Lunar X visible tonight - 22nd Feb 2018

[Stu]

First ever heads up in this section

The Lunar X (and V) will be visible tonight on the terminator. Timing I have from the post below is 18.07 UT, not sure if that is the start or best time, so look whenever you get the chance! Thanks to @67champ for the calculations.

The moon will be nice and high, 51.7 degrees at 18.07 so views, cloud permitting, should be great!

I will add these to the event calendar as soon as I can, will certainly put tonight's in right now.

Let us know how you go.

 

[Mark at Beaufort]

Thanks for that Stu. I have organised a public star party at the venue (Madley) that we used for the partial solar eclipse. Quite a few people have signed up for the event and the Moon was a major interest. Seeing Lunar X hopefully will add to the occasion.

[Eastman]

Thanks for sharing Stu, and tonight is going to be a clear night in Holland.

I looking forward to see it again!

[Stu]

Weather is moving west at the moment so we could all be in for a nice big clear sky  

[GavStar]

38 minutes ago, Stu said:

Weather is moving west at the moment so we could all be in for a nice big clear sky  

Looking good Stu - let’s hope it stays clear for the club meet ?

[Paul73]

Looks hopeful. 

Does anyone know how long it will last?

Paul

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, Paul73 said:

Looks hopeful. 

Does anyone know how long it will last?

Paul

I think it lasts around 4 hours Paul, but at the moment the only timing I have got is the 18.07 UT, which I THINK is the best time to view it, so it should be visible either side of that. I could be that it is the start, but not certain. Not much info about it around...

Amusingly enough, Google searches now point me back at this post. Very handy, not  

[Stu]

Ah Ha! Some more info now.

I believe that 18.07 is the start time, 21.21 is the mid point and 22.26 the end point.

See attached file which is calculated for three different criteria

Lunar X 2018 TXT.pdf

[Mark at Beaufort]

Good information Stu. Still cloudy in Hereford although I have been watching the cloud movement on SAT24. Hopefully, by the time the Public Star Party starts (7pm) we might have a clear sky.

[Stu]

It does look promising Mark, and the timings now look like you should have a good view. Good luck!

[Stu]

Jolly cold out there already. Tak is packed to go to a club night in West End tonight, so I popped the Heritage 130 on the Giro-WR which is permanently setup and had a quick look at the Moon, looking good already. I think I can see the V showing now, if I'm not horribly mistaken!

[bish]

I think the X is showing up now.

[Red Dwarfer]

Had to Google it to find out what it is ... the second image shows it better .

[Stu]

Switched over to the light thimble to get more mag. X is forming nicely now, V showing well too. Go look if you've got clear sky already

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, bish said:

I think the X is showing up now.

Yes Bish, it is getting there but you can clearly see it now. V too

[Red Dwarfer]

Guess where it's cloudy tonight ?

[Peco4321]

Aaahh, had to take kids to their swimming lesson. Hopefully will get back and set up before mid point. Clear in East Yorkshire as well!!  

[andrew63]

Both features really standing out 18.20 at 19x

 

andrew

[Eastman]

Well that was a long time ago that I saw the lunar X. Very nice to look at again. Made a picture through the eyepiece.

Thanks again Stu!

[Peco4321]

I hope I can still get it later.  Fingers crossed as I really want to bag this feature. 

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, Peco4321 said:

I hope I can still get it later.  Fingers crossed as I really want to bag this feature. 

The spreadsheet I posted says ending around 10.20 but try as early as you can.

[Peco4321]

3 minutes ago, Stu said:

The spreadsheet I posted says ending around 10.20 but try as early as you can.

Thanks. Will be home and sorted by 8 so should be ok. 

[Littleguy80]

My youngest son is studying space at school. Perfect excuse for extra curricular studies  He’s on a chair in the pic. Managed a very quick snap of X and V for him to take into school  

[tuckstar]

Came out with the kids about an hour ago and just come out again, the terminator has definitely moved closer.to the x. Looking seeing the dynamics in our solar system.

[Stub Mandrel]

Kudos @Stu ! Thanks for spurring me into action.

I've finally seen the X and the V properly with my C90 Mak. The plan was to just to visual (for once - it's what I bought the mak for) but I accidentally took a load of pics...

Also saw M45 (averted poorly adapted eyes) and my first sight of the trapezium very clear at 48x but at 120x too fuzzy.