Remnants of two once-prominent craters. This area of the Moon is an interesting challenge to navigate.
Origin: Impact Size: 39 km, 102 km Rukl: 6, 5 Type: CC
Objects: Gartner, Democritus, Cusanus, Petermann
Others Identified: Archytas, Aristoteles, Baillaud, Burg, De Sitteer, Euctemon, Eudoxus, Galle, Kane, Meton, Montes Alpes,Protagoras, Nelson, Peters, Vallis Alpes, W. Bond
Observation #1:
Date: 2024-05-15
Location: Home
Time: 10:25 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT
Eyepiece: SvBony 20mm 70º FMC with lit reticule
Magnification: x120
Seeing: Very Good (2)
Transparency: Very Good (2)
SQM: not recorded
Temp: 11º C
Moon now in Leo. This was the first time I was using by Founder binocular eyepiece. I was impressed, but do have to be mindful to getting the binoculars set up for my eyes versus Jerry's eyes.
C1: Democritus was on the shore of Mare Frigoris above Gartner. Democritus had a very high central peak, was circular in appearance, had a light-coloured floor compared to Gartner, and its rim was visible around the entire crater. Gartner had no rim to the SE and only a little to the SW. The remaining crater walls appeared tall. Its floor was dark, similar to that of Mare Frigoris.
Note: Libration was not favourable to view Cusanus and Petermann in this session.
Observation #2:
Date: 2026-05-23
Location: SCO
Time: 9:52 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT
Eyepiece: 10mm
Magnification: x250
Seeing: Good (3)
Transparency: Good (3)
SQM: 20.12
Temp: 5º C
C1: I used craters clustered around Meton to crater hop to locate Cusanus and Petermann that were very close to the lunar NE rim. Both appeared to have jagged north and south walls and their closeness to the limb made them appear elongated versus circular. Cusanus's north wall appeared to have 2 cuts into it. Petermann's walls appeared very jagged.
Arnold was oval shaped. One crater in its NW floor. The west rim was well lit but could not discern if there were ridges or not; the south wall appeared to be non-existent in the midsection. Two craters or slashes in its north wall.
