Previous explanations for the small beams have been meteors, moonquakes and even UFOs. But a new telescope in Spain hopes to get to the bottom of the unexplained occurrences. Named the lunar transient phenomena, the lights can appear as flashes that are fleeting or long-lasting.
NASA’s Apollo astronauts reported seeing strange lights while orbiting the moon, Cnet reported.
Michael Collins told NASA mission control: “There is an area that is considerably more illuminated than the surrounding area.
“It just has — seems to have a slight amount of fluorescence to it.
“A crater can be seen, and the area around the crater is quite bright.”
Parts of the moon’s surface has also reportedly darkened for no known reason.
The telescope recording the flashes will capture photos and video using two cameras.
Recorded evidence will then be compared with results from the European Space Agency.
Professor Hakan Kayal leading the research said: “If the same thing was seen there, the event can be considered confirmed.”
The system will later be used on a satellite mission meaning the cameras could orbit around the Earth and the moon.
Mr Kayal hopes this will lead to better results.
He said: “We will then be rid of the disturbances caused by the atmosphere”.
Interest in the lunar lights has sprung from sightings dating back to 1787.
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