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LUNAR SUNRISE/SUNSET CRATER RAYS
Background Information, Predictions Through 2030 and Observation Reports

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These events occur when the sun, at a low lunar altitude, projects a ray or spike of light, through a broken wall feature of a crater. Although many of these events may be visible on the surface of the moon, these are a listing of the more common ray events which have been reported in astronomical magazines, publications, or from observers who may have detected a ray for the first time, and reported it. Although not of any scientific value, the allusiveness of these events, coupled with the short time frame they are visible, make these real challenges for the avid lunar observer!

If you observe any of these events, and would like to have your observations placed in the reports, or if you think you have discovered another notable ray events, let me know and I will get it published here.

All the past predictions were generated using Harry Jamieson's "Lunar Toolkit" Program. Starting with the new 2021-2030 predictions, Jim Mosher's Lunar Terminator Visualization Tool (LTVT) was used. Besides the Jim Mosher link, LTVT can be downloaded from John Moore's OneDrive page, located at One Drive. Just download all the files and place in the same directory - e.g. C/LTVT and run the .exe file. LTVT uses the JPL DE405 Ephemeris. Searching Jamieson's ToolKit program, it did not specify what ephemeris was being used to genereate the predictions of future events. One will notice if comparing times of the events, they are usually within minutes of each other. Since these events can occur over the span of several hours, the predicted times generated with LTVT should suffice. Also I noticed that using the date and solar altitude over a particular crater, that the solar altitude varied somewhat, but not too far off from the original ToolKit predictions. The difference I felt was also negligible. I also generated these predictions using a geocentric observer, rather than a specific set of terrestial longitude and latitude. When considering observing one of these events, the observer must first determine whether or not the moon will be visible in the sky for their part of the world. Not all events will be visible to everyone on the specifed date. It is also advisable to starting looking an hour or two before/after event time. It is not unusual for an event to occur before or after the predicted time frame.

As time permits, I am going over the initial observations and reports to generate simulations (using LTVT) so that potential observers may know what to expect when observing the ray. I will also add my own comments relating to such ray. Those will be found on the REPORT page.

At the end of the table listing are two files in .ODS and .XLSX format. These spreadsheet files contain two pages. The "RAY BY NAME" page lists all the rays listed alphabetically as found in the online table listing. The "RAY BY DATE" is a listing of all events sorted by date. The files are not locked so anyone wishing to sort/trim to their own needs, can do so. I do ask that if the files are posted on other websites or forums, whether in entirety or a partial listing, that the author be cited as the source.

A word about using the table format: I have not provided links to "back/return" from page to page. Therefore, use the RETURN/BACK button on your browser to return to the previous page. It should also be noted that some browsers do not automatically show the most recent page update. Be sure to use the "reload" button/arrow of your browser to show the most recent page.

If you would like to link to this topic, use the link: http://www.lunar- occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
You can reach me at: webmaster@raysatlunar-occultations.com (remove the raysat)


NEW! - There is now a hardcopy book of this site, which can be purchased at the Website Store
Thank you for your support!

NEW FEATURES ADDED (OCTOBER 2022)

On the INFORMATION page about the crater, at the bottom of the page, is an animated .gif of the crater light ray, using dates and times offered by observers, created using the Lunar Terminator Visualization Tool. I have also marked certain craters with a "needs further investigation" marker, since the animations do not show an obvious ray being created. This could be due to numerous reasons such as wrong date or time given, location of observer compared to the geocentric position, or the observer saw something else. I do intend to discredit anyone's observation, but since no follow up observations have been reported, observers need to check the PREDICTIONS page for likely dates and times, and observe the event in question. Please send me your reports at: webmaster@lunar-occultations.com (If for some reason the animation does not show, refresh your browser page)

UPDATES

Dave Mitsky's Observer's Monthly Observer's Calendar
Updated predictions for 2021-2030
Created 2021-2030 Database of Events Sorted by Date & Time

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Lunar Crater Rays
CRATER NAME
INFORMATION
PREDICTIONS
REPORTS
ABENEZRA C (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
ABENEZRA P
read
2021-2030
read
ALEXANDER
read
2021-2030
read
ALPINE VALLEY/MT BLANC (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
ARCHIMEDES
read
2021-2030
read
ARISTOTELES
read
2021-2030
read
BABBAGE
read
2021-2030
read
BARROW
read
2021-2030
read
BONPLAND
read
2021-2030
read
BURNHAM
read
2021-2030
read
CALIPPUS (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
CAMPANUS
read
2021-2030
read
CASATUS
read
2021-2030
read
CATHARINA
read
2021-2030
read
CICHUS A
read
2021-2030
read
CLAUSIUS
read
2021-2030
read
CLAVIUS
read
2021-2030
read
CLEOMEDES
read
2021-2030
read
COPERNICUS
read
2021-2030
read
CRISIUM, MARE
read
2021-2030
read
CURTIUS
read
2021-2030
read
CURTIUS (SUNSET)
read
2021-2030
read
EGEDE
read
2021-2030
read
ENDYMION
read
2021-2030
read
EPIGENES
read
2021-2030
read
FERNELIUS
read
2021-2030
read
FRA MAURO HA
read
2021-2030
read
GEMMA FRISIUS
read
2021-2030
read
GOLDSCHMIDT
read
2021-2030
read
GUERICKE
read
2021-2030
read
HALL
read
2021-2030
read
HALLEY (needs further investigation - could not duplicate)
read
2021-2030
read
HESIODUS
read
2021-2030
read
HIND, SE of
read
2021-2030
read
HIPPARCHUS
read
2021-2030
read
HYPATIA
read
2021-2030
read
JULIUS CAESAR
read
2021-2030
read
KIES
read
2021-2030
read
KLAPROTH
read
2021-2030
read
LACAILLE
read
2021-2030
read
LA CONDAMINE
read
2021-2030
read
LACROIX G
read
2021-2030
read
LACUS TIMORIS
read
2021-2030
read
LADE
read
2021-2030
read
LAGALLA (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
LAME (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
LILIUS
read
2021-2030
read
LONGOMONTANUS
read
2021-2030
read
LUBINIEZKY E
read
2021-2030
read
MAGINUS
read
2021-2030
read
MASKELYNE F
read
2021-2030
read
MASKELYNE P
read
2021-2030
read
MAUROLYCUS
read
2021-2030
read
MERCATOR
read
2021-2030
read
MERSENIUS P
read
2021-2030
read
METON
read
2021-2030
read
MONTES RIPHAEUS
read
2021-2030
read
PALLUS
read
2021-2030
read
PALUS EPIDEMIARUM
read
2021-2030
read
PARROT
read
2021-2030
read
PARRY
read
2021-2030
read
PHILOLAUS (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
PHOCYLIDES
read
2021-2030
read
PITATUS
read
2021-2030
read
PLATO
read
2021-2030
read
POSIDONIUS
read
2021-2030
read
PTOLEMAEUS
read
2021-2030
read
REAUMUR
read
2021-2030
read
REINHOLD (needs further investigation)
read
2021-2030
read
RENART
read
2021-2030
read
SACROBOSCO
read
2021-2030
read
SAUNDER
read
2021-2030
read
SCHEINER
read
2021-2030
read
SCHILLER C
read
2021-2030
read
SINUS IRIDUM
read
2021-2030
read
STIBORIUS
read
2021-2030
read
STÖFLER
read
2021-2030
read
TEMPEL
read
2021-2030
read
TORRICELLI
read
2021-2030
read
VIETA
read
2021-2030
read
WALTHER SUNRISE
read
2021-2030
read
WALTHER SUNSET
read
2021-2030
read

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