Comet: C/2022 E3 (ZTF)
Constellations: Auriga, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Cassiopeia, Gemini, Orion, Taurus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor
Messier Objects: M35 (in Gemini), M36 & M38 (in Auriga), M45 (Pleiades)
Asterisms: Leaping Minnow (in Auriga), Winter Circle

Location: Home
Date: 2023-01-27
Time: 11:30 PM - 11:55 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binocular 10x42 IS
Transparency: Average (3)
Seeing:  Average (3)
Temperature: 7˚ C
SQM: 19.56 - 19.58

Windless and no clouds.

The promise of a clear night was realized and Jerry was already taking time-lapse of the Comet. So, with clipboard, paper and pencils, red light to clip to the clipboard for seeing what I sketched (thanks, Melody), and my binoculars, I headed out to join him in our back yard. 

First thing that came into view the moment I opened our back door was Orion, high in the sky above our tree line and its bright stars very evident in the dark skies. With Orion so high, I looked for the full Winter Circle - found! Turned about 45˚ to locate Cassiopeia, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The latter constellation was the one of primary interest given the comet wasn't too far away from Kochab. The only stars I could see in the Little Dipper were Pherkad, Kochab and Polaris (mag 2.0); with averted vision, I could see (imagined I saw?) Urodelus and Yildum in the handle and the other two stars of the dipper (Anwar al Farkadain, Alifa al Frakadain) - but they were very faint.

Using my 10x42 IS binoculars, I located Pherkad (mag 3.0) and Kochab (mag 2.0), noting 11 UMi (mag 5.0) next to Pherkad and HD133086 (mag 6.8) and TT UMi (mag 6.9) next to Kochab. With Kochab in my FOV, I had to go up just bit and to my right (east) to find it. A fuzzy cottontail, no tail with this equipment could be discerned. I then used my garden planting table as my easel to sketch it.

Using my 10x42 IS binoculars, I located Pherkad (mag 3.0) and Kochab (mag 2.0), noting 11 UMi (mag 5.0) next to Pherkad and HD133086 (mag 6.8) and TT UMi (mag 6.9) next to Kochab. With Kochab in my FOV, I had to go up just bit and to my right (east) to find it. A fuzzy cottontail, no tail with this equipment could be discerned. I then used my garden planting table as my easel to sketch it.

It was then that I turned my attention to other sights. First was the 5 stars of Cassiopeia above our greenhouse. I thought, "Perfect! I can easily find Andromeda." Wrong (and disappointing)! Andromeda was lower than thought and lost in the light pollution of our neighbour's backyard light that can be obscured by our shed and greenhouse if you stand in the right spot.

    

 

Leaping Minnow
Leaping Minnow from Binocularsky.com 

Oh, well, Auriga is high and I can see it's bright 5 stars, especially Capella. Up with the binoculars to find the asterism Leaping Minnow. Several stars within Auriga comprise the asterism - 19 Air beside 18 Aur, 17 Aur beside IQ Aur, 16 Aur beside HD 34201, and 14 Aur. All in close proximity.

Also close by and located with only a slight adjustment in declination of the binoculars were M38 (Starfish Cluster) and M36 (Pinwheel Cluster). Did not search for M37, nor did I sketch any of the objects just seen.

I looked up again at Orion with binoculars to M42. I could see the nebulosity around its four stars but could not discern the two stars within θ1 Orionis and θ2 Orionis as I had January 11 using my 10" Meade SCT.

I then turned 90˚ to the East to see Leo advancing high above the neighbour's roof. Denebola and Regulus as always stood out but I could also readily identify Zosma and Chertan in his hind end and the other "sickle" stars above Regulus (η Leo, Algieba, Adhafera, Ras Elased Borealis, Ras Elased Australis). I tried to find the galaxies below his belly but to no avail.

Getting late and fingers freezing, I called it a night. Hot chocolate, here I come!

Details
Hits: 124

Constellations: Cygnus, Orion,
Asterism: Winter Circle 
Messier Objects: M31,M42, M45 (Pleaides)
Planets: Jupiter, Mars

Location: Home
Date: 2023-01-11
Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meadse SCT + Binocular 10x42 IS
Eyepieces: 10mm, 25mm, 40mm, Svbony 3mm-8mm zoom eyepiece
Transparency: Average (3)
Seeing:  Average (3)

Good Grief!
Observing in Less than Stellar Conditions

While enjoying my morning coffee on January 12, I read two articles in the February 2023 edition of Astronomy magazine – one by Bob Berman on page 12 made me chuckle and the second by Stephen James O’Meara on page 52 elicited an “ah-ha, so that’s what I saw!”

The curse of continuous cloudy skies disappeared on the previous evening, perhaps fleetingly, but nonetheless it was a clear, cloudless night. With my list of Messier objects to observe and to sketch, I stood beside our 10” Meade SCT that Jerry generously set up for me to view Cygnus’ brightest stars shining over western rooftops, Jupiter shining brightly in the south, and the Winter Circle with Mars and the Pleaides clearly visible in the east. At my disposal were 40 mm, 25 mm, 15 mm, and 10mm eyepieces and I was also going to try my Christmas gift - a Svbony 3mm - 8mm zoom eyepiece. My 10x42 image-stabilized binoculars were at the ready.

Bob Berman’s article explained how even backyard astronomers go through the five stages of grief when seeing is not the greatest. Seeing and transparency last evening were rated as average (and perceived as less than average); I experienced the stages just as he described. The session in question began at 6:45 PM AST and it wasn’t until I read his article that I could put it all into perspective.

Stage 1: Denial
Because I knew where to look, I found M31 using my 10x42 IS binoculars before beginning to look for M31, M32 and M110 with the Meade SCT. I used the go-to function and found the non-descript M31 smudge. There was no denying that M31’s characteristic features (bright centre, elliptical appearance) were being denied by the urban light dome, the sky conditions, the equipment used, or perhaps my watering eyes that required frequent drying. I could not make the stars in the FOV appear as pinpoints; they were fuzzy dots at best and mini donuts at worst throughout this session. I thought, “Okay, I know bad seeing is common so let’s look for another object. Maybe this was an exception.” Denial.

Stage 2: Anger
By changing an eyepiece or viewing the object again later in the session when sky conditions change, the possibility of observing the object in question usually improves – not this time. Again, the go-to function was used to “find” M110 (a small fuzzy). I was greatly disappointed in the lack of detail and the lack of definition of the stars, despite several attempts at focusing. Forget about finding M32 in that fuzzy non-entity. Andromeda, et.al., was a bust! The failure to observe these objects in the detail I wanted caused a bit of upset, anger to say the least. Adding to this, my headlamp’s battery died (special size of battery I didn’t have in stock), and I discovered my SQM’s battery was also dead. Bah, humbug.

Stage 3: Bargaining
In his article, Bob Berman stated, “You turn to the next stage: bargaining! Okay, but with whom?” A really good question given the sky gods seemingly weren’t cooperating so no sense appealing to them. I didn’t want to feel like I hadn’t tried, and Jerry was trying to help diagnose why I couldn’t “see” things. The decision was to bargain with myself. Bargain with myself? Who else was there? Try different targets, try different eyepieces, and keep my dry-eye syndrome at bay. My bargain was that if I succeeded in observing and sketching one target, I would go indoors to enjoy a hot chocolate.

Stage 4: Depression
How does one win a bargain with oneself? First, get gloves to keep fingers warmer (it was windless but -10 ̊ Celsius). Second, look for something the conditions would allow observing. Jupiter and its moons maybe? I started with the 40 mm eyepiece, then used the 25mm; Jerry could see the planet’s striping with both eyepieces albeit variable in moments of good seeing whereas it totally escaped me. This is the point where I considered giving up. What was the point in staying outside? Couldn’t see anything. Nothing worked. Bah, humbug.

I chuckled the next morning when reading Berman’s words: “...you suddenly realize what astronomers have known for 413 years: Wiggly, depression-inducing seeing is so widespread, you have no choice in the matter. A smile creeps across your face, the expression common to observers through the centuries. Finally you know its name and cause.”

 

© Judy Black (January 2023)

Stage 5: Acceptance
Ahh, acceptance.... and the relative calm that ensues. It is what it is. Accept that conditions are poor and just play – and that’s just what I did. I couldn’t get Jupiter’s moons completely focused but at least this time they were just fuzzies and not donuts – Io on one side with Europa, Ganymede and Callisto on the other. I tried my 10mm eyepiece after failure to see Jupiter’s stripes with the 40mm and 25 mm. After staring through the eyepiece for several seconds, I was able to vaguely discern the stripes in variable moments of good seeing and they were almost perfectly aligned with the line of the Galilean moons. Success? Maybe.

Having experienced this “success”, I slewed to view the Pleaides, saw Mars as a small red featureless spot centred in my FOV, and then turned my scope to Orion’s M42. I sketched what I saw, assuming it was M42 and other stars and nebula in close proximity.

 

© Astronomy (February 2023, p5)

Now, let’s come back to my morning coffee and reading the February 2023 edition of Astronomy. Stephen James O’Meara, in his article entitled “The Theta Orionis challenge”, challenged us to split Theta1 Orionis and Theta2 Orionis without optical aids. It’s an interesting read but what especially caught my attention was the photo in his article. It was the mirror image of what I saw in my scope and what I had sketched! 

Ah-ha, so that’s what I saw! Four stars with one looking elongated (that I initially attributed to the frustrations experienced earlier), 3 bright-ish stars in a line with a fourth less bright forming an equilateral triangle with the two further out, and two stars (one above and one below the quadrilateral). The nebula surrounding it was heart shaped with the quadrilateral side more nebulous than the part covering the first star. 

Success!
What I learned from this session is that we as astronomers eventually do succeed when we keep going out into the dark and cold, despite all the grief it gives us while out there. We go back night after night (skies allowing) to observe that special object, to perchance sketch its details or to capture it digitally. It’s a process, one we go through alone or with like-minded others – and there’s always acceptance (at some level) of what we see and how well we see it. Don’t we all go through these stages at some point in our observing careers and doesn’t the memory of it stay with us – success or not?

Details
Hits: 118

Messier object: M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)
Star Cluster: IC 4665
Stars: Alcor, HD 116798, Mizar

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-30/31
Time: 10:00 PM - 1:30 AM ADT
Equipment: EVOSTAR 80ED + 25 mm & 9.7 mm eyepieces
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Temperature: 17º C - 16º C
SQM: 19.72

No cloud, light breeze. Dew had already set in but hand warmers were applied to the scope and finder scope. Mosquitos to start the evening. Jackets not required for much of the evening. This was a session to hopefully overcome the alignment challenges experienced at Kejimkujik the weekend before (don't ask). Success with North level alignment, although it did require some minor slewing to centre the stars before saying 'yes, that's it'. I also had a new dual-circle reticule finder scope with which I practised 2-eye vision (just as Blair suggested years ago that I try).

