Lunar Features

OmicronPersei8 (Joel) · #1 26-07-2009, 09:51 PM

I was observing the moon yesterday night and got to wondering how large the smallest visible features actually are. Can anyone give me some ballpark figures? The seeing was average, bit of wavyness in the atmosphere.
Cheers.

OmicronPersei8 (Joel) · #2 26-07-2009, 09:55 PM

Probably should have mentioned that i'm using an 8" reflector.

OmicronPersei8 (Joel) · #3 27-07-2009, 10:53 PM

At around 120x magnification.

citivolus (Ric) · #4 28-07-2009, 02:45 AM

I'm taking a guess at around a few km? I think I have made out objects 2km or so in size in the past with an 8" SCT.

Virtual Moon Atlas, which can be downloaded at the following site, lists the size of the objects, as well as the minimum size instrument necessary to resolve them:

http://ap-i.net/avl/en/start

Regards,
Eric

OmicronPersei8 (Joel) · #5 28-07-2009, 07:07 PM

Thanks Ric, i hadn't seen maps with feature sizes on them before.