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T O P I C R E V I E WRizzAbout four years ago, June 2004 there was a thread regarding things 'people really wanted to know', and I was curious about the flashes of light on the lunar surface which were observed by some Apollo astronauts in lunar orbit, and by myself and a few of my friends here on Earth with a backyard telescope.A reply from one cS member stated: The flashes of light astronauts saw on the moon trips and on the surface were attributed to cosmic rays passing through eye. On later flights they did experiments where the crews sat in a darkened CM on the way back and reported the occurrences of the flashes. But that didn't explain what I saw, or what I thought the Apollo astronauts saw.I have spent literally decades observing the moon myself, and on dozens of occasions, I have observed flashes of light (through a 12" Dobsonian) which appeared to be coming from the lunar surface.As Robert and a number of cS members are aware, I’ve posted some controversial stuff during my earlier years, being mildly obsessed with our sister moon and anomalies.In another unrelated thread I responded to the post: Let's not forget the light flashes seen by the Apollo astronauts... occurring when a cosmic particle passed through the CSM into the head and into the brains provoking a light flash to be seen by that person! My reply to that in November 2002 was: Speaking of light flashes, if you have access to a 12"+ telescope, now is a great time to check out Plato, Aristarcus and Timocharis. New Moon is best, just stay ahead of terminator. And you need to be patient. Give it a look. Well, this morning, almost 5 and 1/2 years later, NASA released some pretty exciting information regarding these flashes of light, which made me extremely pleased, and confirmed that I am not as much of a Lunatic as some may have previously thought. Backyard astronomers, have fun!RizzPhilipEver heard of LTA Lunar Transient Activity? cspg quote:Originally posted by Rizz:The flashes of light astronauts saw on the moon trips and on the surface were attributed to cosmic rays passing through eye. On later flights they did experiments where the crews sat in a darkened CM on the way back and reported the occurrences of the flashes. Don't they happen also on Earth? I sometimes see those flashes of light (and no I haven't [yet] seen the Light!).Chris.Robert Pearlman quote:Originally posted by cspg:Don't they happen also on Earth?They may, but it's not likely. From SPACE.com: quote:For anyone on the ground who sees things and has been wondering if cosmic rays might be to blame, [Marco] Casolino [of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics at the University of Rome] can't be sure, but he has doubts.The observations of flashes are extremely subjective and vary from one person to another, he notes. But few cosmic rays survive the trip through Earth's atmosphere. Most decay into other particles, such as muons, which provide little or no opportunity for generating flashes.Further, Casolino said, the brain may well dismiss flashes as unimportant, not even allowing us to notice them. Other physiological conditions, such as differing blood pressure, might cause similar apparent perceptions.Jet passengers above much of the atmosphere ought to have a better opportunity, however, to get a taste of the odd visual experience astronauts describe."I try to look for light flashes when I'm on a plane, but up to now I have seen nothing," Casolino said. "The problem is that it is difficult to know what you are looking for." The flashes you see may also be coming from inside your eye, a.k.a. floaters: quote:When the vitreous pulls on the retina - to which it is attached - the photoreceptors are mechanically stimulated. The retinal cells are incapable of perceiving pain, pressure, or temperature. The only stimulus that the retina responds to is 'light'. So when the retinal photoreceptors experience mechanical stimulation because of the vitreous pull, they send a signal to the brain in the form of disorganized light, which is perceived by the brain as a 'flash'.
A reply from one cS member stated:
The flashes of light astronauts saw on the moon trips and on the surface were attributed to cosmic rays passing through eye. On later flights they did experiments where the crews sat in a darkened CM on the way back and reported the occurrences of the flashes.
I have spent literally decades observing the moon myself, and on dozens of occasions, I have observed flashes of light (through a 12" Dobsonian) which appeared to be coming from the lunar surface.
As Robert and a number of cS members are aware, I’ve posted some controversial stuff during my earlier years, being mildly obsessed with our sister moon and anomalies.
In another unrelated thread I responded to the post:
Let's not forget the light flashes seen by the Apollo astronauts... occurring when a cosmic particle passed through the CSM into the head and into the brains provoking a light flash to be seen by that person!
Speaking of light flashes, if you have access to a 12"+ telescope, now is a great time to check out Plato, Aristarcus and Timocharis. New Moon is best, just stay ahead of terminator. And you need to be patient. Give it a look.
Rizz
quote:Originally posted by Rizz:The flashes of light astronauts saw on the moon trips and on the surface were attributed to cosmic rays passing through eye. On later flights they did experiments where the crews sat in a darkened CM on the way back and reported the occurrences of the flashes.
Chris.
quote:Originally posted by cspg:Don't they happen also on Earth?
quote:For anyone on the ground who sees things and has been wondering if cosmic rays might be to blame, [Marco] Casolino [of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics at the University of Rome] can't be sure, but he has doubts.The observations of flashes are extremely subjective and vary from one person to another, he notes. But few cosmic rays survive the trip through Earth's atmosphere. Most decay into other particles, such as muons, which provide little or no opportunity for generating flashes.Further, Casolino said, the brain may well dismiss flashes as unimportant, not even allowing us to notice them. Other physiological conditions, such as differing blood pressure, might cause similar apparent perceptions.Jet passengers above much of the atmosphere ought to have a better opportunity, however, to get a taste of the odd visual experience astronauts describe."I try to look for light flashes when I'm on a plane, but up to now I have seen nothing," Casolino said. "The problem is that it is difficult to know what you are looking for."
The observations of flashes are extremely subjective and vary from one person to another, he notes. But few cosmic rays survive the trip through Earth's atmosphere. Most decay into other particles, such as muons, which provide little or no opportunity for generating flashes.
Further, Casolino said, the brain may well dismiss flashes as unimportant, not even allowing us to notice them. Other physiological conditions, such as differing blood pressure, might cause similar apparent perceptions.
Jet passengers above much of the atmosphere ought to have a better opportunity, however, to get a taste of the odd visual experience astronauts describe.
"I try to look for light flashes when I'm on a plane, but up to now I have seen nothing," Casolino said. "The problem is that it is difficult to know what you are looking for."
quote:When the vitreous pulls on the retina - to which it is attached - the photoreceptors are mechanically stimulated. The retinal cells are incapable of perceiving pain, pressure, or temperature. The only stimulus that the retina responds to is 'light'. So when the retinal photoreceptors experience mechanical stimulation because of the vitreous pull, they send a signal to the brain in the form of disorganized light, which is perceived by the brain as a 'flash'.
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