1994 · Moon
Clementine's blurred areas

When1994
WhereMoon
Max shows Clementine map tiles with large unexplained blurred areas, and the Clementine Aristarchus image with large blurred parts. Clementine was a DoD mission; John Brandenburg says it was also checking for bases.
How plausible · Moderate
A named mission scientist says Clementine also looked for bases and he was told not to comment; the blurred tiles are not yet checked against raw frames.
- ●●Access Brandenburg was a Clementine mission scientist.
- ●●Fits secrecy practice "Firmly advised" not to comment further.
- ●○Cost of speaking Said on record.
- ●○No gain sought Talks and books on Mars.
- ●○Character record Plasma physicist.
- ●○Checkable details check out Map tiles are public; raw frames unchecked.
Against
- −Lone source, no corroboration Only Brandenburg on the bases purpose.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
Clementine was checking the Moon for bases. John Brandenburg says Clementine's purpose included looking for bases, that he was 'firmly advised' not to comment further, and nobody official has contradicted him.firsthandSourced, unconfirmedJohn Brandenburg
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Clementine missionJohn Brandenburg personReality Check: 'Is NASA blurring their photos? What could be hiding on the Moon?' document