This session was devoted to lunar observing. Most of it was directed at finding objects in the Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program (IWLOP).
Lunar Phase: Waxing Gibbous (90.6%)
Q-Day: 4
Moonset: 6:10 AM Moonrise: 8:52 PM
Sunset: 12:15 AM Sunrise: 8:02 PM
Location: Home
Date: 2019-04-11/12
Time: 10:00 PM - 12:45 AM
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 10 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x250
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Excellent (5)
No wind, no clouds. The Moon was in the middle of the Winter Circle.
There were numerous IWLOP targets found that despite the beautiful temperatures I made rough sketches of the objects at the eyepiece, wrote notes regarding the required (or challenged) IWLOP observations, did rough sketches then completed the details later. I also noted some craters not required to view along with the targets. I tried using a x2 Barlow with some success but the x3 Barlow was too fuzzy/grainy.
Time: 10:10 PM ADT
The first target was IWLOP #52 - Montes Haemus and the Mare Serenitatis Lacus Group. The Lacus Group in particular was very interesting give the number in
Time 10:29 PM ADT
The second targets were Aristoteles, Eudoxus, Rima Ariadaeus, and IWLOP #48 - Aristoteles & Eudoxus. It was very interesting to compare these two craters for size, depth and features.
Time 10:38 PM ADT
Temperature: 9º C
SQM: 19.25
Completed IWLOP #41 - Mare Serenitatis. The numerous dorsa on the mare floor were intriguing and at times a challenge to find.
Time 11:21 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 10 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Completed IWLOP #33 - Posidonius. The crater floor with its roughness and numerous rime made this an interesting find.
Time 11:30 PM ADT
Completed IWLOP #53 - Rima Ariadaeus. The fact that it cut across mountains, ghost craters and through ridges with craters was intriguing. I wondered what had created such a long rift across the Moon's surface (but didn't investigate any further.
Time 11:45 PM ADT
Completed IWLOP #56 - Dorsa von Cotta & Dorsum Buckland. In searching this area of Mare Serenitatis, I found not find the feature named Rimae Sulpicius Gallus. However, if I ever own a dog again, I'd love to name it "Sulpicius" - 'Sully' for short.
Time 11:52 PM ADT
Temperature: -1º C
SQM: 19.32
Completed IWLOP #65 - Hipparchus. The ghost craters on its floor and its somewhat square shape were interesting.