The goals I set for this evening were to hopefully view some Messier and/or some of the DSOs in the now defunct constellation Taurus Poniatovii ("Poniatowski's Bull") - thanks, Dave, for showing me the Briaan Ventrudo article in Sky & Telescope (A Visit to Taurus Poniatovii). Success on both counts - not overwhelming success, but success nonetheless. I stayed out until 1:30 before taking down and after attempting to find a few other items in Taurus Poniatovii without siuccess.  I would have been out a lot longer had we not been heading to the Valley tomorrow for a day at the beach. 

Mizar (ζ Ursa Majoris) - Alcor (80 UMa) and HD116798
Time: 10:30 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope + 25.0 mm and 15 mm eyepieces
S&T Chart Reference: 32

After aligning the scope, I attempted to find Mizar and Alcor using the 25 mm eyepiece. It slewed to the correct direction but Mizar was not in the FOV. I had to use the finder scope to get it to the correct place. Found! 

I then switched out the eyepiece for 15 mm and used that view to sketch what was seen. I could actually see Mizar's ζ1 Ursa Majoris and ζ2 Ursa Majoris separated, one slightly larger and consequently seemingly brighter than the other. Interesting that the jury is still out as to whether these are a visual double or whether they are in fact gravitationally bound.
Mizar-Alcor and related star field

IC 4665 (in the asterism Taurus Poniatovii)
Time: 11:18 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope + 25.0 mm eyepiece
S&T Chart Reference: 54

I had the scope go to Cebalrai (β Ophi) and then slewed to find this open cluster that spells "HI". It literally filled the FOV with so many stars. What I sketched were the brightest of the stars I could see. It wasn't until I had finished the sketched and looked at what was on paper that I realized the stars did in fact spell "hi". Very Cool!

History of Taurus Poniatovii:
In 1777, Marcin Poczobutt, director of the royal observatory at Vilna (Today's Vilnius, in Lithuania), named it after Stanislaw August Poniatowski, King of Plane and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1764 to 1795. Poczobutt catalogued 16 stars and Jean Fortin included them in 1778 in his Atlas céleste de Flamséed as Taureau Royal de Poniatowski. John Alert Bode added many fainter stars to the asterism in his 1801 Uranographia. It fell into disuse in the later 19th Century. The name remains, though, to describe what currently is an asterism entirely within Ophiuchus.
Sketched Open Cluster IC4665
Labelled IC4665 with Cebalrai (β Ophi)

M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)
Time: 11:51 PM - 12:07 AM ADT
Equipment: Telescope + 25.0 mm and 15 mm eyepieces
S&T Chart Reference: 52

Using the 2-eyed vision through the finder scope, I had to slew to where I thought M13 was located a little below the line between η Herculis and ζ Herculis. Close. It was in the upper right quadrant of my 25 mm eyepiece FOV.  There was a bright star above it, a semi-circle of stars in the left FOV, and a triangle of stars to its upper right where one star was either a double or just had an optical double.

After sketching the 25 mm view, I inserted my 9.7 eyepiece for a completely different view. I could see the core was quite dense and there was a lighter area around its perimeter. There was a crescent of stars adjacent to it that I could not identify and a bright star in the upper right quadrant (maybe HD 150998).
M3 and its star field, 25 mm eyepiece
M3 and its star field, 9.7 mm eyepiece
Details
Hits: 140

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-23
Time: 12:35 AM ADT
S&T Chart Reference: 67
Instrument: EXOSTAR 80ED, 9.7 mm eyepiece with star diagonal
Magnification: x62
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
SQM: 19.62
Temperature: 19º C

Scutum was high in the SE sky so easily located tonight. M11 is one of my favourite clusters. It is easy to locate visually and with binoculars and can be easily identified in a time-lapse photograph. I consider it the golf ball that is next to the golf club.

I was learning to slew this new-to-me telescope. I slewed SE from β Sct where the cluster appears. It had one bright focal point but with averted vision there was a hint of many stars in the nebulosity. There were 2 stars (SAO 142703 & V369 Sct) that were close to the cluster and appeared to have some nebulosity as well.

Constellation:  Scutum
Type: Open Cluster
Magnitude: 5.8
Distance: 6.0 kly
Size: 13.0'
Details
Hits: 142

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-23
Time: 12:02 AM ADT
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 67
Instrument: EXOSTAR 80ED, 15 mm eyepiece & star diagonal 
Magnification: x40
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
SQM: 19.62
Temperature: 19º C

M14 appeared as a faint fuzzy half way and east of the line between Celabrai and Sabik. I could not make out any individual stars but it was equally 'dense' within the cluster.

There was an arc (like the one in Scorpius that includes Graffias). It was to the NW along with a much brighter star in the west. Two there stars appeared in the FOV as well.

Constellation:  Ophiuchus
Type: Globular Cluster
Magnitude: 7.6
Distance: 29.0 kly
Size: 11.7'
Details
Hits: 120

Stars: Aecrturus & its starfield

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-23
Time: 1:35 AM - 1:45 AM ADT
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 10x42 IS
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

As is my habit, I look out my window every evening after lights out. In the west was a bright seemingly twinkling reddish object. Was it a plane or a star? I stared at for a good 30 seconds to determine if it appeared to be getting closer or if it was it blinking, then gave up - got out the binoculars in the bag at my feet.

Yup. A star. A bright one with a group of stars in the same FOV completing the formation of a U". But what star had this star field? Now to SkySafariPro for some assistance. Arcturus! Positively identified with the U-shaped star field. Arcturus was very bright and large compared to the dimmer, smaller stars of the star field.

Details
Hits: 133

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-22
Time: 11:45 PM ADT
S&T Chart Reference: 67
Instrument: EXOSTAR 80ED, with star diagonal, 5 mm & 25 mm Sky-Watcher Let/5 Planetary
Magnification: x120 & x24
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

M12 was found by slewing from M10, eastwards and up slightly. What I found interesting when using the 5 mm eyepiece was the bright two stars in the lower right quadrant of the cluster's nebulosity. I couldn't make out any other stars in the cluster.

There was an arc of stars to the east of M12 and 2 others at a diagonal (NE-SW) west of M12. Several other very faint stars were visible with averted vision but there were too many to sketch.

Constellation:  Ophiuchus
Type: Globular Cluster
Magnitude: 6.8
Distance: 16.0 kly
Size: 14.5'
Details
Hits: 139

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-22
Time: 11:37 PM ADT
S&T Chart Reference: 56
Instrument: EXOSTAR 80ED, 15 mm Antares Plössl with star diagonal
Magnification: x40
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
SQM: 19.57
Temperature: 19º C

Learning to slew this new-to-me telescope to the object, and thankfully Ophiuchus remained high in the sky for this session. I have viewed M10 numerous times with 10x42 IS binoculars so knew generally where to look along the line (1/3 of the way up) from Sabik to κ Oph. 

It was a very faint roundish object. I could not see any individual or bright grouping of stars within the cluster.

Constellation:  Ophiuchus
Type: Globular Cluster
Magnitude: 6.6
Distance: 14.4 kly
Size: 15.1'

 

Details
Hits: 134

Stars: Albireo, Mizar-Alcor, HD 116798
Messier Objects: M10, M11, M12, M14

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07- 22/23
Time: 19:30 PM - 1:15 AM  ADT
Equipment: EVOSTAR 80ED Telescope
Eyepieces: Explore Scientific 82º APOV 4.7 mm, Antares Plössl 15 mm, Sky-Watcher UWA-58º 5 mm 
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Temperature: 22º C - 19º C
SQM: 19.15 - 19.62

This was the first time using my new-to-me go-to EVOSTAR 80 ED on a brand new AZ-GTI mount on its tripod. It was quite steady. Jerry and I were 'playing' with the star alignment options before delving into observing.

Mizar + Alcor + HD 116798
Time: 10:36 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope
Eyepiece: Explore Scientific 82º APOV 4.7 mm
Magnification: x127.6
SQM: 19.15
Temperature: 22 º C

Once again, I looked for the double stars Mizar and Alcor to also find their 3rd smaller and dimmer companion HD 116798. The eyepiece also allowed for a splitting of Mizar into  Mizar A and Mizar B.  Very happy about that.

There was another star almost due west of Mizar - GAIA 1563592744010133120 ("GAIA" in the sketch).

    

Albireo
Time: 10:36 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope
Eyepiece: Explore Scientific 82º APOV 4.7 mm
Magnification: x127.6
SQM: 19.58
Temperature: 20 º C

Albireo β1 was a very bright yellow and was quite close to the blue Albireo β2.

I also noticed 3 stars south of Albireo and one slightly above at 2 o'clock that formed an arc. There was also a very bright one at 10 o'clock.

    

The remainder of this evening was spent looking for Messier objects. For details on these observations, go to:

Details
Hits: 130

Lunar Craters: Aristarchus, Bettinus, Clavius, Maginus, Gassendi, Herodotus, Kircher, Phocylides, Porter, Schickard, Schiller, Segner, Tycho & ejecta, Zucchius
Mares: Mare Humorum, Mare Imbrium, Sinus Iridum
Lunar Montes/Vallis: Montes Agricola, Aristarchus Plateau, Vallis Schröteri
Asterism: Big Dipper
Stars: Altair, Arcturus, Deneb, Mizar / Alcor, Vega

Location: Home
Date: 2022-07-10
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:45 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual + Telescope (Skywatcher EVOSTAR 80ED) + 9.7 mm, 15 mm, & 25 mm
Magnification: x62, x40, x24
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Excellent (5)

Warm, no wind or clouds. Mosquitos!
 
We had our youngest granddaughter tonight for the second night of a 2-night sleepover. She and I slept in our tent in the back yard. I showed her the Moon through the newly acquired scope and she was wowed. She looked through the finder scope most times while I was viewing it through the eyepiece. Because I didn't have any tracking, it meant having to determine if the Moon could still be seen in the FOV.

 

 
One exciting rediscovery for me was the Aristarchus Plateau that was just above the line of the terminator. Around 7:30-8:00 PM, the rims of the two craters (bright-walled, central peaked Aristarchus and flat, dark-floored Herodotus) were very bright and that was what captured my attention at first. I initially thought they were Kepler and Encke until I used Sinus Iridum and Mare Imbrium to get the correct orientation of the Moon and therefore correctly determine what it was I was looking at. The curved Vallis Schröteri with its little kink halfway along the bend joined to Herodotus was seen with a pin-thin shadow on its floor. I could not discern the cobra head at the valley terminus near Herodotus.
 
