[Aemilius (OP)]

This photograph of the Apollo 14 LEM on the Moon (AS14-66-9306) is distinctive from the rest in the series. It shows a set of four reticles (or crosshairs) that appear to be hovering to one degree or another above the image surface of the photograph in the region of lense flare around the Sun, and another set that appear flat and generally symmetrical beneath them on the image surface....

In this forum (in another thread) RD explained his theory that a lense flare induced ghost reticle pin cushion-like effect was at play. Essentially, the theory goes that the opaque black reticles were so brilliantly illuminated by the Sun that they reflected off one or another of the curved lenses within the camera, showing up as detailed pincushion-like ghost images in the same region where the Sun is causing normal lense flare at the same time. Unfortunately, his theory wasn't accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back it up or demonstrate it.

In another forum, the theory is essentially the same, that the configuration of the lenses created a hall of mirrors like lense flare induced ghost reticle hall-like effect. Essentially, the theory goes that the opaque black reticles were so brilliantly illuminated by the Sun that they reflected off one or another of the curved lenses within the camera, showing up as hall effect-like detailed ghost images in the same region where the Sun is causing normal lense flare at the same time. Unfortunately, his theory wasn't accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back it up or demonstrate it in action either, and even the preceeding photograph in the series, taken under the same conditions, shows no sign of any kind of mechanism like that playing out....

With minor variations they're the same theory I've seen repeated several times now.... none are ever accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back them up or demonstrate this mechanism in action.

My proposed mechanism is based on the fact that a transparency overlay lifted up and away from the image surface in the photograph is consistent with the appearance of both the upper distorted reticles and the lower flat symmetrical reticles on the image surface....

To prove it, I replicated the conditions needed for this type of defect to appear in a photograph/transparency overlay image and then demonstrated the mechanism playing out in precisely the same way as what's seen in the detail of the photograph from NASA....

1.   The slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle up and away from the board surface in my transparency example precisely matches in appearance the slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

2.   The upper distorted reticle in my transparency example shows itself to be noticably darker than the shadow it's casting on the board, precisely matching in appearance the noticably darker upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

3.   The shadow on the board from the transparency of the reticle in my example shows itself to be flat and generally symmetrical in appearance on the board, precisely matching in appearance the flat and generally symmetrical lower reticle on the image surface in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

4.   The crosshairs of the distorted upper reticle begin to diverge from the shadow they're casting while still close to the board surface (furthest from my hand) in my transparency example, and that divergence steadily increases as the distance between the transparency and the board increases to its highest point (where I'm holding it), precisely matching in appearance the divergence of the crosshairs seen in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

That's four unique features of my proposed mechanism that precisely match in appearance the detail of the photograph from NASA.... a solid one-to-one behavioural correspondence exists between my transparency overlay example and the detail in the photograph from NASA.

For now, I have to go with that over any of the (as yet) unproven theories like lense flare induced ghost reticle hall-like effect or lense flare induced ghost reticle pin cushion-like effect that confer upon a black opaque object the ability to cause a distinct and detailed ghost image of itself to appear in the same region as lense flare is occurring in any photograph.... Can anyone provide a more plausible, and provable, alternative interpretation of it than an unsupported theory or point to some supporting evidence for the other lense flare induced ghost reticle theories in the form of links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples (in a format similar to what I provided) that explain in more detail and/or provably demonstrate the theory in action?

[RD]

The duplicate curved crosses radiate outward from the light source ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

A surface curving in two planes is required to create such radial distortion, e.g. a curved mirror , ( a lens could simultaneously act as a curved mirror ).  If the otherwise flat film had bubble-like curve that could produce radial distortion, however that the hypothetical bubble would be centred on the light-source seems too much of a coincidence.

If the duplicate crosses cannot be explained to your satisfaction they would not necessary be evidence that the image was not taken on the moon. i.e. not necessary evidence of fraud.

[Aemilius (OP)]

The duplicate curved crosses radiate outward from the light source …

You're right.... they do seem to radiate out from the light source.

