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[Paulie pchris00]

I realize these aren't the greatest pictures, but they gave me something to do while watching sunlight fall over the western rim of Crater Gassendi early this morning.

The first image, taken at 1:30 AM CDST from Valparaiso, IN, was about 30 minutes after I started visually observing this crater. In my first visual observation, the tip of the central peak was illuminated, as was the southern most (bottom) of the three western peaks in sunlight in this image.

Telescope: Meade DS114 (4.5") with Meade Lunar & Planetary Imager

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[Paulie pchris00]

Hey, hey! I finally embedded a picture! Okay, this was taken at 1:30 AM CDST. Still not much of the peak is in sunlight, and only a few peaks on the western rim.



2:39 AM CDST- Much more of the western rim is lit now, and the smaller of the double central peaks is beginning to show.



2:48 AM- I hooked up the LPI to my 6" Orion Skyquest and waited for Gassendi to cross the field of view (no tracking). It was worth it, because the larger scope turned out a better image.



3:59 AM- This was my last image, not long before Moonset, seen through thick and somewhat turbulent atmosphere. The picture is terrible, but still the double central peak can be seen, and all but the low southern rim wall in is sunlight. I ended my session shortly after, because it was cold, cold, cold (and I was out of cigarettes).

[atomant]

Hey Paulie,

tonite should be a good showing of your fave crater, Gassendi

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Gassendi was a pansy...