October THIN Moon Crescent

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 27-09-2006, 02:03 PM

Concerning Solar System observing we are coming into a bit of a dry season as far as bright easy targets are concerned, but October has a bit of a challenge as far as Lunar photography goes.

On 23rd October will be the thinnest Lunar Crescent in 18 years! It will be visible just before the Sun sets, and should make for a stunning photo. I know it's still a month away but it's always nice to have plenty of notice of upcoming events so we can plan our time.

I am going to attempt to capture it.

It would make a great challenge to see who can capture the youngest Moon and put the time on their pic (as long as people are honest with the time of capture!)

Anyone interested in taking the challenge?

BE WARNED - Please be very careful when pointing your scope in the general direction of the Sun. It only takes a slight accidental glance at the Sun to cause major damage or Blindness.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 27-09-2006, 02:13 PM

I'll add it to the calendar Ken

netwolf · #3 27-09-2006, 07:43 PM

Ken i will be surely looking out for this one.. I am up for your challange.

Regards

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #4 27-09-2006, 10:25 PM

It will certainly be a challenge, Fahim.

The record for the youngest Moon ever seen with a telescope, 11h 40m past new, goes to Mohsen G. Mirsaeed of Tehran who saw it on September 7, 2002. The youngest crescent ever seen by the naked eye, 15h 32m, is still that observed in May 1990 by Sky & Telescope contributing editor Stephen James O’Meara.

I cannot find the record for the youngest 'Photographed' Moon.

There may be a record-breaking chance for any of us

netwolf · #5 28-09-2006, 04:13 AM

Well Ken as I am not sure it will be that young, the details i have indicate the new Moon will be born 22nd of October 5:15am UT. Thats 4:15pm our time on 22nd, i dont think this will be visable in Australia as its too close to the sun. By the following day 23rd at sunset it would be about 26 hours old. So will this be the youngest to be seen?

Regards

Argonavis (William) · #6 28-09-2006, 12:34 PM

date: 23/10/2006
sunset: 18:00
moon sets: 18:59
visibility (time): 00:59
altitude at sunset; 11deg 05min
azimuth at sunset: 254deg
age: 36hrs 45min

This is for Brisbane. The 23 September Thin Crescent Moon was a bigger challenge at under 20 hours at sunset.The 22 November and 21 December evening Thin Crescent Moons are younger and more of a challenge as well.

The big one is the morning of the 20th December, when the TLC will be not much more than 19 hours old.

If anyone wants a table I can e-mail it to them.

andrew · #7 28-09-2006, 01:15 PM

I'm up for it, will have a try at least to see it, then photographing it will be another story most likely. Thanks for the notice

edosaurus_rex · #8 28-09-2006, 01:58 PM

All,

Here's what my "home brew" QBASIC program OLDNEW.BAS came up with for Brisbane (27.5 S, 153.017 E, UT+10H)

START and END times are local for Civil Twilight. The next 3 numbers are Moon Alt, Az, and Age (in hours).

NEW MOON 2006 10 22 0515UT
10 21 2006 START 0443 4.4 94.0 -34.5
10 23 2006 END 1824 6.1 252.0 27.2 (way to go Fahim!)

NEW MOON 2006 11 20 2219UT
11 20 2006 START 0421 5.3 109.1 -28.0
11 22 2006 END 1848 10.6 244.5 34.5

NEW MOON 2006 12 20 1401UT (I hope somebody can "catch" both sides of this one!)
12 20 2006 START 0422 4.2 118.9 -19.7
12 21 2006 END 1909 3.9 241.0 19.1

Nov 21st is missing because I cut off the list if the Moon rises after morning twilight or sets before evening twilight.

If any experienced Old/Young Moon seekers can refine the cutoff criteria please let me know and I'll revise the program.

Ed K

[1ponders] (Paul) · #9 28-09-2006, 02:59 PM

Thanks Ed.

That December one looks like a real challenge. And I'm only talkin' about getting out of bed at that time

edosaurus_rex · #10 28-09-2006, 03:33 PM

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the BIG thumbs up!

For the 20 Dec Old Moon you'll have to get up to see Moonrise, Civil Twilight 0422, then Sunrise, for the 21st Young Moon, Sunset, Civil Twilight 1909, then Moonset. My keying times, as well as Altitude, Azimuth, and Age are for Civil Twilight time.

Remember the legend - I saw the Old Moon in the morning and the Young Moon the evening of the following day!

!!!!!!!!!EXCELLENT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ALERT!!!!!!!

You lucky IIS guys.

As a precursor to getting up early on the 20th, get up early on the 19th and see the nifty, Mars, Jupiter, Antares, Moon, (they'll be in kind of a box) and Mercury (below the whole mess) thing. M4 and M80 will also be sprinkled in there - an early Christmas present!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #11 28-09-2006, 03:44 PM

Two days in a row getting up early

I'll see how it goes. If the boss gives me one of those days off work (19th

Tuesdays are a hell day) I might just make it

If I do I'll post a pick dedicated to you

Better right that in the diary

edosaurus_rex · #12 28-09-2006, 03:49 PM

I'd better slow down with the postings, I'm killing my average!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #13 28-09-2006, 03:50 PM

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 28-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netwolf

Well Ken as I am not sure it will be that young, the details i have indicate the new Moon will be born 22nd of October 5:15am UT. Thats 4:15pm our time on 22nd, i dont think this will be visable in Australia as its too close to the sun.

Regards

That's why I gave the 'Sun' warning

netwolf · #15 28-09-2006, 07:55 PM

Well i saw nothing on 23rd September, but i am not infalable. 22nd October i think will be next to impposible as its adjacent to the Sun all the way down to Sunset. Unless one could use a sun filter and get the moon, is this possible? That would be some image the Sun and Moon side by side. I think October 23 moon might be easier to spot then September 23 moon. I am up for it. But 22nd i dont think it would be safe to do it.