Manual for Lunar Impact Project

By American Lunar Society (A.L.S) and GLR Group

COVER - Video Still of a Spurious Flash (not confirmed by other observers) taken by
Stefano Basso , August 12, 2002 at 19:24:35 UT
Several attempts have been made to obtain scientifically valid lunar impact observations, one of the most notable being done by Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO). Many lunar observers and amateur Associations (American Lunar Society and Geologic Lunar Research group) have shared their plans for the observation of lunar meteor impacts. American Lunar Society has opened a specific project in order to confirm that a recorded flash is of impact origin . This Manual is based on a combined effort made with several observers-authors for over many years.
Analysis of observational reports submitted to the ALS coordinator are included too.
Raffaello Lena (Lunar impact project Coordinator)
The ALS would like to thank Raffaello Lena, Eric Douglass, Giancarlo Favero, Francesco Badalotti, Giacomo Venturin, Guido Santacana, Lorenzo Comolli, Stefano Basso, Marco Fiaschi , Feliciano Villares, Brendan Shaw.
Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………….……….4
Visual Observations ………………………………………….……….4
CCD Video Imaging ……………………………………………….….5
Spurious Flash…………………………………………………….…..6
Validation of lunar flashes…………………………………….…….10
A network of observers for simultaneous patrols…………….….10
Identification of the flashes profiles…………………………….….12
Validation of lunar flashes: methodology for a single observer...15
Defocus the image slightly………………………………………….15

Place a wedge shaped prism in front of the CCD……………….16

Hartmann Mask……………………………………………………..17

Download the Manual for Lunar Impact Project-->