Astronomers take TLP very seriously and one of the first real attempts to catalog a large number of TLP sightings was made on behalf of NASA and published in NASA Technical Report R-277. This report gave details of 579 mysterious lunar events dating from November 1540 to October 1967. The February 1969 issue of National Geographic says that: "One could disregard such reports were it not that they number more than 800, many of them from respected astronomers. The sightings have been concentrated in a few locations, notably the craters Aristarchus and Alphonsus."

TLP also was observed close-up by the Apollo astronauts. On July 19, 1969, the Apollo 11 command module had just achieved orbit around the moon when Mission Control received word that amateur astronomers reported TLP in the vicinity of the crater Aristarchus. Asked to check out the situation, astronaut Neil Armstrong looked out his window toward the earthlit region and observed an "area that is considerably more illuminated than the surrounding area. It just has…seems to have…a slight amount of fluorescence to it." Although he wasn't sure, Armstrong believed the region was Aristarchus.

As well, while in lunar orbit, Harrison Schmitt on Apollo 17 witnessed a flash of light near the crater Grimaldi. In the past, more than a dozen reports of light flashes have been reported by Earth-based observers near Grimaldi.

It would appear that despite what has been believed for years, the moon is far from a cold, inert neighbor after all. Yet, despite a profusion of observations and space missions, the moon still manages to retain its secrets, and to remain intriguing to this day.

Anomalies on the Moon

Russian astronomer N.A. Kozyrev, has recorded numerous incidents of red transient lunar phenomena, particularly in the 80-mile wide crater known as Alphonsus. It was at this location in 1965 that the final Ranger probe 9 crash-landed. Aristarchus is not only one of the brightest formations on the moon; it is responsible for more than half the number of reported TLP.

Along with strange lights and clouds, the moon also has its share of what appears to be mysterious structures and shapes on its surface. In 1953, astronomer John O'Neil observed a 12-mile-long "bridge" across the crater Mare Crisium. British astronomer Dr. H.P. Wilkens verified its presence, "It looks artificial. It's almost incredible that such a thing could have been formed in the first instance, or if it was formed, could have lasted during the ages in which the moon has been in existence."