Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Nov 9, 2009 8:06:44 GMT -6
Lunar Imaging Session
- 08 November 2009 -
This fourth evening of consecutive lunar observation found me by the lakefront in a favorite semi-secret location. Fellow Chicago Astronomer Bill joined me and brought along his Takahashi 4" Refractor, offering razor sharp views. We had permission to stay as long as we wanted from the honcho in charge...and we set up for a long unrushed night of lunar/nebula targeting.
On our observation list were some Lunar, M45, & Epsilon Aurigae...along with some star testing for our optics.
Orion was rising nicely and would be a target of some astrophotography later on...
The rising Moon caught me unprepared, as I was still setting up and took some shots in haste through the 63.5mm finderscope...
I waited until the Moon rose up high enough to get out of the atmospheric muck and started shooting interesting lunarscapes...
Here I found the smooth floored crater "Plato" quite interesting:
...and crossing the central peaked crater "Archytas ", the two craggy scarfs to the NW looked nice...
The one to the north is called "Epigenes" - 4 th century BC Greek Astronomer and the other to the south "W Bond G" - Observatory Director of Harvard and pioneer in astronomical photography.
Also shown to the south of Plato, is the impressive "Vallis Alpes - (Alpine Valley)"...discovered in 1727, it is a 130 mile long valley.
Above, "Cassini and Cassini A & B" show two craterlets within the main filled crater at the top. Also are the "Montes Caucasus and Montes Apenninus" range - separating the Mares of Serenitatis and Imbrium (Sea of Rains).
The high walled plain, named "Alexander", shows good shadows from the surrounding mountains, just SouthEast of "Eudoxus"...
which reminds me of Mork & Mindy.
Copernicus, above, shows nice ejecta lanes.
Two Items here caught our attention...
First were the two riles named, "Rima Ariadaeus" - after the son of Philippe II. Author of a compilation of eclipses. Assassinated on the order of Olympias and was a 4th century Macedonian King
and "Rima Hyginus" - after a ancient 2nd century Greek Astronomer and Friend of Ovide.
Above the two riles...was this Pentagonal shaped crater named "Boscovich" - 18th century Croatian Mathematician and astronomer.
Also nice to observe was this curve of craters...
From left to right:
"Hipparchus" - 2nd century BC greek Astronomer...
"Albategius" - 9th century Arabian Astronomer...
"Ptolemaeus" - 2nd century Greek Astronomer mathematician and geographer ...
"Alphonsus" - 13th century Castillan King...
...and "Arzachel" - 11th century Arabian Astronomer and mathematician.
Here is "Sinus Iridum" - Bay of Rainbows" - just off of Mare Imbrium, is still in bright sunlight this early morning.
The observation night was going great, with Bill and I using his impressive Binocular viewers, (where the observer uses both eyes instead of one). I was mesmerized as I explored the lunar landscape with both eyes and quite comfortable. The 3-D effect is very nice...and thinking about getting me a pair.
We did some other targeting as well, taking images of the Orion nebula, (which came out very nice), and the Andromeda galaxy, but that is for another posting soon. (Using my trusty Canon Powershot S3 is limited in a 15 second/ISO800 to exposure.)
But now, overhead, the Moon was high up...and in the middle of a starry triangle...
With Gemini above, Mars in Cancer, to the left and Procyon to the lower right...I wonder what this means for my astronomical fortune...?
It was shirt weather when we started around 9:00 pm, but at 10:30, a cold wind blew in quick from the lake and it was starting to get chilly...and with it - heavy dew. Dew was never a problem for me in the past, using the 4.5" reflector - but now using the C5 SCT and it's corrector plate open to the elements, it started to get fogged up...as well as the other equipment we had out. I brought the scope into the car and kicked up the heater - and while it was clearing up, I made a dew shield from old outdated monthy star charts...and you can see the handy work taped on the scope in the back.
Duct tape is a gift from the gods...
It was now close to 4:00 am and we had been out for close to six hours under open skies and time to pack it in. Both hungry, we elected to have some eats at a all night Chinese restaurant and reflect on the successful session.
2nd part of the session soon -
