the Moon right now

Argonavis (William) · #1 18-03-2005, 09:46 PM

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 (William) · #2 18-03-2005, 09:47 PM

Aphonsus is the crater almost in the middle of the Moon

ving (David) · #3 18-03-2005, 10:06 PM

cloudy

wish it wasnt tho. sounds quite remarkable

Argonavis (William) · #4 18-03-2005, 10:10 PM

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 (Steve H) · #5 18-03-2005, 10:16 PM

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 (Michael) · #6 19-03-2005, 12:13 AM

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 (David) · #7 19-03-2005, 09:14 AM

Anyone see the occultation of Beta Tauri on Thursday night?

It was spectacular

you could just make it out naked eye.

I watched it with my 120mm refractor

Argonavis (William) · #8 19-03-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by 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?

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.