Living on the edge - Vallis Inghirami

[Nik271]

Last night I managed to see Vallis Inghirami for the first time. It was well placed near the terminator and was easier that I expected, I guess I lot depends on the lunar libration. The seeing was moderate to poor, I stayed at 100x with my 127mm Mak. 

I found that most lunar maps don't represent the extreme edge of the near side very well, probably because their appearance changes from month to month. I played with the LROC map to get an angle which represents what I could see at the scope:

 

 

Other highlights were Grimaldi and Riccioli, Rima Sarsalis (just glimpsed in moments of good seeing) and Pythagoras in the north.

Tonight is supposed to be cloudy, I was hoping for more extreme edge of lunar limb stuff. Mare Orientale maybe... well the  clouds will have the final word.

Clear skies (hopefully)!

 

Nik

 

 

Edited April 26, 2021 by Nik271

[PeterW]

Good spot, I pretty much failed on siralis at 60x in binoculars, very nice views otherwise, but more unsteady seeing than of late. The limb depends on the liberation (moon tilt) which varies through themonth, so we can see 59% of the moon if we wait long enough, hence the edges change a lot. Some maps have generous liberation zones parts that can help, like the sky and telescope maps.

Peter

[Stu]

Nice one Nik. I enjoyed Riccioli through the Telementor last night. I’ve posted a couple of images I took of it here.

Nice spot for Vallis Inghirami, wasn’t aware of that one. I found it on the NASA SVS site, posted here with the correct illumination for last night.