I had seen the Plateau, associated craters, and the adjacent Montes Agricola before when it was well away from the terminus. Refer to IWLOP #122 - Aristarchus Plateau and Plateau Schröteri for details of my first observation of this interesting area.
The easily identified Gassendi, its attached Crater A, its missing wall adjacent to Mare Humorum were another fun rediscovery.
 
Going further south along the terminus at 8:00 PM, I also thought I was seeing the crater Bailey but at 10:30 PM I realized it was Schickard with its floor in the terminus darkness but a small part of its western wall illuminated. In a curved line along the terminus south of Schickard, I identified Phocylides, Segner, Zucchius, Bettinus, and Kircher with the elongated Schiller above Phocylides also easily identified.
 
Tycho, surrounded by what I refer to as its flower petals, was easily seen as was its huge ejecta field across the Moon. I tried to explain this to our granddaughter but it was lost on her. Although highly illuminated at this point, I was able to locate Maginus (because of its shape and few craters on the western wall) plus Clavius (with the large craters on its floor with Porter in its NE wall).
 
As the night got darker, she was shown stars by Grandpa Jerry and noted Vega (the first star we saw), the Big Dipper that she could see before us with her young eyes, Deneb, Altair, and Arcturus. He explained how the middle handle star in the Dipper was a double. When finished with the lunar searches, I turned my attention to the Big Dipper, specifically the double star (Mizar / Alcor) he mentioned. I was able to show it to her in the EVOSTAR; not sure if she was impressed or not; hard to tell. 
 
Didn’t think she would have an interest in the night skies but she had been learning some astronomy at school. She certainly asked questions - how far the moon is, whether our sun will explode and eat Earth and when, how far were the stars she saw, etc. A great evening but an early end to observing for me and a late evening for the little astronomer around 10:45 PM. 
 
 
Details
Hits: 147

Day 1 (June 27): We arrived on a warm sunny day with light to moderate winds across Kejimkujik Lake - until we turned towards our site on Big Muise Island. The wind had certainly picked up and continued to increase over the afternoon and evening. Rain!! Most of the afternoon into the evening, heavy bouts throughout the night. Observing out of the question!

Day 2 (June 28): Gentle rain for half the morning. Then the wind died, skies cleared and a beautiful day ahead. Yes, it was an amazing night under the stars! Jerry and I sat on the beach and watched as the golden glow of the sun in the west and the changing purple-pink in the east. The sound of small waves on the shore and the last sounds of the song birds were enjoyed. Did I mention mosquitos?
 
 
 
 
 
The Kejimkujik observing gods were with us for night 2 at this idyllic location.
 
 
Milky Way from Site 15 in Kejimkujik National Park © Jerry Black
We enjoyed one of the darkest nights I've ever experienced there. New Moon, clear sky, no breeze (perfect for mosquitos, not us), and no haze. SQM was higher than any I hope to obtain at home. With a clear horizon lower than ever seen in the past few years, Dave discovered Mankent in Centauri whereas I found objects in the lower part of Scorpius never before viewed (or so I thought), not to mention seeing all the stars in the tail.
 
In the recent RASC-produced SkyNews (July/August 2022) was Alan Dyer’s top 10 list of summer Milky Way targets that we decided to try finding. Because Dave needed to select 15 objects to make an observing list in SkySafari, the list was renamed “Alan Dyer’s 15 top 10 Targets in the Summer Milky Way.” These objects were found between my searches for the familiar, for those not seen for a long time, and for those new to me.
Barred Owl © Jerry Black
Dave referred to distractions that seemingly prolonged our observing session. One was my so-called "little binoculars" - 2.1 x 42, FOV 26º. Dave, Jerry and I had fun sharing them throughout the session and we chuckled with each handover because eyepiece adjustments had to be made each time. 
 
Mother Nature also gave us reason to pause throughout the night. We saw an owl, perhaps the Barred Owl we saw earlier, swoop silently to the reeds on our shore, hover, then silently fly to the opposite island. Fireflies in the shrubbery were a lighting surprise. Peepers and bullfrogs croaked occasionally. The anticipated soulful call of loons interrupted the quiet of the Kejimkujik night at least 3 times, beginning at sunset and continuing well into the night.
All in all, it was a highly successful and memorable night under the stars with great company!
 
Constellations: Böotes, Capricornus, Coma Berenices, Corona Borealis, Delphinus, Equuleus, Ophiuchus, Sagitta, Scorpius 
Asterisms: Coathanger/Collinder 399/Brocchi's Cluster, Keystone of Hercules, Teapot
Messier Objects: M3, M7, M8, M10, M11, M12, M13, M17, M18, M20, M21, M22, M24, M28, M55
Stars: Albireo, Altair, Alya, Arcturus, Antares, Ascella, β Sct, Diadem, Dshubba, η Herculis, η Sct, Graffias, HR 6266, Jabbah, Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Marfik, Menkant, Muphrid, ν Boo, Nunki, ω1 Sco, ω2 Sco, Sadr, τ Boo, τ Sco,τ Sgr, θ Sco, υ Boo, ζ Boo, ζ  Herculis, ζ1 Sco, ζ2 Sco, Shaula, 30 Ophi, 31 Boo  
Star Cloud: Scutum
Clusters: Collinder 316, IC 4756, NGC 6231, NGC 6633
Nebulas: Funnel Cloud Nebula, Pipe Nebula, North America Nebula, Veil Nebula
Not Observed or Located: Barnard 92, M4, M25, NGC 6940, Northern Coalsack

Location: Site 15 on Big Muise Island, Kejimkujik National Park, NS
Date: 2022-06-28/29
Time: 9:00 PM - 2:15 AM ADT
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars, 10x42 IS (6.5º FOV)
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Seeing: Excellent (5)

Time Temp (º C) SQM
11:27 PM 16 21.71
12:02 AM 16 22.01
12:39 AM 15 22.20
1:11 AM 15 21.76
1:45 AM 13 21.70

 

Stars of Böotes
Time: 9:44 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 42, 44, 53, 55

Arcturus was the first star I noticed naked eye in the darkening skies. Wanting to locate and identify the stars below Arcturus, I used the binoculars hoping to find them. Success! Muphrid/η Boo, τ Boo, υ Boo, ζ Boo and 31 Boo were found.

Observations:
1. The distance from Arcturus to ζ Boo was about x1.5 the distance of that between Arcturus and Muphrid.
2. 31 Boo was slightly fainter than ζ Boo.
3. τ Boo and υ Boo appeared similar in magnitude and were dimmer than Muphrid.

Research Notes:
1. Arcturus is mag -0.05 
2. ζ Boo is a triple star - physical binary (mag 4.5 & 4.6) plus optical companion (mag 10.9).
3. 31 Boo is mag 4.86.
4. τ Boo was mag 4.5, υ Boo was mag 4.06, and Muphrid was mag 2.68.

 

 

 

  

Scorpius
Time: 10:00 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 58, J

First thing noticed about the constellation was that it was ALL above the horizon! Antares was a definite red and what amazed me was the ω1 Sco and ω2 Sco location was visible naked eye. Binoculars showed the separation and their proximity at 7 o'clock to Graffias. I attempted to find M4 in this area but was not successful.

    

Teapot, M7, M22, M28 + Dyer's #2 
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

The Teapot was on the opposite side of the Milky Way from Scorpius and very easily identified as were numerous Messier objects in its vicinity.

  • M7 (Ptolemy's Cluster), west of Kaus Australis, shone brightly just above the horizon. Another of my favourite open clusters that almost fills my FOV. It reflected so beautifully on the surface of the mirror-like Lake.

  • M22/NGC 6656 was readily found east of Kaus Borealis (Teapot lid star). I went east from the star to find what looks like a group of stars forming a "Y" and just past that was the small round fuzzy.

  • M28/NGC 6626 was seen as a small fuzzy adjacent to Kaus Borealis.

Dyer's #2

  • M8 (Lagoon Nebula), above the spout, showed its characteristic line of stars in a nebulous oval-shaped border. The stars were particularly bright this evening.

  • M20 (Trifid Nebula) was found above M8, and appeared as a small round, centrally bright object. Same FOV as M8.

  • M21/NGC 6531 formed the 3rd side of a triangle with M8 and M20. Not as dense looking as the Trifid but a beautiful small open cluster nonetheless.

M17, M18, M24 + Dyer's Top 10, #3
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

M24 (Small Sagittarius Star Cloud) was easily found and viewed with binoculars. However, I did not identify Barnard 92 nor did I search for M25 as suggested by Alan Dyer.

In addition, I used the length of Kaus Australis to Kaus Media and went up x3 that length in binoculars to locate the small open cluster M18/NGC 6613 and M17 (Omega Nebula) above it with its larger size and nebulosity.

Ophiuchus, M10/NGC 6254, M12/6218 +
Dyer's #1 & #5
Time: 11:00 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 58, J

Ophiuchus is never hard to find above Scorpius and adjacent to Hercules. Its main stars were easily located from Rasalhague down to Sabik. I knew that two Messier objects were in the interior lower 1/3 of the constellation. I visually located Marfik/λ Oph, put my binoculars up and looked east of there to find both M10 and M12 well within my FOV. Both appeared as small greyish fuzzy objects.

Dyer's #1
We initially looked for the Dark Horse Nebula because the Pipe Nebula  and the large bowl of the Pipe - Barnard 78 - were part of it. In essence, the rear end of the horse comprises the Pipe Nebula. Area surrounding the nebula was quite bright by comparison.  Also learned following this trip that the nebula also has the designation of LDN 1773 - (Lynds Catalog of Dark Nebulae).

Dyer's #5
With Alya of Serpens at 9 o'clock in my binocular FOV, I found IC 4756 just a little above and to the right of the centre. By moving my binoculars just 1/2 FOV further west, I had it and NGC 6633 in view. Both beautiful and big! Stars dispersed in both clusters with the NGC a little smaller in size, a bit more compact, and perhaps a bit brighter as well.

 

 

 

 

M12 on the right next to 30 Oph; M10 in centre & left of Marfik/λ Oph

Scorpius + NGC 6231 + Collinder 316 - New to me!
Time: 11:40 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 58, J

Using binoculars, I noticed 3 very bright stars I thought were below Scorpius. Turns out they were actually in the tail - ζ1 Sco, ζ2 Sco and HR 6266.

In the same FOV and above them was a beautiful little cluster with quite a bright core that I identified as NGC 6231; not really sure if I could make out any individual stars.

Looking above NGC 6231 was a scattering of stars with about 9 bright stars among thousands less bright distributed throughout a broad nebulosity - Collinder 316 - and it was quite a large open cluster! Come to find out when I returned home that NGC 6231 was observed in San Pedro de Atacama (2018) when shown the "false comet" that was formed by it and Trumpler 24.  