A surface curving in two planes is required to create such
radial distortion, e.g. a curved mirror , ( a lens could simultaneously act as a curved mirror ). If the otherwise flat film had bubble-like curve that could produce radial distortion, however that the hypothetical bubble would be centred on the light-source seems too much of a coincidence.

Right again, it does seem too much of a coincidence.... that's because it is. All forms of optical distortion (barrel, pincushion, etc.) caused by lenses (aside from irregularly shaped ones) have to do with the optical axis of a lense, not the optical axis of a light source in an image, so the notion that the light source in the photograph could be causing any localized radial distortion anywhere in the image is an obvious misinterpretation of distortion in optics applied to a light source in a photograph.

And the curved mirror effect? Well, the lenses weren't mirrored so they really couldn't have acted simultaneously like a curved mirror, especially for a black opaque object (or reticle). Only a very bright light can exploit the minimal reflectivity of a transparent lense, so the notion that a black opaque object could cause a distinct and detailed ghost image of itself to appear in an image in the same region that lense flare is occurring.... well, it would have to be an extraordinarily glary black opaque object to be able to exploit the minimal reflectivity of a transparent lense in the same way a bright light source can. It doesn't work.

So if your intent RD was to use those links to support your theory, it didn't work... at all. Neither of the misapplied principles of radial distortion or curved mirrors add any credibilty to your explanation.... Why can't you just post an example of an image that supports what you're saying they way I did man? Until you do can do that you're unproven theories are all just that.... unproven theories.

Even if by some miracle this lense flare induced ghost reticle pincushion-like effect theory of yours could somehow be shown to work, I can't help but think that the liklihood of it reproducing the actual appearance of the reticles in the photograph with anything near the same degree of precision that my example and demonstration does is extremely low....

   

If the duplicate crosses cannot be explained to your satisfaction they would not necessary be evidence that the image was not taken on the moon. i.e. not necessary evidence of fraud.

Thanks RD, but I think I've had about enough of your brand of "interpretation" for now.... talk to you later.

[RD]

And the curved mirror effect? Well, the lenses weren't mirrored so they really couldn't have acted simultaneously like a curved mirror

Glass does not need to be mirrored to reflect light ...



All lenses both refract and reflect the light passing through them.
Anti-reflection coatings are applied to lens-elements to reduce reflection, but this is not 100% successful , when it fails the result is lens-flare , ( i.e. by definition reflection has occurred in the lens to produce the large disc around the light source on AS14-66-9306 ).

[Aemilius (OP)]

Your example proves that, compared to the distorted reticles seen in the photograph of the LEM, a trolley can be seen on a sunny day in a darkened store window....

My example proves that, compared to the distorted reticles seen in the photograph of the LEM, a transparency overlay is entirely consistent with the appearance of the distorted reticles in the photograph of the LEM....

If I have to choose between the two, I think I'll stick with my factually based coherent explanation and convincing demonstration that precisely conforms to observations in a variety of ways and displays a solid one-to-one behavioural correspondence with what's seen in the photograph, not some incredible unproven theory about a lense flare induced ghost reticle pincushion-like effect bouncing shadows around between lenses in broad daylight that somehow end up replicating the distorted reticles seen in the photograph from NASA.

[RD]

Your example proves that, compared to the distorted reticles seen in the photograph of the LEM, a trolley can be seen on a sunny day in a darkened store window....

The trolley reflection disproves your assertion that glass lenses could not act like a mirror unless they were silvered.

I'll stick with my factually based coherent explanation and convincing demonstration that precisely conforms to observations in a variety of ways and displays a solid one-to-one behavioural correspondence with what's seen in the photograph

Not precisely : lifting up one corner won't produce radial distortion:  you'd have to raise all four corners without lifting the centre to match what's in the photo,  [ i.e. something similar to the unlikely hypothetical film-bubble I mentioned previously (Reply#1)].

