Opinion please

[mikeDnight]

I posted this here in the hope of getting some opinions as to a possible error in observation.

I made a sketch last night of what I thought at the time to be the crater Balmer. Due to the libration of the moon the object of study was close to the limb and almost in total shadow on the SE limb, hence the confusion. Later today I was looking at my moon map when it struck me that the crater I'd sketched looked more like Hecataeus, a crater closer to the limb. I'm wondering if there's anyone out there who can clear this probable mistake on my part clear?

Remember that this crater is possibly NOT Balmer and more likely is Hecataeus!

Mike

 

[Wyvern]

Hi Mike,

Super crater sketch anyhow!, but having a look at Virtual Moon Atlas would seem to confirm your feeling that it is Hecataeus that you've actually observed. If you rotate your sketch 90 degrees anticlockwise and compare it to the screengrab of the Hecataeus area I've attached below, they seem to tally up.

Regards, Les

 

[dweller25]

Either way - it's a nice observation and drawing

[Peter Drew]

No idea Mike, looks like a set of false teeth without the teeth to me.  

[Moonshane]

It's tricky and a lovely sketch. Whilst the image below is not right left reversed like your prism would need it seems a good match for Hecataeus? From my cheapie Rukl.

 

[laudropb]

Hi Mike. It looks like Hecataeus. I have not sketched this crater myself, but looking at the Hatfield Atlas it seems to be very likely. It is certainly not Balmer which I have a rough sketch of. I have had similar experiences sketching objects at the limb. It's all part of the fun I suppose. Whatever it is it's a very nice sketch .

[mikeDnight]

Thanks very much chaps! I've just spent some time looking at the moon through fast moving cloud and when I got a clear look, its definitely Hecataeus. I'll have to amend my labelling to read Hecataeus nd Balmer. ☺

Thanks also for your kind and forgiving comments. ???

Mike 

[Paz]

I don't know what it is but it's a nice sketch! I have the same issue quite often not being able to confirm moon features from the maps afterwards - small differences in the lighting seem to make big differences in what things look like.

[Paz]

As it's cloudy and I've got nothing better to do I've been having a look in sky safari. The shape looks more like hecateus but also, looking at where the terminator was at the time it looks like the crater floor of balmer would not have been so deep in shadow, ruling balmer out.

[alan potts]

Mike,

Sorry I have no idea what it is but wanted to take the chance to say what a lovely sketch you have made of whatever crater it is.

Alan

[Dave In Vermont]

As I've only recently re-kindled the fires I had as a kid for loving our Moon, I won't venture a guess. However.....

If I was in a car and stranded on the Moon - lost - the road-map I'd choose to have to find my way about was mentioned earlier in the thread, the Virtual Moon Atlas. It is an excellent software-program with very good maps (photo), and much, much more. And it's free. so here's a link for this:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

Happy Hunting!

Dave

[SonnyE]

21 hours ago, Dave In Vermont said:

As I've only recently re-kindled the fires I had as a kid for loving our Moon, I won't venture a guess. However.....

If I was in a car and stranded on the Moon - lost - the road-map I'd choose to have to find my way about was mentioned earlier in the thread, the Virtual Moon Atlas. It is an excellent software-program with very good maps (photo), and much, much more. And it's free. so here's a link for this:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon/

Happy Hunting!

Dave

Thanks for that Dave.

Been wanting something like that.

[Dave In Vermont]

I'd have offered you the Photographic Lunar Atlas - with photos from the Jet Propulsion Labs:

 

 

But that beast weighs-in at around 701MB. I didn't want to blow-up the SGL's computer-server!

Deck the Halls with Parts of Molly, Fa La La La La.....

Dave

[mikeDnight]

Thanks for all your replies. Here's the amended sketch info! 

Mike.