This session was devoted to lunar observing. A couple of IWLOP objects were viewed.
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (13.1%)
Q-Day: -5
Moonrise: 8:17 AM Moonset: 11:43 PM
Sunrise: 6:30 AM Sunset: 8:00 PM
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 25 mm + 9.7 mm + 4.7
Magnification: x100 + x258 + x531
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 3º C - 0º C
No wind or clouds at the start of the observing session.
Vallis Rheita was the target. This was 1 of 2 unobserved objects in the RASC Explore the Moon (Binocular) and one of many yet to observe for the Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program (IWLOP). I also found features not required for this session - Lacus Temporis, and the craters De La Rue, Strabo, Thales and Langrenus.
Found Vallis Rheita! It looked like a series of small craters running north to south, almost like a rib cage with no spinal column attached. The crater Rheita was at the north end with Mallet in the South. Refer to IWLOP #14 - Vallis Rheita for more details of this observation.
I was able to observe and sketch the following items for inclusion in IWLOP. Had lots of fun exploring the surface of the Moon for exciting new-to-me features.
- IWLOP #9: Endymion & Mare Humboldtianum: I was able to sketch the crater but the mare was only partially completed in this session.
- IWLOP #10: Snellius & Vallis Snellius
- IWLOP #12: Stevinus
- IWLOP #35: Jansen
NOTE: Jansen (found in the north part of the Mare Tranquillitatis) is not to be confused with Janssen (found near the SE lunar limb).