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[Aemilius (OP)]

The trolley reflection disproves your assertion that glass lenses could not act like a mirror unless they were silvered.

What I said was.... "Only a very bright light can exploit the minimal reflectivity of a transparent lense, so the notion that a black opaque object could cause a distinct and detailed ghost image of itself to appear in an image in the same region that lense flare is occurring.... well, it would have to be an extraordinarily glary black opaque object to be able to exploit the minimal reflectivity of a transparent lense in the same way a bright light source can." The reflectivity of transparent glass can be circumstantial....

When looking through a transparent pane of glass from a brightly lit area into a darkened area, objects can clearly be seen in reflection from the brightly lit side....   

….and when looking through a transparent pane of glass from a darkened area into a brightly lit area, objects can't be seen clearly in reflection from the darkened side....

….and when the light values are approximately the same on both sides of the window, objects cannot be seen clearly in reflection from either side of the glass (which is why people sometimes walk into glass doors and windows).... 

….none of which does anything to support, demonstrate or prove your theory about lense flare induced ghost reticle pincushion-like effect to be genuinely possible in the same way that I supported, demonstrated and proved my transparency overlay example to be genuinely possible.

Not precisely : lifting up one corner won't produce radial distortion:  you'd have to raise all four corners to match what's in the photo,  [ i.e. something similar to the unlikely hypothetical film-bubble I mentioned previously ].

Yes, precisely. I convincingly replicated one complete set of reticles (an upper distorted curved reticle and a lower flat symmetrical reticle). The conformation of the transparency overlay deformity and the lighting needed to cause the appearance of the entire formation of four reticles is academic.

You can't refute anything I've proven, and you can't prove anything I've refuted.... seems to be a pattern so it's not worth continuing. If you do manage to come up with an alternative interpretation that makes sense and you can prove, like I did, I'll talk to you about it then.

[RD]

"Only a very bright light can exploit the minimal reflectivity of a transparent lense"

The sun is a "very bright light".

"….and when the light values are approximately the same on both sides of the window, objects cannot be seen clearly in reflection from either side of the glass (which is why people sometimes walk into glass doors and windows)...." 

Without anti-reflective coating, glass reflects about 5% of the light hitting it, regardless of whether it is lit from one or both sides.
   

The conformation of the transparency overlay deformity and the lighting needed to cause the appearance of the entire formation of four reticles is academic.

No it isn't academic : to match all four reticles would require a bulge-type deformation in the film, similar to the surface of a lens, ( hint hint ).

[Aemilius (OP)]

Anyone else.... Dr. Calverd?

[Aemilius (OP)]

The conformation of the transparency overlay deformity and the lighting needed to cause the appearance of the entire formation of four reticles is academic.

No it isn't academic : to match all four reticles would require a bulge-type deformation in the film, similar to the surface of a lens, ( hint hint ).

On second thought.... Challenge accepted (I probably would have gone ahead with it anyway). I'll replicate the entire formation of four sets of distorted upper reticles and symmetrical lower ones.

….lifting up one corner won't produce radial distortion: you'd have to raise all four corners to match what's in the photo....

Not so, only three corners need be slightly elevated, the reticle in the lower right hand corner of the formation is fairly close to the image surface, evidenced by the reduced degree of distortion it exhibits compared to the others....

I've already pretty well mapped out how the replication of the whole formation should appear on the board when I shoot it....

I'll post it when it's completed (I'm guessing a week or so).

[RD]

... I'll replicate the entire formation of four sets of distorted upper reticles and symmetrical lower ones.

Bear in mind the full-frame image looks like this ...



that's what you're trying to replicate with your sheet of film , not just the region around the flare-spot.

BTW your rendition of the second crosses is not curved like the original :
 the second crosses are made up of two arcs , not two straight lines ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[Aemilius (OP)]

More faux pas and analytical fumbling in a science forum affiliated with Cambridge University.... fascinating.     

Bear in mind the full-frame image looks like this ...



that's what you're trying to replicate with your sheet of film , not just the region around the flare-spot.

