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Crisium Dome follow up report
Shortly after the posting of our report on possible glass-like artificial Dome structures and nearby anomalies on the North shore of Mare Crisium, Steve Troy and I began a search for corroborating images. Since the actual frame AS10-32-4421 was part of a sequence of photos across the entire Crisium region, we first began to pursue the other frames in this sequence. An examination of the image maps from Apollo 10 showed that frames 4414-4417 should have covered the zone of interest. Steve ordered these frames from the archives at Johnson Space Center (JSC). He received the 8 x10 negatives and prints in early October and sent them on to me. After some discussion, we agreed that 4414 through 4418 were probably out of sequence, but we could not agree on precisely what the actual order of the photography was. At Steve's behest, I then settled down to selecting the frames with possible images of our "Domes".
This process involved scrutinizing the highland areas just beyond the Mare with a magnifying glass in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Domes against this bright backdrop. The procedure was complicated by the fact that the shifting of the spacecraft (and hence the photographer's) position meant that we would not likely find an identical backdrop to one we had seen in the 4421 frame. In addition, the fact that the Domes are transparent meant that unless the sun was at just the proper angle, we stood a good chance that no light whatsoever was reflected back to the camera. But it was also credible that the sun would be striking the Dome's surface as the spacecraft got closer to the position of the 4421 frame, meaning that the photos taken just before 4421 might also reveal the Domes. Because the frames appeared to be mis-sequenced, I finally settled on both 4415 and 4417 as the closest to the position of 4421. An examination of the highlands revealed excellent possibilities in both photo's and I marked up the acetate covers on the negatives and sent them to Steve for sectionals.
Another note here: It is my contention that whomever was taking these photos (either Stafford, Cernan or Young) had some sense of what they were looking for, and was covering this region appropriately. Frames 4414-4417 are taken very close together (see image map) as are 4419 and 4420. Then for some reason, the photographer turns back over his right shoulder to snap another shot of this previously covered region, just catching the Domes at the far right of 4421. One plausible scenario involves one of the astronauts at a window taking snapshots,with another just behind him keeping his eyes out for something "interesting". After taking the 4414-4417 shots, he turns toward his left (forward). The sun hits the Domes just right and they flare brightly, causing him to turn back at the last minute and catch the 4421 shot.
In any event, the sectionals arrived after a week or so and I scanned them in using my trusty 30-bit scanner. While the quality was not as good as 4421, 4415 proved to be lush ground for corroboration. Finding the Dome-like area was fairly straightforward. But our previous analysis of 4421 had a also revealed other nearby features (a Mount Rushmore like "Face" and a strange cylindrical object dubbed the "Phoenix"). If the 4415 Dome was the same object as the 4421 Domes, and if our observations of the "Face" and "Phoenix" were real, then these supplemental objects should be visible in the 4415 shot as well, albeit in a somewhat different spot vis-a-vis the Dome. If however, the "Face" and "Phoenix" and "Bowling Pin" are not visible in the area that we perceive the Dome to be, than it weakens the argument that we are observing the same object in both frames substantially.
The "Face" "Phoenix" and "Crisium Domes" from AS10-32-4415
As you can see, 4415 provided a match with 4421 with regards to principal features and characteristics. The "Double Domes" seem to be visible, although they would be overlapping slightly differently due to the spacecraft position. the "Face" and "Phoenix" are also in the correct placement to be corroborating with respect to each other and the Domes they overlook. Certainly, there are subtle differences, probably due to orientation of the image, (the primary Dome seems flatter and less symmetrical from this perspective) but the shape of the Dome and its placement in front of the background highlands are fully corroborated. The scale of the primary Dome is also consistent with the previous observation from 4421. The secondary Dome is too small to be the same object as in 4421, leading to the possibility of a third Dome like object in the vicinity or simply a specular reflection off the primary object. In addition, the "Face" maintains its face-like appearance, although it is not as distinct as the 4421 image (which is taken closer to the objects).
The "Domes" both have distinct corners, proving they are placed in front of the highlands rather than simply being an adjunct to them. The bright flare of the foreground secondary "Dome" is consistent with a glass like highly reflective structure, and the watch crystal like primary "Dome" is correctly postured to reinforce the impression of an edge on view of an enormous archology.
