimes) of isolated "lights" which are mountain tops catching the first rays of the Sun at Lunar sunrise. (Or last rays in the Lunar evening, after full moon)

[LukeSkywatcher]

I have often seen bits of the moon along the terminator that look as if they are floating in space. Am i to take it that these are mountain,cliff tops that are being highlighted by the sun while the lower levels are not?

I always wondered what was the cause of it.

[richbyers]

Reading the feedback i would say yes, the last few nights ive seen alot of this along the terminator

rich