As long as these features remained above the horizon, I kept returning to look at them. Beautiful. An 'oh wow' moment on the beach that I wanted to etch into memory.

 

Rough sketch made on the beach (Judy Black)

Keystone of Hercules + M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)
Time: 11:45 PM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 58, J

With such a clear sky, I sought the Keystone of Hercules to locate M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster). Looked for the Big Dipper, moved easterly to Corona Borealis then further east for the Keystone quite high in the sky. With binoculars, I looked 2/3 of the way north from ζ Herculis to η Herculis. Success! There was the familiar small grey fuzzy.

Scutum Star Cloud (Dyer's #4)
Time: 12:00 AM
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

Scutum Star Cloud is one of my favourite sites to find as it contains M11 (Wild Duck Cluster). Always able to find this object because of its rather square-ish nebulous appearance with a bright object in each of the uppermost 2 "corners" (M11 and β Sct). In my binocs, M11 looks like a small, bright, round fuzzy golf ball beside the golf club formed by stars in the star cloud.

M55 / NGC 6809 (Summer Rose Star)
Time: 12:10 AM
Equipment: Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 66, 68

M55 is located between the Teapot in Sagittarius and Capricornus. I used the Teapot as the start point to find it, placing Nunki at about 2 o'clock in the FOV. I then moved down 1 FOV where the globular cluster was just off-centre.

It can also be found by going from Ascella to τ Sgr in the lower handle of the Teapot then following the arch of stars from there - ψ Sgr to ξ Sgr to 52 Sgr. The cluster can then be seen "below" 52 Sgr.

 

 

Delphinus, Equuleus, Sagitta + Dyer's #7 
Time: 12:38 AM
Equipment: Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 64, 75
SQM: 22.20 (the highest ever at this site to my recollection)
Temperature 15º C

Dyer's #7, the Coathanger / Collinder 399 / Brocchi's Cluster, is one of my favourite asterisms to view in the night skies. Easily found 1/3-1/2 of the line from Albireo (in Cygnus) and Altair (in Aquila). In our Northern Hemisphere, the hanger is upside-down and at an angle. All 10 stars in this asterism were easily seen and identified.

While in the Coathanger neighbourhood, I visually located three familiar friends:

  • Sagitta is a very small 4-star constellation. On this night, it took a few seconds to locate this relatively faint star formation near the Coathanger.
  • Delphinus is below Sagitta and near Altair. Its 5-star formation was easily found.
  • Equuleus is a 3-star constellation first pointed out to me by a friend at a Nova East Star Party. It is located a bit below and to the east of Delphinus.

 

 

 

 

 

M53 / NGC 5024
Time: 12:49 AM
Equipment: Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 64, 75

I used Arcturus as the start point, then travelled down to Muphrid. From there, I went 1.5 FOVs and M53 was pretty much centred in my view above Diadem (α Comae Berenices). It was small, dense, faint grey, and circular.

M3 / NGC 5272
Time: 1:11 AM
Equipment: Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 44

I used Arcturus at the 8 o'clock position in my FOV then moved up 1 FOV. M3 was then seen. There appeared to be distinct formations formed by stars adjacent to M3 that I attempted to identify. Not sure if these are correct. 

  • 3 stars in a triangular formation east of M3 - tentatively identified as HD119391, SAO 82955 and TYC 2004-1463-1.
  • 4 stars in an arc-like formation east of the triangle - tentatively identified as HD120049, HD119686, HD119477 and SAO 82958
  • 2 stars formed a triangle with the Messier object facing west - tentatively identified as HD199748 and HR5145

 

 

     

Dyer's #8, #9 & #10 
Time: 1:45 AM
Equipment: Binoculars 

Certainly, some objects on his list were new to me and did provide fun and a challenge to find and observe, such as nebulas with 10x42 binocs. It was around this time we heard the bullfrog for the first time and noticed fireflies in the shrubbery between us and the campsite.

Dyer's  #8 - New to me!
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 73
The Veil Nebula filled my FOV; the circular formation of the east and west arcs could be faintly discerned but details of the arcs' composition and density were not forthcoming. I had seen this object in segments though other RASC members' telescopes but this was first seeing it through binoculars. NGC 6940 was not viewed.

Dyer's  #9
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 73, H
The North America Nebula/NGC 7000/Caldwell 20 was a nebula that had alluded me until a couple of years ago. Located adjacent to Deneb, I had been searching for a "black" patch of sky instead of the illuminated patch of nebulosity with stars. The Gulf of Mexico with the Yucatan Peninsula are the formations I look for when seeking out this object. I did not note the Northern Coalsack that Alan Dyer mentioned in his article.

Dyer's #10 - New to me!
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 73, H
The Funnel Cloud Nebula / Le Gentil 3 was fun to find between Cygnus and Cepheus. It took a few moments to locate this dark preserving funnel-shaped object. It wasn't as dark as I had anticipated; it was dark but had a very pale nebulosity. The sky was certainly brighter along its borders. Can't wait to view it in larger binoculars or in one of my telescopes.

 

 

 

 

 

Rough sketch made on the beach (Judy Black)

 

Details
Hits: 200

Constellation: Auriga 
Asterism: Leaping Minnow (in Auriga)
Geminid Meteor Shower

Location: SCO
Date: 2017-12-14
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM AST
Equipment: Binoculars, 10x420  IS
S&T Chart Reference: 12
Transparency: Not recorded
Seeing: Not recorded

Slight hazy skies with occasional cloud cover. A group of us were at SCO to observe the dark skies.

Leaping Minnow / Flying Minnow (Asterism)
Time: 7:40 PM AST
Equipment: Binoculars
Dave Chapman pointed out the asterism. Three sets of double stars with supposedly a single star each for the tail and head. Very easily seen with the binoculars.

It includes Aurigae 14, 16 & HD 34257, 17 & IQ Aur, 18 & 19 and another star unidentified. It doesn't look like a minnow in the star maps but it sure does in binoculars! Can't miss it!

If looking in a telescope it is between IC410 and the Flaming Star Nebula / IC405.

    

Geminid Meteor Shower
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM AST
Equipment: Visual
The slight hazy skies eventually clouded over and gave us snow that needed the observing session. However, we did get to see 17 Geminids over the 2-hour time frame.

Details
Hits: 186

Constellations: Gemini
Messier Object: M105
Star: Castor

Location: Home
Date: 2022-05-18
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:40 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT
Transparency: Fair (2) - Good (3)
Seeing: Fair (2) - Good (3)
Temperature: 8º C

Jerry and I were in our back yard. He had set up his camera to capture some Messier objects, whereas I had set up the 10" Meade (with his help). According to Astrospheric, the skies were average Seeing and below average transparency. Bright stars were clearly visible but I did recognize that dimmer stars would be more challenging to see.

This evening's session had 2 purposes:
     1- To use my new acquired 20 mm illuminated reticule eyepiece, and
     2- To practise conducting what I refer to as the 6-star alignment but was actually a 2-star alignment plus 4-star calibration. The stars used for the alignment were Spica (in Virgo) and Dubhe (in Ursa Major). The calibration stars used (not in order they were used) were Mizar (in Ursa Major), Denebola (in Leo), Arcturus (in Boötes), and Alphecca (in Corona Borealis). It wanted to use Vega and we did let it slew to its location but we would have to move our house for it see it. Too funny.

After finding each of the 6 stars using the go-to feature of the telescope, I centred the object in the finder scope then went to the eyepiece to centre it using the lit reticule. What a difference it made with the object truly centred. Changing to an eyepiece with a higher smaller resolution would mean the object would remain in the FOV which would allow for sketching of the objects and the star field (perhaps at different magnifications). With each star being centred and confirmed, the ability of the scope to find have the wanted object in the FOV improved.

Castor
Time: 10:57 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT with 20 mm illuminated reticule
Magnification: x125
SQM: 19.48

Sketched with 20 mm illuminated reticule

 

This was an "Oh, Wow!" moment.

I had Castor centred in the illuminated reticule, turned off the light and noted the star appeared elongated, perhaps due to not being in focus. When focused, there it was - a double star! Oh, wow!

Two stars, one above the other, one brighter than the other, one larger than the other and extremely close to one another. I could also see two other stars in the FOV that otherwise was devoid of any other stars.

Using SkySafariPro, I was able to identify the two stars as YY Geminorum (also known as Castor C) and TYC2453-0454-1.

When I went back in the house later, I did some research on Castor. SkySafariPro had named both stars as Castor α Gem with no distinction other than different magnitudes. This piqued my curiosity. Come to find out that Castor is a 6-star system, all of which are spectroscopic binaries. Castor A and Castor B have magnitudes of 1.9 and 3.0 respectively and only 6 arc seconds apart. Castor C is an eclipsing binary with an apparent magnitude of 9.8; it is 73 arcseconds distant from the bright components.

All six stars are bound to each other by gravity and share a common motion through space. The components of each of the three binary systems orbit each other and the three binary pairs also circle around each other in a total of five orbits. Castor A and Castor B have a period of 445 years and Castor AB and Castor C complete an orbit every 14,000 years. Individual components have much shorter orbital periods: 9.2128 days for Castor Aa and Castor Ab, 2.9283 days for Castor Ba and Castor Bb, and only 0.814 days for Castor Ca and Castor Cb.

M105
Time: 11:257 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT with 20 mm, 15 mm, 12 mm with 90º FOV
Magnification: x125, x167, x208
SQM: 19.52

Using SkySafariPro, I located M105 halfway below the imaginary line joining Regulus to Chertan. I then used the go-to to slew to that area and saw after much staring in to grey space what was a very, very faint smudge that I centred in the finder scope. I then moved to the SCT and had to make minor adjustments to get the smudge centred in my newly acquired 20 mm lit reticule. No definitive shape other than potentially an oblong out of focus. It remained as an undefined grey smudge on a grey starless star field despite several attempts to see it using the 20 mm, 15 mm and 12 mm. I gave up for the evening, especially in light of the poor quality of the transparency. So disappointing.

Perhaps next time I should try one of the many filters I have to determine if one of them makes a difference in what is seen.

Details
Hits: 128

Location: Home
Date: 2022-04-06
Time: 9:30 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 40 mm Plössl
Magnification: x63
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 2º C
SQM: 19.24
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Ursa Major
Magnitude: 8.0
Distance: 0.51 kly
Size: Pleasingly close

The Big Dipper was standing on its handle above the roofline of our house in the NE. This was my first observation of the double star in Ursa Major!

I used the telescope to find Dubhe from where I was observing M35 in Gemini. I then slewed to Merge before going a little lower on the right. The pair become very evident in the FOV. 

