Lunar Anomaly

Lunar and Planetary Institute ^ | 2011 | NASA

[Windflier]

Apollo Image Atlas
AS15-P-9625

Image Collection: Panoramic
Mission: 15
Magazine: P
Revolution: 38
Latitude / Longitude: 19° S / 117.5° E
Lens Focal Length: 24 inch
Camera Look: Forward
Camera Altitude: 117 km
Sun Elevation: 27°
Stereo Pair: AS15-P-9630
Film Type: 3414
Film Width: 5 inch
Image Width: 45.24 inch
Image Height: 4.5 inch
Film Color: black & white
Index Map: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/apolloindex/apollo15/as15indexmap01/
Feature(s): DELPORTE, SOUTHWEST OF IZSAK, NORTH OF

[Windflier]

Scroll to approximately the middle of the panoramic image. You'll see what appears to be a double impact crater just left of center. Look to the right of that, and you'll see a small crater, with what appears to be a cigar sitting inside of it.

This image has been puzzling people ever since it was first brought to light around 2007, when a YouTube poster called 'retiredfb' put up a video purporting to be from the Apollo 15 mission, which showed this object in a flyby film of the far side of the moon.

I've been intrigued with it myself since that time, but only recently ran across the original, official photograph which proves that NASA actually did capture something mysterious on film.

What say you? What is that thing? (hit control+ to enlarge image)

[spokeshave]

Looks like a cigar shaped space ship.

[Windflier]

Looks like a cigar shaped space ship.

True dat. It's what most people conclude when looking at it.

I read an estimate of the object's size somewhere. If I recall correctly, just portion you can see is something like 900 feet long.

[Captain Beyond]

space ping

[Moonman62]

Considering the shadows and image quality I’d say it’s a natural surface feature.

[Windflier]

Considering the shadows and image quality I’d say it’s a natural surface feature.

Well alright, but have you enlarged it? Take a look at the conical 'nose' sticking out on the right hand side. You can clearly see that it's elevated above the surrounding surface.

Looks suspiciously like the nose of an aircraft.

[Moonman62]

Well alright, but have you enlarged it?

Yes.

Looks suspiciously like the nose of an aircraft.

Still looks natural to me. What kind of aircraft?

[Windflier]

Sheet 1. Panoramic Camera Photographs, Composite of all REVs.
Camera: 24" (609.6mm) focal length, optical bar panoramic
Film 5 inch (45.24 inch x 4.5 inch image) EK3414

Click here to download a 150dpi JPEG image (5.8MB )

Click here to download a 300dpi JPEG image ( 16MB )

[Talisker]

Still looks natural to me. What kind of aircraft?

LOL. What kind of natural?

[Windflier]

What kind of aircraft?

I don't know. I said "like the nose of an aircraft". It's an approximate description.

My point is, it doesn't look like a natural feature to me. It looks too smooth and conical...more like something that was manufactured.

[Lazamataz]

No!

[Windflier]

“No!” what? You gonna spank my nose with that paper? LOL

[dr_lew]

Well alright, but have you enlarged it? Take a look at the conical 'nose' sticking out on the right hand side. You can clearly see that it's elevated above the surrounding surface.

The "cigar" is a ridge line, and the elevated "nose" is an illusion caused by the suggestion of the cigar shape. It appears that you can see under it, to what appears to be a sunlight floor, but this is a portion of the ridge extending toward the POV, and it is illuminated because it rises above the shadow of the ridge.

It ceratinly is an interesting formation, nevertheless.

[Moonman62]

It looks too smooth and conical...

Considering the shadows and image quality nothing should appear smooth or conical, even if it is artificial.

[Windflier]

Considering the shadows and image quality nothing should appear smooth or conical, even if it is artificial.

That statement is illogical. If the object is extremely large (and it would be, given the altitude from the surface) it would appear smooth and conical, if indeed that's what it is. The resolution is perfectly good enough to capture that.

[Moonman62]

It’s a trick of lighting. Dr_lew gives a good explanation in his post.

[Talisker]

The "cigar" is a ridge line, and the elevated "nose" is an illusion caused by the suggestion of the cigar shape. It appears that you can see under it, to what appears to be a sunlight floor, but this is a portion of the ridge extending toward the POV, and it is illuminated because it rises above the shadow of the ridge.

Sorry - your description simply doesn't match the shadows or the edge lines, which would have to change their behaviors for the object, apart from the surrounding terrain. Occam's razor has to be defeated before a clearly cylindrical object with a narrowed and elevated nose with an underlying shadow can be dismissed.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"If Herman Cain does become President, his Vice President will be known as Co-Cain."

That'll be a helluva Vice-President.

[Lancey Howard]

Looks suspiciously like the nose of an aircraft.

Aircraft? Or submarine?

[The Cajun]

Saw that picture some time ago, interesting, but I think with better pictures it would go *poof* like the face and the pyramids on Mars.

Just MHO.