All,
Viewing the Moon really gets interesting when you can see something dynamic happening on the surface. Just like transits and shadows of Jupiter's moons or working with variable stars, watching a shaft of sunlight change on the walls and floors of craters is really neat.
As stated below the data used for these predictions comes from the Robinson Lunar Observatory and Rob has been nice enough to give me permission to post this. For detailed maps and descriptions of what to look for check out the RLO site at
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
Here you will find a list by crater name. Click on the left hand "read" in the INFORMATION column for the maps and descriptions of the light rays. RLO gives predictions through 2010 for each crater in case you don't want to wait for this list every month. Some of my predictions don't agree (off by more than a few minutes) with RLO's and I'm still investigating why that is so. I used the data from the Information section and not the header in the Predictions section (some do differ - check Walter Sunrise)
I can do a custom list by Lat and Long, like I do for my LMRA Astro Club, that filters for the Moon's visibility and the Sun below the horizon. Otherwise, type in the UT date and time in this USNO applet
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/earthview.html
and check the Moon View. If your location is in view and you're in or near the shadow you can see the event - weather permitting of course.
Enjoy!
LUNAR RAY PREDICTIONS - APR 2006 SUNRISE
CRATER LOCATIONS AND DESIRED SUN ALTITUDE DATA ARE FROM THE
ROBINSON LUNAR OBSERVATORY AND ARE USED WITH THE OWNER'S
PERMISSION
2006 APR 01
UT RAY
1713 CLEOMEDES
2006 APR 03
UT RAY
0204 HALL
1509 POSIDONIUS
2226 TORRICELLI
2006 APR 04
UT RAY
1900 SACROBOSCO
1945 GEMMA FRISIUS
2006 APR 05
UT RAY
0339 STOFLER
0456 HYPATIA
0528 ABENEZRA C
0554 ABENEZRA P
0605 METON
0807 SAUNDER
0838 SE OF HIND
0937 BARROW
1300 BURNHAM
1316 HALLEY
1330 HIPPARCHUS
1858 MT BLANC
2036 PARROT
2006 APR 06
UT RAY
0039 WALTER SUNRISE
0042 REAUMUR
0127 LA CAILLE
0355 PTOLEMAEUS
0531 PALLAS
0623 GOLDSCHMIDT
0634 CARTIUS SUNRISE
1616 MAGINUS
2028 PLATO
2006 APR 07
UT RAY
0024 EPIGENES
0809 FRA MAURO HA
0814 PARRY
0822 GUERICKE
0931 RENART
1120 HESIODUS
1135 BONPLAND
1839 REINHOLD
1922 CICHUS A
2036 COPERNICUS
2052 KIES
2224 LAGALLA
2312 LONGOMONTANUS
2006 APR 08
UT RAY
0002 PALUS EPIDEMIARIUM
0555 LUBINIEZKY E
0750 MERCATOR
0753 MONTES RIPHAEUS
1126 CAMPANUS
1133 LACUS TIMORIS
1253 LA CONAMINE
1416 SINUS IRIDIUM
1758 PHILOLAUS
1928 SCHEINER
2006 APR 09
UT RAY
1615 CASATUS
2006 APR 10
UT RAY
0005 MERSENIUS P
0854 SCHILLER C
1315 PHOCYLIDES
2149 BABBAGE
2245 VIETA
