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View Full Version here: : My lunar observing last night - 19-04-2013


pw
20-04-2013, 09:32 AM
After a week of near solid clouds things cleared a bit last night, and for the first time since I got my telescope, the moon was out and half illuminated (first quarter apparently).
I put out the telescope before dinner to let it cool.
Later I went out and saw magnificent detail through my 26mm 2" eyepiece. I also had a quick try of my new TV Delos 6mm and wow, significant jump in magnification and detail visibility, but the seeing was not good enough for more than occasional steady viewing.

I sat and looked and took in some of the details, I could see craters of various ages and sizes and some with a hill in the centre (I wonder if that is the remains of the impacting object?). I found a wall like feature that ran quite straight for some distance and cast a sharp shadow. I went inside and did some checking and learnt that it is called Rupes Recta. I also learnt about the sizes of some of the features, those small, deep craters are about 17 km across, it would be a dramatic place to walk and make photos if you could.

CJ
20-04-2013, 10:11 AM
I love looking at the detail at the edge with the dark vastness of space beyond. I can't describe the feeling. somewhere between thrilling and humbling!

brian nordstrom
20-04-2013, 12:31 PM
:) Thanks Peter , the moon is one of my favorite things to view and you never see the same thing twice as the view is always changing .
By the way what scope do you use ?
Brian.

Kunama
20-04-2013, 01:50 PM
With all the objects in the infinite vastness of space, I still find the moon one of the most fascinating to view and can spend hours "Crater-hopping" its surface.
I first spied it through an old Russian rifle scope in 1960s, these the days the riflescope has been replaced with a more modern gadget but the enjoyment remains the same.

pw
20-04-2013, 05:48 PM
I have a Bintel 8" dob (I should add that to my sig as I see others do).
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.