What? I'm not trying replicate the subject matter in the photograph at all.... Why would anyone want to do that? The objective of the replication is to precisely replicate the appearance of the four sets of reticles as they appear in the affected region in the photograph on a board and then post the results as before....

It has nothing whatsoever to do with reproducing the subject matter in the photograph. For example, there's no reason to include the expanse of blackness to the right of the LEM as part the replication process, because whether it's included or not, it won't make any difference in the final appearance of the completed replication, so I need not include it....

The same goes for any of the rest of the subject matter in the photograph. It's the conditions causing the anomolous doubled appearance of the reticles seen in the affected region of the photograph that are of interest, not the expanse of blackness to the right, or a foot of the LEM, or the slope of the hill to the left. In fact, it wouldn't make any difference if the subject matter in the photograph was the LEM, a diamond, an elephant, or even Dr. Alan Calverd Ph.D.... all things being equal (with respect to the defects seen in the image), the outcome of the replication would be the same.

By that line of reasoning, any suggested significance of the subject matter contributing to the appearance of the defective reticles in the photograph, even in the affected region, is rendered an irrelevant non-issue.... Shocking, isn't it? The next replication of the complete formation will therefore appear much the same as the last, precisely replicating (even more completely) the appearance of the defective reticles seen in the affected region of the photograph.   

RD.... it's really astonishing to me (an old eighth-grade dropout) that anyone would actually have to explain any of that to you!

BTW your rendition of the second crosses is not curved like the original :



the second crosses are made up of two arcs , not two straight lines ...

In reality, the lines making up the crosshairs in my schematic are curved, they're just not to scale. They were taken directly from the diagram of “pincushion effect” you've been abusing recently. That's why I said earlier that I'd “pretty well mapped out how the replication of the whole formation should appear”.... not that I'd “precisely mapped out how the replication of the whole formation should appear”

Anyway, in the mean time RD, while I work on my predictably even more precise and complete replication than the one already carried out, why don't you make some attempt to salvage and keep afloat your lense flare-like induced ghost reticle-like/pincusion-like/radial distortion-like/curved mirror-like/Titanic slipping beneath the waves-like effect theory and see if you can't at least manage to dredge up some empirical support for it comparable to the empirical support I've both provided and demonstrated at this point, such as an example of a photograph/replication showing your proposed (and as yet unproven) mechanism actually playing out, then we can compare notes.

If I was a bookie.... I'd bet it all on me.

[RD]

What? I'm not trying replicate the subject matter in the photograph at all.... Why would anyone want to do that? The objective of the replication is to precisely replicate the appearance of the four sets of reticles as they appear in the affected region in the photograph on a board and then post the results as before....

The point I was making was that to replicate the effect seen on the original image you'd have to just warp the top left corner of your sheet of film, (corresponding with where the flare spot is), keeping the other three-quarters of the frame flat.
 Isolating (cropping) the flare spot and lifting the corners is cheating : in the actual image the extra-crosses are not at the corners of the frame.

If I was a bookie.... I'd bet it all on me.

Self-praise is no recommendation.

[Aemilius (OP)]

The point I was making was that to replicate the effect seen on the original image you'd have to just warp the top left corner of your sheet of film, (corresponding with where the flare spot is), keeping the other three-quarters of the frame flat.

I would agree with you if we were talking about the previous image in the series where all of the reticles are visble....

But we're not. In fact, of the twenty five reticles in the image, there are just ten reticles (red) that are discernable outside of the effected region (yellow), and many of those are only partially visible at that. None of the rest of the reticles in the image are even visible....

Based on that fact, it doesn't make any sense for you to speculate on what the conformation of the transparency overlay was elsewhere outside the affected region and then claim based on that that it must have been flat or that it must have been bulging or that it must have been anything over the whole of the image surface outside the affected region, since there's no way to confirm or deny that assertion one way or the other. That all effectively renders your assertion that....

