the Moon right now

[Argonavis]

Have a look at the Moon. Right now - the shadows of the crater walls of Alphonsus streach across the floor of the crater in a most spectacular way.

This doesn't happen too often - the illumination needs to be 56% and phase 83 degree

[Argonavis]

Aphonsus is the crater almost in the middle of the Moon

[ving]

cloudy :(
wish it wasnt tho. sounds quite remarkable :)

[Argonavis]

A small correction - it actually is frequent - about twice each lunation, but it is only visible at a reasonable hour (like now) about 3 or 4 times a year.

[janoskiss]

I had a look with my cheap 7x50 binos from the front yard but can't see what you're referring to. Dob's in the back yard & can't see the Moon from there. It's very low in the sky already. Is tomorrow night (or 28 days from tonight) too late to see this crater in the twilight zone?

[Moonman]

Just managed to get a break in the clouds for 5 minutes.

Yes it is pretty much where you said as I consulted a Moonmap just to make sure I was looking in the right spot.

Some of those other jagged craters and mountains etc off the Mare Nubium look very dramatic.

Thanks

[Dave47tuc]

Anyone see the occultation of Beta Tauri on Thursday night?

It was spectacular:eyepop: you could just make it out naked eye.

I watched it with my 120mm refractor:astron:

:cool:

[Argonavis]

A telescope does provide a much better view with a higher magnification and narrower field of view. Not that there is anything wrong with Binoculars - I could happily spend the rest of my life exploring the Milky Way with them, but you need more for this. Tomorrow night is too late for Alphonsus - next chance 16 May. Of course the Moon always looks great, anyway.