Something A Bit out of place...

[bladekeeper]

On the Moon right now. Just on the western edge of Mare Crisium. A little flickering (due to seeing) point source of light. I can see it on my laptop screen via my AS174MC.

It moves with the Moon when I adjust the FOV with the hand controller, and when changing exposure length, it remains a point source.

Probably just a weird visual anomaly. I've made several captures of it, just in case it is something fun.

Just an FYI in case someone else can spot it.

[bladekeeper]

And when you put a 2x barlow into the mix, it's a small crater rim!

I have never noticed that before. Too funny!

[Juno16]

Had you going for a minute Bryan!

Thanks,

Jim

[bladekeeper]

Had you going for a minute Bryan!

Thanks,

Jim

I guess the damn crater rim caught the sunlight right when I was looking at it. It showed up on my screen exactly the same way that meteor strike did in January during the eclipse. Only this time it wasn't a flash, it just stayed there.

Oh brother.

[Lady Fraktor]

At least you have seen a unique lunar phenomenon!
Congratulations

[Don Quixote]

Hey Bryan...maybe it was a reflection from the kit we left up there to reflect the lazers.

But seriously. I have had this sort of thing pop in my view on the moon. it is interesting...and fun !
Thanks...now I have to go out and look !

[bladekeeper]

I just wish I had a capture going when the rim was illuminated. That would be fun.

This, of course, pales in comparison to the time when I was a kid and my grandfather rushed us outside to see a bright UFO strobing over a mountain top (an Ozark hill, but we call them mountains).

We finally piled into the truck and took off up the dirt road to get a closer look.

Yeah, it was a transformer on a nearby utility pole coming unglued.

We had a good laugh over that one and my grandfather told us to shut up.

[KingNothing13]

Still....that is kind of cool.

[pakarinen]

Here's a weird one from today.

Took out my ST120 about 0230. Thought I'd try for some winter clusters as they rose even though there was 70-80% cloud cover. Since the moon was up, I figured I could at least catch a few minutes of moon time during breaks in the clouds, which I did.

About 0350, I pointed my scope at M36. I was able to see it briefly before it was obscured by cloud. After a couple of minutes I glanced back in the EP even though there was cloud in the way and a white point source, maybe mag 6-8, zoomed across the field from north to south at 0352. The line of travel was essentially straight, but the point oscillated around the line like a low amplitude, high frequency sine wave. I guess the best description is a wavy line. No background stars were visible, so I assumed it was below the cloud deck which KORD air nav said was 12,000 feet AGL or higher. No nav lights visible on the point.

So... any ideas? I've seen brighter stars shine through thin clouds, but this cloud patch had previously obscured the moon pretty well. Maybe a really bright satellite passing behind a patch of thinner cloud?

[bladekeeper]

Here's a weird one from today.

Took out my ST120 about 0230. Thought I'd try for some winter clusters as they rose even though there was 70-80% cloud cover. Since the moon was up, I figured I could at least catch a few minutes of moon time during breaks in the clouds, which I did.

About 0350, I pointed my scope at M36. I was able to see it briefly before it was obscured by cloud. After a couple of minutes I glanced back in the EP even though there was cloud in the way and a white point source, maybe mag 6-8, zoomed across the field from north to south at 0352. The line of travel was essentially straight, but the point oscillated around the line like a low amplitude, high frequency sine wave. I guess the best description is a wavy line. No background stars were visible, so I assumed it was below the cloud deck which KORD air nav said was 12,000 feet AGL or higher. No nav lights visible on the point.

So... any ideas? I've seen brighter stars shine through thin clouds, but this cloud patch had previously obscured the moon pretty well. Maybe a really bright satellite passing behind a patch of thinner cloud?

Sounds rather satellite-ish to me, maybe even a tumbler. I've watched a few things appear to tumble along as they traverse the FOV. Perhaps that is the oscillation you experienced?

[pakarinen]

Yeah, I'm thinking most likely a satellite that was bright enough to show through (probably) thinned-out cloud cover.

Cloudy last night, but around dusk a huge pterodactyl-like thing came sailing over the treetops. Quite startling. It was the blue heron that hangs out in our pond. Impressive to see this huge wingspan thing sail over with no nav lights. LOL.