Just getting started with the moon

[glennbech]

I just started doing the Lunar 100, and had my second session today, bringing me up to 8/100. I just took my scope out and had a 30-minute moon session between clouds.  

My previous session was on the 14th of February, and today I was feeling proud and eager of my newfound skills in lunar geography. 

I added  Theophilus, Cyrillus and Catharina to my list on the 14th but today, the craters were hard to find!

Then it dawned on me that an important factor of moon observation is when to view what. You all probably know this, I just found out :-) 

The light today made the surface seem more "flat" than yesterday. It also seems, that the overall contrast goes down when the moon grows fuller. More light blinds the eye and makes it harder to separate the lighter shades from each other. I found it more difficult today to tell the "mares" apart from the surrounding areas.    

I had tremendous problems finding Petavius, even when I knew where to look. 

Any suggestions on guidelines regarding timing would be great! 

[Stu]

I use an app called moon phase photo maps. It shows the correct phase of the moon and so it is easy to identify features which will be nearer the terminator, and so easier to see.

I'm sure somewhere there is a list which details the features and also the days of the lunar cycle when they are best seen. I'll try to dig it out.

[Daniel-K]

the lunar 100 is easy....just wait till the full moon look at it once and hey presto 

[Joseki]

"Discover the Moon" is a book I like a lot http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discover-Moon-Jean-Lacroux/dp/0521535557/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455831171&sr=8-1&keywords=discover+the+moon its a nice guide to take out and use at the scope - it's split up into the different phases of the moon and highlights the features on the terminator with a good amount of discussion as well as annotated photos.

but yes, aim for features on the terminator.  Filters may also help bring out contrast.

 

[Astro Imp]

Hi, I've had tremendous fun going through the Lunar 100 and have used the Virtual Moon Atlas as my guide:- https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

I am also finding the guide posted by Doc very helpful:- https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/96159-the-lunar-100-by-doc/

HTH and enjoy the quest, it really adds a lot to lunar observing to have a purpose.

[David P Osborne]

+1 for virtual moon atlas. Also Observing the Moon is great as there is a photo of the moon at beginning of section on observing individual targets which is oriented for reflector. Link to book at FLO below. I also enjoy the Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/observing-the-moon-book.html

[glennbech]

14 minutes ago, David P Osborne said:

+1 for virtual moon atlas. Also Observing the Moon is great as there is a photo of the moon at beginning of section on observing individual targets which is oriented for reflector. Link to book at FLO below. I also enjoy the Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/observing-the-moon-book.html

Virtual moon atlas can also flip the image both horizontally and vertically to match any combination of mirrors and glass and lenses.  Nice software :

[David P Osborne]

quite correct glennbech. Forgot also to mention that the moon section of Turn Left at Orion is set out by moon phase (days after new moon) and best targets for each phase.