TLP’s or Transient Lunar Phenomenon are bright patches which
can be seen on the surface of the Moon. They are caused by gas escaping through
cracks on th surface of the Moon. The term Transient Lunar Phenomenon seems to
have been first used by the TV astronomer Patrick Moore.
On the 9th April 1867 TGE Elger from Bedford
using a Thomas Cooke and Sons of York 4 inch telescope was waiting for the
occultation by the Moon of the star 150 Taurus when a bright spot as bright as a
7th magnitude star appeared in the crater Aristarchus.
The spot was seen from
7h 30 min to about 8h and 15 min and it became much fainter. At 9h it
was scarcely visible through the 4 inch telescope. Elger used powers of 75 and
115 on his Cooke telescope.
Could this be another example of an early observation of a
TLP?
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