Asterism: Big Dipper
Stars: Alkaid, Alioth, Arcturus, Mizar, Porrima, Spica, Vindemiatrix
Moon: Albetagnius, Barocius, Hipparchus, Harrocks, Klein, Mare Crisium, Mare Tranquilitatis, Maurolycus, Proclus, Palus Somni, Stoffler
Identified, not Observed: Boötes, Virgo
Could not find: M47 / NGC 4472
Location: St. Croix Observatory (SCO)
Date: 2024-06-13
Time: 8:45 PM - 11:00 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, 10x42 IS Binoculars
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded
I was a bit tired when I arrived for this session so energy to seek out objects was low, and recording of observations were minimal and those of light levels, temperature, seeing and transparency went by the wayside. Jerry and I were with David Hoskin, Stephen Payne, Tony McGrath, Meredith and Dennis. Fairly clear and no wind to speak of. Around 10:15 PM, fireflies were twinkling at the shoreline near the Storeroom.
Waxing Moon (48.1%)
Time: 9:30 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
Several craters were located west and southeast of Mare Nubium near the terminator:
- Albetagnius with its interior crater Klein
- Hipparchus with Horrocks - the latter had a very bright rim and dark floor.
- Maurolychus
- Barocius
- Stoffler
Time: 9:58 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
There were several features observed this evening. One of my favourite craters, Proclus, shone brightly to the west of Mare Crisium as did its ejecta rim. Adjacent to it was Palus Somni - a fan-shaped, rough-surfaced, greyish formation on the shores of Mare Tranquilitatis.
Bright Stars
At this point I was just looking for stars that could be seen visually and when they appeared.
Time: 9:50 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual
At this point, all 3 stars of the Big Dipper handle (Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid), Arcturus in Boötes, and Spica in Virgo were shining brightly and easily identified.
Time: 10:00 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual
The handle plus the 4 stars of the bucket in the Big Dipper (Megrez, Phecda, Merck and Dubhe) were visible.
M49 / NGC 4472
Time: 10:51 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
I attempted to find M49 in Virgo by identifying Vindemiatrix and Porrima. M49 formed a triangle with these two stars but with the almost 50% Moon it could not be found.