I photographed 5 astronomers and an engineer on the moon!

[bkm2304 (Richard Brown)]

Hi All,

Janssen is the large depression that has seen better days. Named in honour of Jules Janssen who was a 19thC French astronomer who built an observatory atop Mont Blanc (as you do) and also discovered Helium (again, as you do).

North East at 1 o'clock are Fabricius and Metius.
Fabricius aka David Goldschmidt was a 17thC German astronomer who discovered the first variable star - Mira and also that the sun rotated.

Metius, aka Adriaan Adriaanszoon, worked for Tycho, and his brother was making telescopes at the time Galileo was pointing them upwards.


Brenner is the pulverised depression immediately left of Metius. Named after Leo Brenner aka Spiridon Gopčević who was a 19-20thC amateur planetary astronomer.

South East (5 o'clock) of Janssen are Steinheil and Watt.

Steinheil, Carl August von, was a 19thC German astronomer who was professor of mathematics, industrial strength optical instrument maker, telegraphy designer, administrator etc etc. Clearly a very lazy man....

Watt as in Jimmy was an 18thC steam entrepreneur/engineer who probably never looked up much. His connection with the moon is his membership of the "Lunar Society of Birmingham" - a group of like - minded industrialists who met every full moon. The Society included Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin, Joseph Priestly and other luminaries of the time. It was said that they derived their name from meeting during the full moon to allow safer travel at night to and from their meetings.


Richard

[astroron (Ron)]

Thanks for a very interesting and informative post
and a nice pic to boot
Cheers

[M54 (Molly)]

Good post Richard.
Thanks for the awesome pic and the interesting information.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Very interesting description of a very good image.

[ChrisM]

Richard,

I like your pic and enjoyed reading your notes on the characters behind the names of the lunar features.

What gear did you use for the pic?

Chris

[bkm2304 (Richard Brown)]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Richard,

I like your pic and enjoyed reading your notes on the characters behind the names of the lunar features.

What gear did you use for the pic?

Chris

Thanks, guys. Chris, there's always an interesting tale behind each crater's name. At the moment i'm researching how many Australians have craters/landmarks in their honour - Tebbutt comes to mind as does Rumker (mons Rumker), and Mawson (Dorsa Mawson).

The pic was taken with a 22" newtonian with G Star Ex attached. About 300 frames stacked in Registax.

Richard

[Clayton]

Nice shot Richard, and very interesting reading.