Isolating (cropping) the flare spot and lifting the corners is cheating : in the actual image the extra-crosses are not at the corners of the frame.

….just another analytical blunder, a red herring. The next replication of the complete formation will therefore appear much the same as the last, precisely replicating (even more completely) the appearance of the defective reticles seen in the affected region of the photograph without speculation as to whether any particular conformation or particular sort of deformity does or doesn't exist outside of the affected region of the photograph....

Anyway, like I said before, in the mean time, while I work on my predictably even more precise and complete replication than the one already carried out, why don't you make some attempt to salvage and keep afloat your theory about the lense flare-like induced ghost reticle-like/pincusion-like/radial distortion-like/curved mirror-like/Titanic slipping beneath the waves-like effect and see if you can't at least manage to dredge up some empirical support for it comparable to the empirical support I've both provided and demonstrated at this point, such as an example of a photograph/replication showing your proposed (and as yet unproven) mechanism actually playing out, then we can compare notes.

[RD]

... it doesn't make any sense for you to speculate on what the conformation of the transparency overlay was elsewhere outside the affected region and then claim based on that that it must have been flat or that it must have been bulging or that it must have been anything over the whole of the image surface outside the affected region, since there's no way to confirm or deny that assertion one way or the other...

The extra crosses only exist in the top left quadrant of the frame, if they were due to the film being warped then the rest of the frame must be flat otherwise the crosses elsewhere in the frame would be also be duplicated. The extra crosses are a local effect on the flare-spot area of the frame.

BTW if the film was warped, (either in-camera or whilst creating a film duplicate), the image of the spacecraft would also be warped, which would be detectable : straight lines on the craft would no-longer be straight.

... you can't at least manage to dredge up some empirical support for it ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
These flare spots diagonally opposite the light source are evidence refection has occurred within the lens. Refection from a curved surface, (like that of a lens), will have radial distortion, e.g. pincushion distortion, (think shaving mirror) ...


http://www.glogster.com/owehrle/curved-mirrors/g-6meb4ji9h2i56u0qhm9cia0

[Aemilius (OP)]

The extra crosses only exist in the top left quadrant of the frame, if they were due to the film being warped then the rest of the frame must be flat otherwise the crosses elsewhere in the frame would be also be duplicated.  The extra crosses are a local effect on the flare-spot area of the frame.

More unsupported speculation. There are broad  areas (aside from the affected region) where the reticles can't be seen at all.... no one can say with any certainty whether reticles in those regions are defective or not. If the ten reticles that can be seen (many of them blurry or only partially visible) were crystal clear, they would still simply not be sufficient to reliably predict the conformation of the rest of the transparency overlay.   

BTW if the film was warped, (either in-camera or whilst creating a film duplicate), the image of the spacecraft would also be warped, which would be detectable : straight lines on the craft would no-longer be straight.

Do you even understand what a “transparency overlay” is? The image surface (which is flat and in pristine focus in the photograph) and the transparency overlay (a thin flexible plastic sheet placed over the photograph) are two distinct objects. Slightly warping the transparency overlay above (along with anything printed on it) won't cause any appreciable distortion of the image below any more than slightly warping the image below would cause any appreciable distortion of the transparency overlay (along with anything printed on it) above.

These flare spots diagonally opposite the light source are evidence refection has occurred within the lens. Refection from a curved surface, (like that of a lens), will have radial distortion, e.g. pincushion distortion, (think shaving mirror) …

The top image shows normal lense flare caused by a bright light, and that's all it shows. The bottom image shows an old guy looking in a mirror.... neither do anything to prove or demonsatre how your theory of lense flare-like induced ghost reticle-like/pincusion-like/radial distortion-like/curved mirror-like/Titanic slipping beneath the waves-like effect could possibly confer upon a black opaque object (or reticle) the ability to partake of the same mechanism that a bright light does by bouncing shadows around between lenses in broad daylight that somehow end up not only replicating the distorted reticles, but even imposing distinct and detailed ghost images of them to appear in the same region as normal lense flare is occurring in the photograph.... preposterous. Whatever causes lense flare has to be glary....so you can settle the whole thing right now by simply posting an image of a black opaque object being so brilliantly illuminated by the Sun that it becomes glary!   

