IWLOP #044 – Lamont, Arago & Ross
Lamont is a large, ruined ghost crater near the centre of Mare Tranquilitatis. It is best viewed under low lighting. Apollo 11 landing site is to the south. Arago features two nearby domes designated Alpha (α) and Beta (β) that are impressive to view when visible.
Location: 5.0 N 23.2 E Origin: Impact and Volcanic Size: 75 km (Lamont), 25. 5 (Arago), 24.5 km (Ross), Rukl: 35
Type: Intermediate Crater (CC)
Objects: Arago, Ross, Lamont, Ritter, Sabine, Sinus Honoris, Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins
Others Identified: Ariadaeus, Dionysius, Julius Caesar, Manners; Ritter + C, B, D; Schmidt
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 7:48 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT
Eyepiece: Explore Scientific 4.7mm with 82° FOV
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Good (3)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
R1: Arago and Ross are SE and NE respectively of Julius Caesar.
R2: Lamont was barely visible on the mare floor. Flooded or worn down(?).
R3: Ritter and Sabine both located. Ritter B, C and D were visible. Schmidt was to their SW. They looked to be similar depths but Ritter's walls looked sharper. Sabine's south wall appears to have a break. There is a ridge from Rimae Hypatia that seems to affect it.
C1: The two nearby domes designated Alpha (α) and Beta (β) appear circular, lighter in colour than the Mare floor.
C2: Could not see the summit pits on the Arago domes at this time.
C3: The Ross peak is offset towards the E on its floor. The central peak of Arago appears to join to the north crater wall.
C4: Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins were all seen during brief periods of better seeing. Armstrong appears to be larger than the other two (refer to IWLOP #045 – Moltke & Rimae Hypatia for sketch of location of the 3 craters).
