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]

The "cigar" is a ridge line, and the elevated "nose" is an illusion caused by the suggestion of the cigar shape.

Ok, I just spent several minutes studying the image again, with your explanation in mind, but I found that I have to reject the bulk of what my eyes are perceiving to see a ridge there.

For one, there is a shadow under the 'nose', which matches an elevated object, perfectly.

Two, the shading on the 'nose' indicates a feature with a smooth conical shape.

I'm sorry, but I'm still seeing a cylindrical object sitting inside a crater-like depression.

[Windflier]

Our government has shown that it has great ability to make things go *poof*.

This image has been sitting in the NASA archives since 1971. It’s been widely discussed on the internet since 2007, and so far, no one has been able to positively say what it is, or make the case that it’s something other than what it appears to be.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Russians also have good photos of this anomaly.

[FromTheSidelines]

There's only one way to really figure it out... We need the best men on the job:

Bell and Hoagland - they'll solve the mystery for us!

[The Cajun]

Our government has shown that it has great ability to make things go *poof*.

True that.

[PhilDragoo]

[Ernie Kaputnik]

“...nothing should appear smooth or conical, even if it is artificial.”

A smooth and conical geological or natural structure is the result of erosion. Erosion is caused by either wind or water. While there may be ice crystals at the Moon’s south pole, there isn’t any wind or flowing water anywhere on the moon (because the moon doesn’t have an atmosphere). So, the question is, how did this structure become smooth and conical?

[Bellflower]

It definitely looks like a distinct smooth object to me. Are there not other things that have been photographed on the moon that might in anyway seem similar? It does seem to pretty much match the tones of the surrounding area. Maybe it has some sort of masking. Looking at it carefully it seems to have a different color tone for it's "nose" like a designed flying object could and an indentation almost like an area that might have windows or something. Has anyone tried to enhance it in any way to possibly show more detail?

Speaking of weird things have you seen this footage supposedly from Wikileaks on youtube and what do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B2t68yoYy8&feature=related

[count-your-change]

Looks just like an anomaly to me (I can’t say it but I can spell it!)

[NCDave]

[IMG]http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/dlc123/Goldar.jpg[/IMG] I knew they would never really leave us!

[Cincinatus]

There is erosion on the Moon -- it's caused by the rain of micrometeorites on the surface, lightly sandlblasting the rocks and jagged edges smooth. Of course, it takes millions of years to do this, but eventually, all rough surfaces are smoothed over and rocks are ground into dust.

Anyway, this "thing" is entirely natural - it's either a clump of ejecta from some nearby crater or the surface expression of the compressive ridge, which are widespread in the highlands of the Moon. Here's how it looks in Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images:

The Sun is coming from the opposite direction and the image is oriented 90 degrees ccw from the Apollo pan frame above.

You can personally explore anywhere on the Moon with the LROC Quickview image browser.

[Bellflower]

Are you sure we are looking at the same thing? Which thing is suppose to be it, the thing near the center bottom of the picture or the several lumps in a row center left?

[Cincinatus]

[Bellflower]

Thank you.

[Bellflower]

Do you know how to put the pictures of the areas in question side by side so we can compare them?

[Darksheare]

I swear it is NOT my fault.

And ping to neat lunar image.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

My buddy Occam gots a razor sez it’s natural. Piece of debris from a meteor impact, for instance.

[ArtDodger]

And immediately to the right of the cigar is a half buried alien skull with bullet hole between the eyes.. Hopping place that moon, eh?

[Cincinatus]

OK, now I see where this nutty idea came from:

Apollo 20 Alien Spaceship Controversy

There is no ship -- this feature is probably part of a highland ridge system.

[ZinGirl]

I think it's God's pen. He dropped it when he was writing some names in His book.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Look to the right of that, and you'll see a small crater, with what appears to be a cigar sitting inside of it.

That would be the Clinton/Lewinsky Crater.