The stars comprising the pleasingly close pair were:   
   * HD238107 - the brighter one of the pair (mag 9.65)
   * HD238108 - less bright (mag 10.10)

These 2 stars were amazingly bright against the "black background."
Details
Hits: 218

Location: Home
Date: 2022-04-05
Time: 9:15 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 40 mm Plössl
Magnification: x63
Transparency: Excellent (1)
Seeing: Excellent (1)
Temperature: 5º C
SQM: 19.52
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Auriga
Magnitude: 6.4
Distance: 4.2 kly
Size: 21'

It's a very open but faint and diffuse cluster. I could see how it got its name while looking through the eyepiece (with a bit of imagination) but it did look more like a cross. I don't think my sketch captured the starfish appearance. To my eyes, it looked like a cross on its side. I had slewed northerly of M36 to find M38.

NOTE:
I had observed M38 almost 4 years ago at SCO - a night of discovery!

Date: 2018-05-18
Time: 10:28 PM ADT
Instrument: 10x42 IS Binoculars
Magnification: x10 + x83
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 9º C
No clouds. Hazy near the horizon.

Having found M36 a few moments ago, I moved my binocs just a little towards the north (~ 1 FOV). M38 was very faint in the binoculars so tried the SCT - success! Still a bit faint and diffuse in the eyepiece but I could see 4 definitive bright stars. There rest of the star field was diffuse; perhaps because of the haziness closer to the horizon, the "cross" structure I had read about wasn't visible.
Details
Hits: 225

Location: Home
Date: 2022-04-05
Time: 8:50 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 40 mm Plössl
Magnification: x63
Transparency: Excellent (1)
Seeing: Excellent (1)
Temperature: 5º C
SQM: 19.52
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Auriga
Magnitude: 5.6
Distance: 4.4 kly
Size: 20'

I was visually observing Messier objects and Jerry was imaging DSOs.

I slewed the scope "up" from Elnath in Auriga, just west of the line formed between Elnath and θ Auriga. I had used the same technique in a 2018 observation. M37 was seen as a very open cluster. Couldn't determine a pattern or shape other than the curve of stairs in the SE.

NOTE: I had observed M37 for the first time four years ago, and have looked at it with binoculars many times since.

Date: 2018-05-18
Time: 10:00 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + 10x42 IS binoculars + 10" Meade SCT with 30 mm Spears-Waler
Magnification: x10 + x83
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

Now that I knew M37 is an open cluster (not a globular one as I had assumed 4 nights before), I hoped to have a better chance of finding it just west of the line formed between Elnath and θ Auriga.

It was very loose with a bright central star and 5 other bright stars. The haziness near the horizon made for difficulty in seeing more stars of the cluster. I used my binoculars and after a few tries I found it! I drew it as I saw it. Jerry then used our SCT* to confirm it was what I saw.

 

* At this time, the SCT was not on motorized mount. We jokingly referred to it as the "push-to SCT."

 

Details
Hits: 233

Location: Home
Date: 2022-04-05
Time: 9:25 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 40 mm Plössl
Magnification: x63
Transparency: Excellent (1)
Seeing: Excellent (1)
Temperature: 4º C
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Auriga
Magnitude: 6
Distance: 4.1 kly
Size: 12'

I knew M36 was between M38 and M37. After locating M37, I slewed the telescope northerly and a little lower towards the horizon. The centre seemed to be filled with multitudes of dim stars. No one star really stood out as being the brightest in the cluster. Could see where some of the lines of stars were curved like a pinwheel's blade, although one may not guess that from my sketch. 

NOTE:
I first viewed this Messier object almost 3 years ago.

Location: Home
Date: 2018-05-18
Time: 10:20 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 30 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x83
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 9º C
No clouds. Hazy near the horizon.

 

I used the grey fuzzy M37 as the start point with binoculars to find M36. Then used the push-to* SCT to obtain better definition of the cluster. I could detect 10 bright stars in a diffuse star field.

 

* At this time, the SCT was not on motorized mount. We jokingly referred to it as the "push-to SCT."

 

 

Details
Hits: 235

Location: Home
Date: 2022-04-05
Time: 9:40 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 40 mm Plössl
Magnification: x63
Transparency: Excellent (1)
Seeing: Excellent (1)
Temperature: 4º C
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Gemini
Magnitude: 5.1
Distance: 2.8 kly
Size: 28'

Jerry and I were looking for Messier objects - me to visually observe (outside), him to image (mostly inside). Gemini held its high position above our trees to the W-SW.

Located Tejat then slewed northerly and lower towards the horizon just a little. It's a beautiful cluster with lots of stars. I began my sketch with the two bright central stars. There was a curved line of 5 stars to the east of them. Seven stars that went SW then 2 stars to the west looked like a hockey stick with a super huge blade. Didn’t notice nor look for the adjacent NGC 2158.

NOTE #1: I first viewed this cluster on May 5, 2018 at 10:10 PM at SCO with binoculars. It looked like a fuzzy circle when viewed with averted vision. I could detect 4 bright stars.

NOTE #2: Had another look on April 2, 2022 where I may have also seen NGC 2158 nearby.

Date: 2022-04-02
Time: 10:30 PM ADT
Instrument: 6" SkyWatcher Dobsonian, 40 mm TeleVue
Magnification: x30
Transparency: Fair - Good (3-4)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 1º C
SQM: 19.55
Windy with gusts, no clouds.

Jerry and I were again looking for Messier objects - me to visually observe, him to image.
Gemini was high above our trees as was most of Orion. Followed Castor's stars to his foot to find M35. many bright stars visible with too many to count in the diffuse background. Bright point south of it that made me wonder if it was NGC 2158 (or was is it 1 Geminorum?).
Details
Hits: 234

Location: St. Croix Observatory (SCO)
Date: 2022-04-05
Time: 10:00 PM ADT
Instrument: 10" Meade SCT, 25 mm Plössl
Magnification: x100
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Temperature: 2º C
SQM: 19.37
No wind or clouds.

Constellation:  Cassiopeia
Magnitude: 6.9
Distance: 5.0 kly
Size: 12.0'

Tried 40 mm Plössl but the cluster was too small and faint so switched to the 25 mm Plössl.

I used the distance from Shedar to Caph, followed the line they formed up the same distance to find M52. Had fun trying to slew at an angle versus a vertical or horizontal line.

M52 is much smaller and fainter than the 3 Messier objects in Auriga. Looked almost rectangular in shape with the brighter stars on the north side. 
Details
Hits: 145

IWLOP #102 - Mare Cognitum & Kuiper

Mare Cognitum, the “Known Sea,” was named in 1964 to mark the successful flight of the Ranger 7 spacecraft, which sent back the first detailed television pictures of the lunar surface. Kuiper, located in central Cognitum, is an excellent example of a small, simple crater.

Location: 9.8 S 22.7 W    Origin: Impact     Size: 6.8 km (Kuiper)   Rukl: 42     Type: Simple Crater (CS)

Objects: Mare Cognitum, Ranger 7 landing site, Kuiper, Darney, Mons Moro
Others Identified: Darney C, Eppinger

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2020-08-28
Time: 8:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 12 mm eyepiece with 90° FOV
Magnification: x210
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: Mare Cognitum is between Oceanus Procellarum in the northwest, Mare Nubium in the southeast, and Mare Humorum in the southwest. The Ranger 7 landed southeast of Kuiper.
R2: Kuiper is in the centre of the mare in what appears to be a flat plains. Darney is located in a rugged mountainous area south of Kuiper and appears to be about twice the size of Kuiper.

C1: There are several wrinkle ridges throughout the Mare.

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-03-22
Time: 9:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Good (3)

C2: Mons Moro appeared as a small raised area or mountain (?) SW of Kuiper and NW of Darney on Mare Cognitum. Couldn't make out any distinctive features.

NOTE: (July 15, 2021) Investigated to confirm my findings last year regarding size and found that Darney's width is 15 km which is a little more than twice the size of Kuiper. Good guess on my part.

Details
Hits: 186

IWLOP #101 - Kies, Mercator & Campanus

Kies is a flooded crater with a nearby volcanic dome designated π (Pi). Mercator and Campanus are two nearly equal-sized craters located at the edge of Mare Nubium.

Location: 26.3 S 22.5 W    Origin: Impact     Size: 44 km (Kies), 47 km (Mercator), 48 km (Campanus)  
Length: 180 km (Rupes Mercator)    Rukl: 53     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Kies, Bullialdus, Mercator, Rupes Mercator, Volcanic Dome Kies π, Campanus
Others Identified: Capuanus, Capuanus A, Bullialdus A & B, Campanus A, Dunthorne, König & König A, Marth, Ramsden

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-21
Time: 12:15 AM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Temperature: 17° C
SQM: 18.86

R1: Directly south of Bullialdus is Kies. It's walls are barely seen; the SW has a small area that is quite high. It's shaped like a small magnifying glass, short handle that may be higher in elevation than the crater walls.
R2:  Mercator does not have a peak and is shallower than Campanus and perhaps more worn. Campanus is NW of Mercator.  Rupes Mercator begins at Mercator's rim and goes southeasterly towards Rima Hesiodus. 

   

C1:  The volcanic dome just west of Kies designed π was observed; it appeared as a slightly raised area.
C2: Mercator does not have a peak whereas Campanus does. Campanus has a peak, its floor is darker and its sides steeper than those of Mercator. The unnamed rille appears as a thin dark line between the two craters; the south section curves into an area between the craters then heads north towards the small mountains on the mare floor.

Details
Hits: 188

IWLOP #114 - Mons Delisle & Mons Vinogradov

Picturesque, small, isolated mountains in Mare Imbrium.

Location: 26.9 N 36.0 W    Origin: Impact     Diameter: 30 km (Mons Delisle), 25 km (Mons Vinogradov)   Rukl: 19    Type: Mounts

Objects: Delisle, Diophantus, Mons Delisle, Mons Vinogradov
Others Identified: Brayley, Euler, Natasha

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 11:55 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Temperature: 17° C
SQM: 18.86

There was cloud cover from 11:40 PM to 11:55 PM. Knew where to look once clouds opened for viewing.

R1: Delisle is a little deeper than Diophantus; both are round but couldn't see either floor. Mons Delisle appears as a partial semi-circle, almost tooth-shaped with the point well lit and the base darker. Mons is steep-sided on the inner curve.
R2: Diophantus shallower than Delisle, has a central peak with a ridged west wall. Mons Vinogradov shows 2 bright areas in the SE. The whole area looks triangular in shape with the 2 bright spots on one of its sides. Also, several domes (approximately 12) were seen east of the Mons.



