Lunar X and V now - 7pm 25th June 2023

[Stu]

As per the title, looking good now, not quite fully there with the X yet. Go have a look if you’ve got clear skies.

[John]

Just going to take a peek with my little Vixen 4 inch. Thanks for the "heads up" @Stu 🙂

[Stu]

Quite subtle against the blue sky but still good to see.

[Stu]

@Steve Ward is on the thread, so here are the correctly oriented versions 😉

[Alan White]

As I have only an Ha scope with me at present, much thanks for the images Stu.

 

[Steve Ward]

21 minutes ago, Stu said:

@Steve Ward is on the thread, so here are the correctly oriented versions 😉

 

I was tempted to mention it ...  I just rattled off a few handheld frames for the hell of it , I'm a sucker for her against a pale blue sky .

Didn't realise it was "X" time , I'll have to have a quick stack and see if the 150-600 picked it up .... 

[Stu]

Just about at its best now I think, X is complete.

[MalcolmM]

Thanks for the heads up @Stu. I'm keeping an eye out for a break in the clouds. Great pics, very sharp.

Malcolm 

[John]

Lovely 😁

The 2nd X is showing to the S of the main X I think. It's a more elongated X 🙂

 

[Franklin]

Despite the blue skies this is a very nice view of the Lunar X+V, perfect timing thanks for the heads-up.

[Stu]

21 minutes ago, John said:

Lovely 😁

The 2nd X is showing to the S of the main X I think. It's a more elongated X 🙂

 

This one?

[dweller25]

il pleut ici 😕

[Stu]

Couple more pics here with it at full X’ness.

[maw lod qan]

I am amazed that the first time anyone here posted a heads up, I was able to view and image it!

Never seems to work out now with my 3 day work schedule!

Oh yeah, 16:50, it's still omg daylight!😆

[GordonD]

I didn't see this thread earlier but was out viewing at about 8pm and, never having seen the X before, there it was clear, and obvious even though I wasn't looking for it at all. Must be all about the timing and I got lucky this evening. I have seen other people's photos but I had not realised it was quite so distinctive visually.

[John]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

This one?

Yes, that's the one. Bit of a stretch to call it an "X" I suppose but it's fun anyway !

 

[Ratlet]

Cheers for posting this.  Heard the guys on Actual Astronomy talk about the lunar X a lot but always put it on the 'to do' list.  Didn't realise it was quite as large as that.

[Stu]

2 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Cheers for posting this.  Heard the guys on Actual Astronomy talk about the lunar X a lot but always put it on the 'to do' list.  Didn't realise it was quite as large as that.

Did you manage to see them?

[Ratlet]

10 minutes ago, Stu said:

Did you manage to see them?

Still on the 'to do' list 😂.

Fortunately there is a proliferation of people doing great imaging with their phones.

[bosun21]

I never knew this lunar X even existed. I’ll definitely be looking for it the next lunar session with my 12” dob.

[Stu]

35 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

I never knew this lunar X even existed. I’ll definitely be looking for it the next lunar session with my 12” dob.

This link discusses when you can see it, it’s not every cycle and only at its best for around three or four hours.

https://marysastronomyblogs.blogspot.com/2023/01/popular-clair-obscur-effects-times-for.html?m=1

[ED Splitter]

Saw this yesterday, again as others have mentioned always wanted to look but had no idea where to look. Just stumbled across it. Also managed to locate the area of the Apollo 15 landing site thanks to the duplex atlas. 

[John]

I snapped this a couple of years back. The orientation is as our eyes see it - the "L" appears backwards through a scope !

[Franklin]

Never seen the "L" before, will have to look out for that.

Just some info on the X and V.

The X is situated in the area next to the western ridge of the crater Blanchinus and the V in the area around the crater Ukert. Observing these areas under different illumination shows no trace of these "Tricks of the light".

[John]

1 minute ago, Franklin said:

..... Observing these areas under different illumination shows no trace of these "Tricks of the light".

Rather like the infamous "face" on mars ?