The first thing an observer will notice when viewing the lunar surface is the large, dark regions that cover significant amounts of its surface area. They are called lunar basins or Maria and they stand out visually, but are easier to identify using binoculars or a telescope at low power. These large dark areas are excellent markers for navigating the lunar surface and it is important to become familiar with them first. A full or nearly full Moon is the best time to observe the lunar basins or Maria, although they can be seen at other times.
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Feature / Objective |
Date of Observation |
Time |
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B – Major Basins (Maria) & Pickering Unaided Eye Scale |
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R1: Identify Major Basins (all were found again - Oct 5/25 with binoculars; Full Moon @99.4%) |
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Mare Crisium |
Aug 20/18 |
9:20pm ADT |
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Mare Fecunditatis |
Aug 20/18 |
9:22pm ADT |
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Mare Tranquillitatis |
Aug 30/18 |
12:04am ADT |
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Mare Nectaris |
Aug 20/18 |
9:27pm ADT |
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Mare Serenitatis |
Aug 20/18 |
9:30pm ADT |
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Mare Imbrium |
Sept 1-2/18 |
9:00pm ADT |
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Mare Nubium |
Oct 28/17 |
8:10pm ADT |
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Mare Humorum |
June 24/17 |
9:30pm CDT |
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Oceanus Procellarum |
Aug 3/18 |
8:30pm ADT |
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C1: Identify Notable Dark Lunar Features |
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Mare Frigoris |
Sept 1-2/18 |
9:05pm ADT |
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Mare Vaporum |
Aug 20/18 |
9:23pm ADT |
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Sinus Medii |
Aug 1/18 |
8:35pm ADT |
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Sinus Aestuum |
July 31/18 |
9:35pm ADT |
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Mare Insularum |
Aug 3/18 |
11:06pm ADT |
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Sinus Iridum |
June 24/18 |
9:20pm ADT |
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Mare Cognitum |
Aug 3/18 |
11:06pm ADT |
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Sinus Roris |
June 24/18 |
9:25pm ADT |
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C2: Pickering Unaided Eye Scale |
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Pickering Number |
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