Details
Hits: 202

IWLOP #117 - Mons Gruithuisen Gamma (ϒ) & Delta (δ)

Impressive twin-shield volcanoes on boundary between Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum.

Location: 36.3 N 40.0 W    Origin: Volcanic     Size: 20 km each     Rukl: 9     Type: Domes

Objects: Mons Gruithuisen Gamma (ϒ) & Delta (δ), Mairan T, Sinus Roris, Mairan

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 10:45 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5) 
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: The two domes stood out as bright, white entities like sentries standing guard at the entry to some highlands/craters. Delta wasn't as bright as Gamma but Gamma was tall enough to cast a shadow on Delta. Delta appeared elongated compared to the rounded Gamma. Tall shadows created by both.

The crater Gruithuisen appears round with a bright rim. Upon closer examination, I realized a small crater had impacted the rim, giving me the false initial impression of a deteriorated wall.

 

C1:  Could not see the summit crater on Mons Gruithuisen Gamma.
C2: Most of Mairan was in shadow. Mairan T was beyond the terminator.

 

Details
Hits: 175

IWLOP #105 - Montes Carpatus

Picturesque mountain range located just north of crater Copernicus at the edge of Mare Imbrium.

Location: 15.0 N 25 W    Origin: Impact     Length: 500 km   Rukl: 20, 31    Type: Mount

Objects: Montes Carpatus, Copernicus, Rima Guy-Lussac
Others Identified: Draper, T. Mayer, T. Mayer A & B

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 10:57 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Excellent (5)

  

R1: Montes Carpatus extends east from Gay-Lussac to T. Mayer in the west. It appears to have been impacted numerous times or was created when Mare Imbrium was first impacted. Irregular peaks and valleys along its length.

C1: The herringbone pattern of secondary craters begin above Copernicus and continue to the east half way along the range on what appears to be both sides.
C2: The Rima Gay Lussac was not seen during this session.

 

Details
Hits: 179

IWLOP #111 - Hortensius & Hortensius Domes

A fine sharp-rimmed crater (2860m deep) with a fascinating group of domes nearby. The domes are quite obvious under the right lighting conditions, but are elusive at other times.

Location: 7.0 N 28.0 W    Origin: Impact and Volcanism     Size: 14.6 km (Hortensius) and various domes   Rukl: 30     Type: Simple Crater (CS) and Domes

Objects: Hortensius, Hortensius Domes, Mare Insularum ("Sea of Isles")
Others Identified: Copernicus, Milichius, T. Mayer, T. Mayer A

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20, 2 days after 1st Quarter
Time: 11:07 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Temperature: 18° C

R1: Hortensius is circular; its floor was in shadow. The west wall was very bright. Could barely see the 5 domes; they were noticed because of the slight darkening on the shadow side. 
R2:  Mare Insularum featured many island-like highlands. A group between the domes and Copernicus looked like they formed partial walls of a ghost crater with a slightly darker floor than the area outside its 'rim'.

C1: Could not see the summit craters on the Hortensius Domes in this session.

 

Details
Hits: 182

IWLOP #112 - Mare Insularum Volcanic Complex

Volcanic dome complex, smaller than crater Hortensius, in the northern reach of Mare Insularum.

Location: 10.0 N 31.0 W    Origin: Volcanic     Size: Various domes   Rukl: 30, 19     Type: Domes

Objects: Milichius, Milichius A, Mare Insularum, T. Mayer, T. Mayer α (Alpha), T. Mayer β (Beta), T. Mayer ζ (Zeta)
Others Identified: Hortensius, Montes Carpatus

Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 11:09 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Excellent (5)

R1: Milichius and Milichius A are found north of Hortensius and east of Kepler. They are both smaller than Hortensius. Crater A is much smaller and shallower. Crater π was seen as circular.

C1: T. Mayer, T. Mayer α (Alpha) and T. Mayer ζ (Zeta) were located. 

Not Observed:
C2: The summit craters on T. Mayer α (Alpha) and T. Mayer ζ (Zeta) 
C3: The lower, less defined domes in the vicinity of the T. Mayer domes

 

Details
Hits: 188

IWLOP #030 – Hommel

Extremely complex crater with several overlapping structures.

Location: 54.6 S 33.0 E   Origin: Impact    Size: Crater 125 km    Rukl: 75     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Hommel, Pitiscus, Vlacq, Rosenberger, Search, Biela, Hagecius

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-20
Time: 10:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4) 
Transparency: Very Good (4) 

R1: Located Hommel SSW of Janssen. Identified its craters A, B, C, D, H and P. Also located J, Q, R, S, and V.

NOTE: It was difficult to discern exactly where this crater's walls were located given the numerous impacts it had on or near its original walls. Took a photo at the telescope of what I was viewing then used Rukl to help determine what I was seeing. 

R2: Pitiscus had an off-centre crater next to a raised formation; there was a terraced SW wall with a crater.

Vlacq appears to have sharp edges and perhaps 2 peaks or a split central peak.

Rosenberger is shallower and its SW rim appears worn.

 

C1: Biela is an oval with crater C impacting its NE rim; crater A is just above crater C.

Nearch and its crater A were also identified. Hagecius has large craters B and C on its SE walls.

 

Details
Hits: 219

IWLOP #025 – Mare Nectaris ("Sea of Nectar")

The smallest of the major circular maria at 350 km across, it formed about 3.92 billion years ago. Even though Mare Nectaris is relatively small compared to other large basins, it still covers over 10 degrees of the lunar surface and may require various terminator angles for optimum views of all the features listed below. The absence of rilles may relate tot he relative thinness of lava in this mare.

Location: 15.0 S 40-30 E     Origin: Impact and Volcanism      Size: 350 km      Rukl: 58, 47     Type: Basin

Objects: Mare Nectaris, Bohnenberger, Rosse, Beaumont, Daguerre
Others Identified: Capella, Fracastorius, Isadoris, Mädler, Theophilis

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-17
Time: 9:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Excellent (5) 
Transparency: Very Good (4) 

R1: Wrinkle ridges on eastern areas of Mare Nectaris and west of Bohnenberger are almost parallel to Montes Pyrenaeus. Arcurate rilles not evidenced.

C1: Bohnenberger is west of the lower half of the Montes Pyrenaeus. Rosse is slightly off-centre of the Mare and it appears that its ejecta runs north-south with some going eastward. Beaumont (west of Fracastorius) looks to have its northern rim eroded; couldn't see features on its floor.
C2:  Daguerre at this point in the lunation appeared almost as a ghost crater. However, the ejecta ray from Mädler goes through one of the craters just inside Daguerre's eastern rim, and that helped identify Daguerre's location.

Details
Hits: 190

IWLOP #032 – Wohler

Slightly elongated intermediate crater with a smooth floor.

Location: 38.2 S 31.4 E   Origin: Impact    Size: Crater 27 km    Rukl: 67     Type: Intermediate Crater (CI)

Objects: Wohler, Stiborius, Stiborius C, Nicolai, Spallanzani
Others Identified: Lindenau, Rabi Levi, Riccius, Zagut

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-17
Time: 9:37 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Excellent (5) 
Transparency: Very Good (4) 
SQM: 19.01
Temperature: 18° C

R1:  Wohler has no central peak; its SW wall is wider and steeper than the NE wall. Not as deep as Stiborius.  Stiborius has a central peak and appears to be in a relatively flat area (of another crater?). The SW wall is particularly steep, and wide walls in the SW. Stiborius C much shallower and smaller.

C1: Nicolai looked circular with 2 craters on its north wall and had a flat floor. Nicolai A also noted. Spallanzani looked to have a small crater on its west wall and was much smaller than Nicolai. Because Spallanzani was close to the terminator, I couldn't see its floor or interior rim details.
C2: Numerous craters were seen in this area - craters upon craters.
Details
Hits: 197

IWLOP #046 - Zagut, Rabbi Levi & Lindenau

Interesting group of craters located in a crowded and somewhat difficult area to navigate.

Location: 32.0 S 22.1 E    Origin: Impact     Size: 79 km (Zagut), 82 (Rabbi Levy), 53 (Lindenau)     Rukl: 67     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Rabbi Levi, Zagut, Zagut A & E, Lindenau, Rothman, Celsius
Others Identified: Altai Scarp, Piccolomini, Riccius, Wilkins

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-17
Time: 9:25 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)   

R1: Zagut had the large central Zagut A on its floor and Zagut E on its east wall. Rabbi Levi had 5 craters in its western floor plus numerous others on its eastern wall. Lindenau had 2 peaks split by a rille; its western wall appeared terraced/slumped almost to the peaks.

R2: The circular Rothman was located northeast of the trio craters and had a central peak plus steep walls.

Celsius was west of the three, forming a triangle with Zagut and Rabbi Levi. Besides the north crater on its floor, there appeared to be other structures such as rilles on its north floor. Every wall of Celsius appears to have small craters.

 

Details
Hits: 150

Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (16.2%)
Q-Day: -5

Moonset: 12:29 AM       Moonrise: 9:02 AM                   
Sunrise: 5:45 AM          Sunset: 8:38 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Time: 8:20 PM – 10:30 PM
Temperature: 12° C - 8° C
SQM: 18.56
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

Mostly cloudy with large sucker holes that eventually cleared off completely.

Got to see Newcomb once more and its related craters, A, B, C, G, and J. Craters J and G were in line with A. Crater G looked to be the shallowest and to be the most elongated. B and C were identified to the NE of this line of craters.

Could very easily see the clump on one end of the crater and where Crater A had impacted its NW rim. Montes Taurus was seen as well to its SW.

 


Note: Sketch from IWLOP #19: Newcomb

 

Details
Hits: 127

IWLOP #022 – Janssen

Large crater with a 140 km system of rilles on its floor.

Location: 44.9 S 41.0 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 250 km      Rukl: 68, 67     Type: Simple Crater (CS)

Objects: Janssen, Lockyer
Others Identified: Fabricus, Janssen A, Metius, Rimae Janssen, Steinheil, Watt, Janssen craters T, D, F, S, E, R, M, J, C, X

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Time: 9:25 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Excellent (5) 
Transparency: Very Good (4) 

R1: There were several secondary craters on the Janssen floor. Fabricus interrupts its N-NE landscape and Lockyer interrupts it in the SW. The rim appears pockmarked with small craters.

C1: There was a rille from Fabricus that cut through the central peak, headed south and split east of Lockyer. There was a hint of a northern part that entered Fabricus and then passed between Fabricus and Janssen A, but not sure.

  

Details
Hits: 193

IWLOP #023 – Montes Pyrenaeus

Near the crater Bohnenberger (33 km), Montes Pyranaeus appears as a ridge forming part of an inner ring of the Mare Nectaris.

