Luna at dawn

[Nyctimene]

This morning, I was out for an unplanned session with the new Skywatcher Heritage 130 P Flextube. The waning moon's crescent hung over the eastern horizon, and despite a sub-average seeing, I was able to observe the "Lunar Buzz Saw"- phenomenon on the floor of Sinus Iridum. Near sunset, the Jura mountains cast jagged shadows, giving the mostly still illuminated crater floor the appearance of a curved saw blade. I had read about this clair-obscure phenomenon some months before (do not remember the source), and observed it now, by chance, for the first time - a very pleasing sight! Later on, I found an excellent drawing of this in Harold Hill's book "A Portfolio of Lunar Drawings" (p.88). Here's a LPOD photo:

 

 

I continued with the crater Caroline Herschel; near it, the summits of Mons La Hire were still lit up on the already darkened moon floor. Delisle; Mons Delisle and Diophantes with the conspicuous Rima Diophantis. Aristarch; Herodot; Schröter's Valley. The session ended with a view at the Gruithuisen area with its craters and domes. Observations were made with the Seben Zoom 24-8mm, and the UWA 6 mmf, giving 108x. A first summer session - flip-flops instead of Moonboots, and the birds morning chorus; a good start of the day.  

Thanks for reading

Stephan

[cloudsweeper]

Good session, Stephan.

Another example of how exciting astro is throughout the year.  And, Yes - it is good to be out in light gear!

Doug.

[Paz]

Nice report. One day I must get up early for some observing!

[Piero]

That's a lovely report! 

Thanks for sharing!

[laudropb]

Very nice report. This is one of my favourite areas of the Moon.

[Pondus]

Good lunar report there Stephan.

When weather and work  allows, I`ll try some early morning sessions too, both lunar and dso.

I honestly cant remember last time I observed a waning moon.

 

Rune

[johnfosteruk]

Nice report. I love this area, to be fair I love all the lunar areas, but I do love this one too