Luna 50 - Autumn 1999
New project to rays interest
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The SPA Lunar Section has now officially joined the International Bright Lunar Rays Project (IBLRP) . Participating organisations in this exciting venture are: Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO) American Lunar Society (ALS) Italian Union of Amateur Astronomers (IUAA) British Astronomical Association Lunar Section (BAA-LS) Society for Popular Astronomy Lunar Section (SPA-LS) |
Bright ray systems dominate the full Moon. |
Despite the prominence of the Moon's ray systems, the IBLRP represents the first major concerted amateur effort to chart these enigmatic lunar features in detail.
Spaceprobes have concentrated on mapping the Moon's topographic features. However, the ray systems have been somewhat underobserved, and it is believed that a dedicated amateur effort will bring to light new information about the rays. "It may come as a surprise to discover that there has been no concerted effort to chart these prominent features," writes Colin Ebdon, the Topographic Subsection Director of the BAA Lunar Section. "The bright rays are best observed and charted from Earth based telescopes because they are so extensive. Spacecraft have shed little light on the large scale structure of the bright lunar rays, so observers need not be concerned on that score." Bill Dembowsky, the Lunar Coordinator of the ALPO in the United States, writes: "Bright lunar rays are so intriguing that we are conducting a joint programme to catalogue, map and study them in detail. Your sketches, photographs and electronic images of the Moon are encouraged and welcomed."
Initially the systems surrounding the craters Proclus, Messier, Menelaus and Birt will be paid special attention - these craters have clear, well-defined rays that do not sprawl over great distances like, say the rays of Copernicus. Once valuable experience has been gained in charting these systems, it is hoped to widen the scope of the study to other craters, some with more complex rays. Observations of ray craters and their ejecta systems will be published in The New Moon (BAA), The Lunar Observer (ALPO) and Luna. Information about the project and ray observations are also featured on the new SPALS website.