Location: 14.0 S 41.0 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 250 km      Rukl: 48, 47, 58     Type: Mount

Objects: Montes Pyrenaeus, Bohnenberger, Gutenburg
Others Identified: Bellot, Colombo, Cook, Gaudibert, Magehaens, Mange, Santbech

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Time: 9:50 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Very Good (4) 
Transparency: Excellent (5)

R1: Bohnenberger was on the west side of Montes Pyranaeus; small craters to the north and south. A north crater and Bohnenberger appear to form the exterior walls of a valley. Half way up , there is an east-west break the mountain range. There's a jagged ridge on the the N side of the valley - both sides of the valley, actually. The valley looks to be crossed with 2 ridges.

The Montes Pyrenaeus appears short with interruptions, but its western edge appears to be continuous from Bognenberger to Gutenberg.

Details
Hits: 172

IWLOP #016 – Franklin & Cepheus

Fine duo of craters located to the northeast of Lacus Somniorum.

Location: 38.8 N 47.7 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 56 km, 40 km      Rukl: 15      Type: Simple Crater (SC)

Objects: Franklin, Cepheus, Cepheus A
Others Identified: Atlas, Berzelius, Hercules, Oersted, Posidonius

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 8:50 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Very Good (4) 
Seeing: Excellent (5)

R1: Franklin: Central peak, well terraced crater walls. Appeared to have one area of its wall that wasn't as clearly defined as the rest; perhaps due to lighting or my perception of reality.
R2: Cepheus: Smaller than Franklin and to its NW. Crater A impacted the eastern wall and is quite deep.

NOTE: These  craters are in a SW line from Atlas. Franklin had a ghost crater to its SE.

Details
Hits: 239

IWLOP #020 – Metius & Fabricus

These two prominent craters are nearly equal in size and structure with deep walls.

Location: 40.3 S 43.3 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 88 km, 78 km      Rukl: 68       Type: Simple crater (CS)

Objects: Metius, Metius B, Fabricus, Brenner, Brenner A
Others Identified: Brenner E, Janssen, Lockyer, Steinheil, Vallis Rheita, Watt 

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 9:28 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: Metius B was located on the NE floor of Metius. Fabricus had me questioning why there was a darkness on the floor, like a large rille or rima encircling 3 of the 4 sides of the floor.

C1: Brennar looks like a small flame or leaf. Brennar A impacted on its SE rim and could also see E on its NE rim.

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Time: 9:28 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: not recorded
Transparency: not recorded

Had a much clearer view of Fabricus.

NOTE: Discovered in Rukl 68 there are 2 central ridges that create shadows on 2 sides of the crater. The 3rd side is steep near the crater floor and casts another portion of dark shadow. With this magnification, there was clearer definition of the rises on the crater floor as shown in Rukl.

 

 

Details
Hits: 228

IWLOP #011 – Cleomedes & Macrobius

Prominent eroded craters to the west of Mare Crisium.

Location: 27.7 N 55.5 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 126 km.      Rukl: 26      Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Cleomedes, Cleomedes B & J, Cleomedes E & A, Delmotte, Tralles, Debes, Rima Cleomedes, Macrobius, Macrobius C 
Others Identified: Burckhardt, Lacus Bonitatis, Tisserand

Observation 1
Location: Home
Date: 2020-05-25
Time: 8:45 PM ADT
Equipment: 6" Dobsonian, 15 mm Plösl
Magnification: x80
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)

R1: Craters B & J on the floor of Cleomedes and A & E on its NW wall were easily identified.

C1: Delmotte was to the east of southern Cleomedes whereas Debes and Tralles were in the northwest. Debes and Tralles appeared to be quite deep with the Debes SW wall appeared shallow or worn down.
C2: Rima Cleomedes identified as was the off-centre mount (refer to sketch).

Observation 2
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 8:32 PM 
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Excellent (5)

R2: The SW wall of Macrobius was particularly terraced. Central peak looked a little off-centre.

C3: Crater Macrobius C looked to have been created on the SW rim edge (refer to sketch). The crater rim was seemingly quite sharp where the crater was formed.

    

 

Details
Hits: 205

IWLOP #017 – Steinheil & Watt

Two nearly equal-sized craters sharing one wall.

Location: 48.6 S 46.5 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 67 km, 66 km      Rukl: 76, 68      Type: Simple Crater (SC)

Objects: Steinheil, Watt, Mallett J
Others Identified: Mallett, Janssen, Rheita, Vallis Rheita 

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 9:13 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4) 

R1: Steinheil had a smooth floor and is superimposed on Watt and has slight ridging to the walls. I could see where there was a thickened, terraced wall where Watt was impacted by Steinheil. Watt also had creases on its floor.
C1: Mallet J can be seen on the opposite side of the Vallis Rheita from Mallett.

Note: Both craters appeared oblong but this may be due to closeness to the SE rim.

Details
Hits: 174

IWLOP #019 – Newcomb

Named for noted Canadian astronomer Simon Newcomb, whose name is also honoured the RASC's Simon Newcomb Award.

Location: 29.9 N 43.8 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 39 km      Rukl: 25      Type: Intermediate Crater (CI)

Objects: Montes Taurus, Newcomb + A, G, J
Others Identified: Lacus Bonitatis, Newcomb B & C

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 8:20 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

Found Newcomb! This also happened to be the last object to observe for the RASC Observe the Moon (telescope version) certificate for which I had completed all 100 objects plus the optional items for that program.

R1: There was a plateau or bay similar in shape to Fracastorius. I looked for this bay SW of Geminus. 

  • Crater A had impacted the SW wall.
  • Craters J and G were in line with A.
  • Crater G appeared to be the most shallow and elongated.

NOTE: Could also identify craters B & C adjacent to J & G.

Details
Hits: 223

IWLOP #034 – Dorsa Aldrovandi & Mons Argaeus

Note darkened area of Mare Serenitatis in this vicinity, especially when the sun is high.

Location: 24.0 N 29.0 E    Origin: Tectonic and Impact     Size: 120 km Dorsa     Rukl: 24     Type: Wrinkle Ridge(s) (WR)

Objects: Dorsa Aldrovandi, Mare Serenitatis, Mons Argaeus, Le Monnier, Luna 21 landing site, Catena Littrow, Mons Vitruvius, Apollo 17 Landing site, broken areas in Dorsa Aldrovandi
Others Identified: Charcornac, Fabbroni, Littrow, Posidonius

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 9:40 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)    
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1:  Dorsa Aldrovandi off the eastern shore of Mare Serenitatis, running between Mons Argaeus and Le Monnier.
R2: Mons Argaeus helps form the south end of the dorsa and forms the western mountain range of the area where Apollo 17 landed.
R3: The west rim of Le Monnier on Mare Serenitatis has eroded; looks more like a bay of the mare. Luna 21 landed in the southern area of the crater (or should I say 'crashed'?).

C1: Mons Vitruvius and the Apollo 17 landing site were located. Catena Littrow and Rimae Littrow were not identified.
C2: Lighting was not sufficient during this observation to identify the broken northern areas of the Dorsa.

 

Details
Hits: 174

Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (9.7%)
Q-Day: -4

Moonrise: 8:10 AM                   
Sunrise: 5:46 AM          Sunset: 8:37 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15

Observation 1:
Time: 9:00 PM – 9:50 PM
Temperature: 8° C
SQM: 18.56
Equipment: 6” Dobsonian, 9.7 mm + 15 mm eyepieces
Magnification: x124 + x80
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

Quite excited when my Moon app showed that Newcomb - the last object to be viewed - could potentially be seen. Quickly set up the Dob and inserted the 9.7 mm eyepiece. The image as not only backwards but also upside-down. How confusing!

Once I had it figured out, I recognized Cleomedes, Burckhardt and Geminus as the 3 large craters “below” (in reality it was above) Crisium. Macrobius was located on the west side of Crisium. I then identified Lacus Bonitatis; there appeared to be a bay or plateau “below” it and Newcomb was beside this not too far from the terminator. Consequently, did not get a good view of the crater. Perhaps I need to wait a while and try again?

Observation 2:
Time: 11:05 PM – 12:00 AM
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 9.7 mm + 15 mm + 4.7 eyepieces
Magnification: x258 + x167 + x532
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

Moon was getting quite low and there was light cloud cover occasionally. I tried all three eyepieces; the 4.7 mm was too zoomed in and difficult to focus at x532 magnification.  However, even though it was almost 2 hours later, I was unable to get the detail of the crater itself. Therefore, no sketch.

Looking at Rukl 25 and comparing it to the view I had in the telescope and later in the very fuzzy photo I took with my iPhone, I could identify A, B, C, J and G beside it but could not describe any details. Montes Taurus was seen briefly as they were on the terminus. Lesson learned – take out the big scope first!

 

Maria, etc.: Lacus Bonitatis

Craters: Cleomedes, Newcomb, Macrobius

Craters not on ETM List: Burckhardt, Geminus

Details
Hits: 149

IWLOP #122 – Aristarchus Plateau & Vallis Schröteri

Aristarchus is a bright, complex crater that is a little older than Tycho, and is located near the edge of a unique plateau that rises 2 km over Oceanus Procellarum. Vallis Schröteri was a lava tunnel that carried lava from the highland plateau to the adjacent basin.

Location: 23.7 N 47.7 W   Origin: Impact and Tectonic    Size: 40 km (Aristarchus), 230 km diameter    Rukl: 18    Type: Complex Crater (CC) and Valley

Objects: Aristarchus, Mare Procellarum, Oceanus Procellarum, Vallis Schröteri, Montes Agricola, Rupes Toscanelli, Toscanelli, Rimae Aristarchus, Herodotus, Mons Herodotus
Others Identified: Angstrom, Bessarion, Bessaarion A, Brayley, Dorsa Burnet, Krieger, Montes Harbinger, Prinz, Schiaparelli, Väisälä, Wollaston
Reference: Rukl 18

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-24
Time: 9:53 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)

R1: Aristarchus was quite bright. Bright rays of ejecta to the south and west. The diamond-shaped plateau was darker than the surrounding Oceanus Procellarum. Ejecta may have gone as far as Montes Carpatus and meets those of Kepler in the south. 
R2: Vallis Schröteri starts on Oceanus Procellarum, meanders N, then NW, then South. The rille ends in a cobra head north of Herodotus.
R3: Montes Agricola well lit on the eastern slopes. It formed a border of the diamond plateau.

C1: The 3 rilles not observed at this time.
C2: Saw the cobra head NE of Herodotus.
C3: Mons Herodotus was a singular bright spot between the Vallis and Montes Agricola. Two other bright "spots" to the North but too far to be related (?).