I'm done talking with you about it RD. Your credibility is just shredded man....  I feel like I'm in a boxing match with a guy that has no arms and a titanium jaw. You never do take a swing.... you just keep dancing around and sticking your jaw out!

[Aemilius (OP)]

Nothing RD has posted so far has proven anything, refuted anything, backed up anything, provided evidence of anything or demonstrated anything that either disproves or refutes my assertion or supports his impossibly fantastic theory, and it never once occurred to me during our exchange to alter or change a single key stroke of the original post because of anything he said or did, it remains unassailed....

This photograph of the Apollo 14 LEM on the Moon (AS14-66-9306) is distinctive from the rest in the series. It shows a set of four reticles (or crosshairs) that appear to be hovering to one degree or another above the image surface of the photograph in the region of lense flare around the Sun, and another set that appear flat and generally symmetrical beneath them on the image surface....

In this forum (in another thread) RD explained his theory that a lense flare induced ghost reticle pin cushion-like effect was at play. Essentially, the theory goes that the opaque black reticles were so brilliantly illuminated by the Sun that they reflected off one or another of the curved lenses within the camera, showing up as detailed pincushion-like ghost images in the same region where the Sun is causing normal lense flare at the same time. Unfortunately, his theory wasn't accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back it up or demonstrate it.

In another forum, the theory is essentially the same, that the configuration of the lenses created a hall of mirrors like lense flare induced ghost reticle hall-like effect. Essentially, the theory goes that the opaque black reticles were so brilliantly illuminated by the Sun that they reflected off one or another of the curved lenses within the camera, showing up as hall effect-like detailed ghost images in the same region where the Sun is causing normal lense flare at the same time. Unfortunately, his theory wasn't accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back it up or demonstrate it in action either, and even the preceeding photograph in the series, taken under the same conditions, shows no sign of any kind of mechanism like that playing out....

With minor variations they're the same theory I've seen repeated several times now.... none are ever accompanied by any links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples that could actually back them up or demonstrate this mechanism in action.

My proposed mechanism is based on the fact that a transparency overlay lifted up and away from the image surface in the photograph is consistent with the appearance of both the upper distorted reticles and the lower flat symmetrical reticles on the image surface....

To prove it, I replicated the conditions needed for this type of defect to appear in a photograph/transparency overlay image and then demonstrated the mechanism playing out in precisely the same way as what's seen in the detail of the photograph from NASA....

1.   The slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle up and away from the board surface in my transparency example precisely matches in appearance the slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

2.   The upper distorted reticle in my transparency example shows itself to be noticably darker than the shadow it's casting on the board, precisely matching in appearance the noticably darker upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

3.   The shadow on the board from the transparency of the reticle in my example shows itself to be flat and generally symmetrical in appearance on the board, precisely matching in appearance the flat and generally symmetrical lower reticle on the image surface in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

4.   The crosshairs of the distorted upper reticle begin to diverge from the shadow they're casting while still close to the board surface (furthest from my hand) in my transparency example, and that divergence steadily increases as the distance between the transparency and the board increases to its highest point (where I'm holding it), precisely matching in appearance the divergence of the crosshairs seen in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

That's four unique features of my proposed mechanism that precisely match in appearance the detail of the photograph from NASA.... a solid one-to-one behavioural correspondence exists between my transparency overlay example and the detail in the photograph from NASA.

For now, I have to go with that over any of the (as yet) unproven theories like lense flare induced ghost reticle hall-like effect or lense flare induced ghost reticle pin cushion-like effect that confer upon a black opaque object the ability to cause a distinct and detailed ghost image of itself to appear in the same region as lense flare is occurring in any photograph.

