A Great Night Ruined.

[Astro Imp]

Set up the scope about 16.30hrs under a clear darkening sky. 

Started having a scan around to see what was up and found the seeing was really good.

All my observing was carried out at x150.

As is my wont I started in the southern highlands the sun glinting on the central peak of Moretus, a lovely site.

Moved down and saw one of the great Lunar sites, Clavius. just starting to emerge. 

Carrying on northward looked at Tycho in passing, looks completely different now from a few days time when the wonderful ray systems dominates the scene.

Rupes Recta and its attendant craters Birt and Birt A were showing well.

I then wizzed down to Plato hoping to pick out some of the craterlets on the floor but couldn't see any, the eastern wall was still throwing quite a large jagged M shaped shadow. I guess more aperture wouldn't go amiss to pick out these small craters.

By now it was time for a dinner break.

Started observing again about 18.30hrs, the seeing was still excellent.

Looked for the rille at the base of the Alpine Valley without being sure I spotted it, might have had a fleeting view but I wouldn't claim it as certain, it could have been the imagination seeing it.

The Teneriffe Mountains were putting on a good show just up from Plato.

Had a good look at Archimedes and the associated mountains to the south. To the west are two small craters Beer and close by Feuillee, as I was looking at these I spotted a really small crater that was right on the edge of visibility between Beer/Fuillee and Archimedes, consulting the trusty Virtual Moon Atlas this turned out to be Beer E. I was quite surprised to see this as it is only 2 miles across.

While I was taking in a fine view of Eratosthenes my attention was drawn to an interesting feature slightly south and east. I started giving this my full attention and identified it using the VMA as the craters Pallas and Murchison. As I was really enjoying the view and taking in the surrounds it started to darken. I looked up from the eyepiece to see a cloud bank starting to obscure the moon. I waited hoping this would be a temporary set back but the clouds looked as though they had set in for the night.

I must observe this last area again as what I saw looked really interesting with the severely deformed Murchison right up close to Pallas.

If you've got this far thanks for reading.

[andyboy1970]

Nice report, but that is they way it always seems to go when you're enjoying a good session at the scope.

[Piero]

Nice session!

It happens to get clouds on the way, and I would think that the best is to consider the minutes or the hours you had a chance to see, rather than the other way around.  

Looking forward to reading your next session on the moon!  

[Astro Imp]

Thanks Piero, hopefully it won't be too long before I manage another session. I really enjoy my lunar observing, there is always something new to observe.

[Saganite]

A fine and interesting report Alan, and I too spent a most of the evening observing the Moon. I used binoviewers with about 190X and I could not believe how stable the viewing was, it was captivating wasn't it.

At a lower altitude I tried to split Sirius and failed miserably. I am sure none of my neighbours, over whose roofs  I have to observe, have any loft insulation. 

[ejp1684]

Thanks for a great report. I'm new to this, so must get a map of the moon and start identifying all these features.

Eric.

[Astro Imp]

Just now, ejp1684 said:

Thanks for a great report. I'm new to this, so must get a map of the moon and start identifying all these features.

Eric.

Thanks Eric.

When observing the moon I always have Virtual Moon Atlas on my laptop. This is a great free program that you can configure to show the view you see in the eyepiece:- https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

[laudropb]

Very nice report. I really enjoyed the read. I was just a bit jealous. Clouded out the last 2 nights and this is one of my favourite phases to observe.

[lunator]

Alan

Very nice report

it sounds like the seeing was pretty good 

Cheers

Ian

[ejp1684]

Alan, thanks for the link to the virtual moon map. Now have to wait for the pesky clouds to clear. Forecast is looking ok for tomorrow evening so fingers crossed.

Eric.

[Astro Imp]

Yes Ian the seeing was the best for a long time.

Eric, I've found the VMA very helpful especially useful when the clouds cover everything, I sit and look at what I'm missing 

[Size9Hex]

Terrific report. Thanks for taking the time to post. It was a lovely little tour, and I could picture a few of the sights, but so many you mentioned were new to me. Yet more things to add to the list! :-)