The "Face" from 4421 and 4415
Although it is not as high quality as the 4421 "Face" (left), the 4415 "Face" bears far too close a resemblance to be discounted. Specific features are verified, including the bright crown of the "head" and the eye sockets and nose. Whether these curious features actually represent a sculpted object akin to the Face on Mars remains to be determined, but there is no doubt that they are not an optical illusion or photographic defect. My final opinion is that the "Face" is still a category 2 facial object as defined by McDaniel[1]. It should also be noted that this Lunar "Face" meets several of the criteria defined by VanFlandern[2] in his analysis of the Cydonian monument. The "Face" is also in the same position relative to the "Domes" that it appeared to be in the 4421 frame, again confirming that we are observing the same objects.
The "Phoenix" from 4421 and 4415
The "Phoenix" is very faint in the 4415 image, but under enhancement it does come through enough to declare a reasonable likelihood that we are viewing the same object in both pictures. The cylindrical shape is identical as is the curled upper portion. This seems to be some kind of antenna assembly or observation tower, but the 4415 image cannot shed any light on this issue since it is of lesser quality than the 4421 version. There is however, clear symmetry in both images and given its positional relationship to the other Crisium anomalies, this is not likely to be a coincidence. Certainly, the object is real, but it's purpose or composition is mysterious.
The "Bowling Pin" is nowhere to be found on 4415. This does not mean that it does not exist, however it is not at present confirmable.
Other sources
Apollo 11 frame AS11-42-6223 with primary features marked
This image falls into the category of the interesting but enigmatic. An Apollo 11 photo of the northern Crisium region emphasizing the craters Picard, Picard E, Pierce, and Swift ( note: my atlas says that "Picard E" is correct but Steve Troy has told me that other sources identify it as Lick D). It has the by now familiar shading in the right portion of the frame, and numerous filaments and anomalies apparently suspended over the area. The two circular outlines do not appear on my Lunar Atlas, which is strange given their prominence.
Without sectionals we cannot establish the "Domes" or other anomalies, although there is a "Spire" near Picard which bears a strong resemblance to the "Spire" found by Hoagland on AS16-121-19438. While it could be merely a scratch or emulsion flaw, the location is quite close to Hoagland's and a closer view from sectionals is justified.
The "Spire" and crater Picard from AS11-42-6223
Steve Troy also noticed 2 odd looking areas near the bright flare along the highlands in the center right of the image. One of the areas he dubbed "Malibu" (because it looks like a pillar supported beach house on the analog photo) is extremely unusual (by current theory).
"Malibu", on the left, appears to be a raised, walled, cross hatched structure of some kind. It has quadrilateral symmetry, a center divider and internal structures running at right angles to the outside walls. This creates four distinct comparable "quadrants" within the objects walls. Details are difficult to make out, but it does bear a resemblance to a storage facility or bunker with a collapsed roof around the cross supporting beams. There is a similar cross-hatching pattern nearby, but it is somewhat indistinct and not nearly as unusual as "Malibu".
Conclusions
The discovery of still more anomalous objects in the search for confirmation of the "Crisium Dome" "Face" "Phoenix" and "Bowling Pin" is a strong argument for their reality. The images from 4415 confirm at least that the original observations were valid and that the possibility remains high that we have found a facility or set of facilities rather than an image artifact or made an identification error. The primary Dome does seem to exist, as do the Face and Phoenix. The secondary Dome and the Bowling Pin are not confirmed by this set of images, but they remain a focus of this inquiry.
AS11-42-6223 does not at this time provide any confirmation of the previously identified anomalies, but it does offer the possibility of confirming Hoagland's "Spire" from Apollo frame AS16-121-19438. Further, it has provided a view of previously uncatalogged anomaly in the general area of the "Crisium Dome", the "Malibu" area.
The sheer number of anomalies revealed by this and other investigations leads to the general conclusion that Mare Crisium has a vast network of structures and facilities, and is likely to continue to reveal more surprises as we continue the investigation.
There are additional views of this general region which we are now in possession of and which we will be scrutinizing to confirm these and any other anomalies or structures which we might find.
References
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