Can't anyone (besides you RD) attempt to provide a more plausible, and provable, alternative interpretation of the photograhic evidence than an unsupported theory or point to some supporting evidence for the existence of any lense flare induced ghost reticle theories in the form of links, articles, replications or precedent setting examples (in a format similar to what I provided) that explain in more detail and/or provably demonstrate the theory in action?

[RD]

The top image shows normal lense flare caused by a bright light, and that's all it shows

That those flare spots are diagonally opposite the light-source shows reflection has occurred in the lens.
A refection from a curved surface, like that of a lens, can have pincushion distortion, like the "old guy looking in a mirror". So the necessary ingredients are there for my explanation for the origin of the extra crosses.

Do you even understand what a “transparency overlay” is?

I know what a contact-print is : I have made many of them and consequently can tell you that film is not “flexible” enough for your hypothesis to be possible.

[RD]

….lifting up one corner won't produce radial distortion: you'd have to raise all four corners to match what's in the photo....

Not so, only three corners need be slightly elevated, the reticle in the lower right hand corner of the formation is fairly close to the image surface, evidenced by the reduced degree of distortion it exhibits compared to the others....

The high-resolution version shows it's definitely all four ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[Aemilius (OP)]

That those flare spots are diagonally opposite the light-source shows reflection has occurred in the lens.

That's right, normal lense flare caused by a bright light.... So what? It doesn't prove anything, it doesn't support you theory.

A refection from a curved surface, like that of a lens, can have pincushion distortion, like the “old guy looking in a mirror". So the necessary ingredients are there for my explanation for the origin of the extra crosses.

No, they're clearly not. If you had all the ingredients for your “explanation”, you would have combined them by now to form an empirically verifiable replication.... Why can't you simply post an actual example that's consistent with what's seen in the photograph? Without providing any empirically replicatable proof or supporting evidence in the form of an actual photograph or example showing your proposed mechanism in operation (like I did), your “explanation” is shown to be nothing more than a fantastic unproven theory, and this will probably come as shock to you but.... An unproven theory is not an explanation.

….only three corners need be slightly elevated, the reticle in the lower right hand corner of the formation is fairly close to the image surface, evidenced by the reduced degree of distortion it exhibits compared to the others....

The high-resolution version shows it's definitely all four ...

Nonsense. I've already posted a schematic indicating my awarenress of the relative elevations of the  various reticles in the formation. The forthcoming example will precisely replicate the various elevations of the reticles in the formation shown in the photograph....

I know what a contact-print is : I have made many of them and consequently can tell you that film is not “flexible” enough for your hypothesis to be possible.

More analytical fumbling. Contact prints.... Who said anything about contact prints? I've already clearly demonstrated with my example how a thin flexible see-through piece of clear acetate or mylar (otherwise known as a transparency overlay) lifted up and away from the flat board surface (representative of the flat image surface in the photograph) can precisely replicate the appearance of the reticles in the affected region....

1.   The slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle up and away from the board surface in my transparency example precisely matches in appearance the slight curvature of the upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

2.   The upper distorted reticle in my transparency example shows itself to be noticably darker than the shadow it's casting on the board, precisely matching in appearance the noticably darker upper distorted reticle in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

3.   The shadow on the board from the transparency of the reticle in my example shows itself to be flat and generally symmetrical in appearance on the board, precisely matching in appearance the flat and generally symmetrical lower reticle on the image surface in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

4.   The crosshairs of the distorted upper reticle begin to diverge from the shadow they're casting while still close to the board surface (furthest from my hand) in my transparency example, and that divergence steadily increases as the distance between the transparency and the board increases to its highest point (where I'm holding it), precisely matching in appearance the divergence of the crosshairs seen in the detail of the photograph from NASA.

That's four unique features of my proposed mechanism that precisely match in appearance the detail of the photograph from NASA.... a solid one-to-one behavioural correspondence exists between my transparency overlay example and the detail in the photograph from NASA.

Even without any further elaboration, the theory is proven.