Mister Moon is the best

[JimmyH155]

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!

[Lester]

Nice report Jimmy,

Sounds like you are hooked like the rest of us.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks for the report!
I was out tonight with Eddie T's moon maps taking a tour. Facinating stuff.
Another way I observe the moon is by finding all the craters and mares and other features mentioned in Robert A Heinleins novel "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress." Sounds a bit childish I know but it makes it more fun.

[JimmyH155]

Yes, I like the Moon - partly because I can always find it I have got a set of those moon phase maps that AS & T were selling. I have even managed to image it with my Meade imager camera, and then print out the pictures and compare to the picture on the phase maps. I get a big kick out of being able to identify features - especially mountain ranges - and put names to them To think that that mountain range up there has cliffs hundreds of metres high etc etc.
Great stuff

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Luna is always a stunner to observe with anything from naked eye to huge scope. Details everywhere and, who knows, maybe one day while imaging you could record an impact!! Now that would be HUGE.