JimmyH155
12-07-2006, 09:08 AM
As I was walking home from work last night, the full Moon looked absolutely magnificent rising in the East and very little cloud in sight. I couldn't resist. This, I thought, was a job for my grab ‘n go scope.
So into the shed and within 5 minutes, my 90mm Celestron refractor (1000mm focal length) and on Equatorial mount – complete with chains dangling from the tripod – was pointed in the right direction.
I chose a 26mm Plossl and screwed a dark filter into the eyepiece and found that the whole Moon fitted well into the eyepiece view, so I could see the whole Moon at once. The seeing must have been quite good because there was not much shimmering on the Moon’s surface or round the edges, and everything was in good focus. The famous ray crater Tycho dominated the southern half of the Moon, and its rays seemed to merge with those from Copernicus in some places. Aristarchus and Kepler, with their ray systems were vividly displayed. The most amazing dark hole was the walled plain called Grimaldi which stood out so well. As for the seas, all were great to look at – Mare Chrisium, Fecundatis, Tranquillatis, Serenatis and the rest. I tried my 18mm Ortho eyepiece and the Moon also fitted just inside the FOV and the view was again great – especially watching the clouds whiz in front as the inevitable cloud cover increased. Using my slow motion controls to keep Mr Moon centred was great fun and so easy and I imagined Gallileo with his much more inferior scope and employing a helper to turn his scope too!
Oh yes, I put a coloured filter on the Ortho to cut down the light, and can definitely confirm that the Moon IS made from green cheese!:) :D
So into the shed and within 5 minutes, my 90mm Celestron refractor (1000mm focal length) and on Equatorial mount – complete with chains dangling from the tripod – was pointed in the right direction.
I chose a 26mm Plossl and screwed a dark filter into the eyepiece and found that the whole Moon fitted well into the eyepiece view, so I could see the whole Moon at once. The seeing must have been quite good because there was not much shimmering on the Moon’s surface or round the edges, and everything was in good focus. The famous ray crater Tycho dominated the southern half of the Moon, and its rays seemed to merge with those from Copernicus in some places. Aristarchus and Kepler, with their ray systems were vividly displayed. The most amazing dark hole was the walled plain called Grimaldi which stood out so well. As for the seas, all were great to look at – Mare Chrisium, Fecundatis, Tranquillatis, Serenatis and the rest. I tried my 18mm Ortho eyepiece and the Moon also fitted just inside the FOV and the view was again great – especially watching the clouds whiz in front as the inevitable cloud cover increased. Using my slow motion controls to keep Mr Moon centred was great fun and so easy and I imagined Gallileo with his much more inferior scope and employing a helper to turn his scope too!
Oh yes, I put a coloured filter on the Ortho to cut down the light, and can definitely confirm that the Moon IS made from green cheese!:) :D