| Lunation | |
|---|
| Phase | Waxing Gibbous |
|---|
| Age | 11.94d |
|---|
Distance
Light Time
(from earth) | 398,745 km
s |
|---|
| Elongation | ° |
|---|
| % Illuminated | 93.7% |
|---|
| Magnitude | -12.59 |
|---|
| Angular Size | 29.97' |
|---|
| Altitude | 47.44° |
|---|
The Moon has moved away from M44, from Saturn, and from Regulus and is now below the belly of the lion. It looks nice with bright Regulus and Saturn about equally spaced off to its right.
Stary Night Starter graphic
Looking in Peter’s telescope there appeared to be less contrast than what I had in my binocular. I noticed last night also that there was a lack of contrast. I am thinking it might be a factor of magnification.
I could not see the Alpine Valley at all. I saw the Montes Archimedes but not Palus Putredinis.
Over by Aristarchus Peter introduced me to the Cobra Head, a combination of the crater Heroditus and Vallis Schroter. I didn’t see it as a cobra head and Vallis Schroter looked more like a drowned crater than a valley.
Virtual Moon Atlas graphic
The rays of Kepler were much more distinct tonight as were those of Copernicus and Tycho. There is a long ray from Tycho that heads up towards Mare Serenitatis that seems to be described going through the mare into Lacus Sominorum but it looks like two different rays to me. The one from Tycho appears to go west of Mare Serenitatis and the one in the mare appears to eminate around Bessel and goes in opposite directions from there.
Gassendi was harder to see tonight but I found it after looking hard. Mersenius was there also and together they looked like a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on Mare Humorum.
Up at the north Endymion and (probably) Lacus Spei looked dark.
Virtual Moon Atlas graphic
Most of the craters in the center of the disc were very bright.
| 
<< Home