HistoricalUnresolvedImage

DOW PURSUE — Apollo 17 Archival Imagery, Three Lights Above Lunar Terrain (1972)

Source: U.S. Department of War (DOW) / NASAReleased: May 8, 2026Incident: December 1, 1972
ANALYSIS SUMMARYThis analysis was prepared by Dr. Elara Voss using publicly available source material. It should be verified against the original source documents.

The inclusion of Apollo 17 archival imagery in DOW PURSUE Release 01 represents one of the oldest cases in the release. The image highlights an area showing three lights above the lunar terrain. Apollo 17 launched December 7, 1972. The DOW's designation of this as an unresolved UAP case marks a notable departure from NASA's historical treatment of anomalies in mission photography, and is the first time this specific imagery has been included in an official government UAP release.

Overview

Archival imagery from the Apollo 17 mission to the Moon, included in DOW PURSUE Release 01. An enlarged area of the original photograph shows three lights visible above the lunar terrain. Designated unresolved.

Key Facts

  • Archival imagery from the Apollo 17 mission (December 1972)
  • Yellow-boxed area in published image highlights three lights above the lunar terrain
  • Designated unresolved by the Department of War in Release 01
  • One of the oldest historical cases included in a PURSUE release

What Remains Unresolved

  • ?Have NASA archivists previously analyzed this specific frame?
  • ?Could the lights be lens artifacts, reflections, or film defects?
  • ?Does NASA's UAP program have access to the high-resolution original negative?

Related Topics

DOWPURSUEApollo 17NASAMoon1972HistoricalRelease 01

Official Source

https://www.war.gov/ufo/
This page summarizes publicly available source material. It does not prove or suggest extraterrestrial origin for the described observations. All summaries should be verified against the original official source documents. UFO Files Watch is an independent educational site not affiliated with any government agency.
Dr. Elara Voss

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