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NASA-003 · 1972-12-11

Apollo 17 — Triangular Formation & Crater Flash

NASALunar Surface / Cislunar SpaceTriangular~30,000 miles from lunar surface
INCIDENT SUMMARY

Photograph shows three dots in triangular formation in the lunar sky. Harrison Schmitt reported a flash north of Grimaldi crater. NASA's assessment: 'no consensus about the nature'. Photographs not included in original public mission archives.

DECLASSIFIED DETAILS

Two separate anomalies from the Apollo 17 mission are documented in this PURSUE file. First, a photograph taken during cislunar transit shows three distinct luminous dots arranged in a precise equilateral triangle at an estimated 30,000 miles from the lunar surface. These photographs were not included in the original public mission archives and were classified until this 2026 release. Second, geologist-astronaut Harrison Schmitt radioed Mission Control to report an unexplained flash north of Grimaldi crater during surface operations. Cernan confirmed the observation. The lunar surface flash has no geologically plausible explanation consistent with known lunar activity. NASA's 2026 assessment note reads: 'no consensus about the nature of either phenomenon.'

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
  • Perfect equilateral triangular formation
  • Three luminous objects in cislunar space
  • Crater flash with no geological explanation
  • Photographs withheld from original public archives
  • NASA 2026: no consensus
ORIGINAL SOURCE

This incident is documented in file NASA-003 released under the PURSUE Initiative on May 8, 2026. The original document, with any remaining redactions, is publicly available at the U.S. Department of War's official UAP portal.

VIEW ORIGINAL DOCUMENT AT WAR.GOV →
INCIDENT DATA
FILE IDNASA-003
DATE1972-12-11
YEAR1972
AGENCYNASA
LOCATIONLunar Surface / Cislunar Space
REGIONSpace / Orbit
SHAPETriangular
ALTITUDE~30,000 miles from lunar surface
DURATIONUnknown
WITNESSESAstronaut Harrison Schmitt, Astronaut Eugene Cernan
OBSERVED BEHAVIORS
Formation / Group
Stationary Hover
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