This was my first observing of this feature. It seen again on July 10, 2022 with our youngest granddaughter.

My sketch as seen through my Meade SCT telescope that provides a mirror-reversed image.

Photo from Astronomy magazine, June 2021 edition.
Taken by astronauts of Apollo 15 from the Endeavour.

 
Details
Hits: 178

IWLOP #115 - Kepler & Encke

Recent impact crater Kepler (32 km), with its uneven floor and bright ray system, contrasts with older crater Enke of nearly the same size.

Location: 8.1 N 38.0 W    Origin: Impact     Diameter: 32 km (Kepler), 29 km (Encke)   Rukl: 30    Type: Complex Crater

Objects: Kepler, Encke

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-24
Time: 10:06 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Good (3) 
Transparency: Good (3)

R1: Kepler deeper than Encke. Kepler, because of its size, gave me the initial impression it was shallower until I looked at it in more detail using a different eyepiece (9.7 mm vs. 4.7 mm). Kepler's floor and inner walls quite bright compared to Encke.

C2: The tiny crater N was barely discernible on the west wall of Encke. It took patience; had to wait for the seeing to improve. 

    

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-23
Time: 11:22 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: not recorded
Transparency: not recorded

R2: Kepler's rays extend north to Aristarchus, west to Reiner and Gamma Reiner, and overlaps some of the ejecta from Copernicus in the east. Very little ejecta visible to the south.

C1: The extent of Kepler's ray system was sketched.

Observation 3:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 10:37 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

I decided to have another look at these two craters.

  • Kepler was now evidently quite deep with the floor mostly in shadow due to the steep walls.
  • Encke's flat(?) floor was exposed. A small crater in the north wall was very noticeable.
  • Maestlin, southwest of both craters, was visible. It was small, possibly steep-sided with its crater rim well lit. Its floor was very small and dark.

 

Details
Hits: 164

IWLOP #013a – Eastern Mare Fecunditatis

A mare consisting of two contiguous, nearly round areas of dark Basaltic lavas. The northern part is three times larger than the southern and exhibits a number of dorsa. These lavas probably overlie an impact basin of pre-Nectarian age. Mare Fecunditatis covers 20 degrees of the lunar surface and may require various terminator angles for optimum views of all the features listed below. 

Location: 4.0 S 42-62 E     Origin: Impact and Volcanism      Size: 990 km.      Rukl: 48      Type: Basin

Objects:  Dorsa Mawson, Dorsa Geike, Dorsum Cayeux

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:55 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Good (3)

R1: Dorsa Mawson and Dorsa Geike were readily visible. Dorsum Cayeux could not be identified in this observing session. 

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 9:04 PM 
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

R1: Dorsa Cato, Dorsa Cushman and Dorsa Cayeux were identified. Cayeux appeared to have 2 small crater in or very near it. All three appeared as if they could be part of an ejecta field from Taruntius, with all three heading south.

Details
Hits: 194

IWLOP #027 – Sinus Amoris (The "Bay of Love")

Long, slightly troughed, gentle drop in elevation to Mare Tranquilitatis. The flow of lava seems to have been from west to east, from the area around Maraldi, and then southward.

Location: 19.0 N 38.0 E     Origin: Volcanic      Size: 250 km      Rukl: 25     Type: Bay

Objects: Sinus Amoris, Montes Taurus, Römer, Maraldi, Mons Maraldi, Hill, Carmichael
Others Identified: Theophrastus

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 9:34 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Good (3) 
Transparency: Very Good (4) 

R1: Montes Taurus appeared as a raised cratered area. Römer was a slightly elongated circular crater with wide slumped walls. Its central peak was wide and slightly elongated. The tiny crater in its north wall was quite bright compared to the coloration in the walls and floor.
R2: Maraldi is dark-floored with irregular SE and NW walls. Mons Maraldi, north of the crater, is a small oblong structure that is not very high.
R3: Hill and Carmichael are to the east. Their west interior walls were quite bright making them easy to identify.

Details
Hits: 197

IWLOP #054 - Abulfeda & Catena Abulfeda

This long crater chain begins at Abulfeda and continues to Rupes Altai. The origin of this chain, which is radial to no known basin or crater, is unclear.

Location: 17.0 S 13-21 E   Origin: Impact     Size: 62 km (Abulfeda), 210 km in length (Catena Abulfeda)    Rukl: 45, 56, 57    Type: Crater, Catena

Objects: Abulfeda, Catena Abulfeda, Rupes Altai
Others Identified : Almanon, Descartes, Tacitus

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 9:19 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Good (3)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: Albulfeda has a flat floor with a small central crater. Whereas most of the walls look thick and terraced, the W wall looks steep/ridged.
R2: The Catena Albufeda begins at Albufeda's S-SW, travels just north of Almanon, then curves SE below Tacitus to join the northern Rupes Altai.

C1: Some craters on the north wall of Albufeda are smaller and shallower than others.
C2: I could make out at least 5 secondary craters on the N wall.
C3: Think I saw the 4 craterlets that begin the Catena on the south wall of Albulfeda when the seeing improved. Most were small and in the crater wall.

 

 

Details
Hits: 173

IWLOP #089 - Timocharis

Prominent crater located near the middle of Mare Imbrium.

Location: 29.0 N 13.0 W    Origin: Impact    Size: 34 km    Rukl: 21     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Timorcharis, Feuillée, Beer, Heinrich, Dorsum Higazy, Dorsum Grabeau, Landsteiner
Others Identified: Archimedes, Bancroft, MacMillan, Montes Archimedes, Wallace

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 9:47 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Good (3) 
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: Floor of Timocharis was completely in shadow during this session; couldn't see any of the floor.
R2: Feuillée, Beer and Heinrich were easily located. Feuillée and Beer were located on the west side of Montes Archimedes; both were small and round. Heinrich in the southwest was even smaller.

C1: Dorsum Higazy seemed to begin near Heinrich and curve around Timocharis until it approached Dorsum Grabeau.
C2: Landsteiner was NW of the lower part of Dorsum Grabeau.

  

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 10:28 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Very Good (4) 
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Temp: 20º C
SQM: 18.34

R1: Ejecta field around the crater but most of spray appeared to head towards Archimedes, almost reaching Feuillée and Beer. Only the east rim created a shadow on the east wall. Floor of Timocharis was completely visible. While the actual floor was small, walls were thick and ridged. The crater on its floor was quite visible but no evidence of a central peak.

 

Details
Hits: 202

IWLOP #091 - Stadius

Ghost crater, subtle circular depression edged with incomplete low walls and crater pits. Stadius is slightly larger but much less prominent feature than nearby Eratosthenes. It is located roughly one crater diameter to the SW of Eratosthenes.

Location: 10.5 N 13.7 W    Origin: Impact     Size: 69 km     Rukl: 32     Type: Compact Crater (CC)

Objects: Stadius, Eratosthenes, Mare insular
Others Identified: Montes Apenninus, Sinus Aestuum

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 8:37 PM ADT
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Good (3)
Transparency: Very Good (4)

R1: Stadius appears as a ghost crater. The tallest part of Stadius' crater walls is in the NE and SW. The NW and SE crater walls don't appear - flooding? disintegration? or both? There were hints of numerous very small craters on its floor, but I wasn't sure.
R2: Two dark patches were located on the floor of Mare Insularum to this crater's south.
R3: The prominent mountain massif between Stadius and Eratosthenes is HUGE compared to Stadius but is comparable in height to Eratosthenes. It was also very bright - you couldn't miss it!

   

 

 

Details
Hits: 176

Lunar Phase: First Quarter (51.8%)
Q-Day: 0

First Quarter: 4:00 AM

Moonrise: 12:12 PM                 
Sunrise: 6:21 AM          Sunset: 8:06 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-20
Time: 7:45 PM – 10:00 PM
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece with x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

Just started to identify where I was on the lunar surface when our grandson William and his parents arrived. As he arrived, I had located Stadius. After showing him the crater and explaining its features, he used the hand controller to look for craters that interested him. They left around 8:30 PM.

My greatest success this evening? Apollo 16 landing site!!

It was in a relatively “flat” area surrounded by a ring of craters. Beginning at the north and going clockwise:
* Taylor
* Lindsay
* Andel
* Dolland (very tiny crater)
* Descartes
* Kant
* Zöllner

Alfraganus was also located while looking for Albulfeda.

NOTE: Discovered afterwards that Apollo 16 landed on the Cayley Plains.

Details
Hits: 141

This session was devoted to lunar observing. A couple of IWLOP objects were viewed.

Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (47.2%)
Q-Day: -1

Moonset: 2:32 AM        Moonrise: 11:10 AM
Sunrise: 6:23 AM          Sunset: 8:05 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 7:30 PM - 10:05 PM
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x531 + x1060
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 12º C - 9º C
Light breeze with little to no clouds.

Couldn't find anything "new" for the Explore the Moon (ETM) version but did view several previously viewed features for the ETM plus new ones for the Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program (IWLOP).

It was fun seeing features under a different light from previous observations. The "re-discovered" features viewed in a bit more detail were:
   - Cassini and Vallis Alpes. Refer to IWLOP #68 - Montes Alpes & Vallis Alpes and Explore the Moon (Telescope) - April 19, 2021. 
   - Purbach with its line of crater that broke its north wall and continued onto its floor. Refer to IWLOP #73 - Regiomontanus & Purbach for more details.
   - Walther to the south of Purbach also had an interesting line of craters across its floor. Refer to IWLOP #71 - Walther for details.

Details
Hits: 106

IWLOP #043 – Plinius

Complex crater with multiple central mountains. Appearance changes considerably under different lighting conditions. The darker area around the arcuate rilles highlight lava flows that predate the brighter lava of the sunken inner parts of the Mare Serenitatis Basin. 

Location: 15.4 N 23.7 E     Origin: Impact      Size: 43 km      Rukl: 24      Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Plinius, Rimae Plinius, Promontorium Archerusia, Dawes
Others Identified: Al-Bakri, Carrel, Maclear, Ross

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 8:43 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Good (3)   

R1:  Plinius has a rounded central peak like a mini-crater, i.e., raised circular rim with an opening in the SW. West floor and wall of rim appears lighter than those of the east side and there may be 'hills' in the north.

C1: Ejecta blanket is on all side of Plinius. Refer to R1 regarding the hills.
C2: The arcuate rilles (including Rimae Plinius) north of Plinius appear to follow the "rim" of Mare Serenitatis.
C3: The Promontorium Archerusia has a high ridge that follows the rim of Mare Serenitatis; perhaps craters have also impacted the ridge. Dawes appears to have a large area surrounding it that is lighter than the surrounding mare floors; it also has a central peak.
Details
Hits: 174

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, 4.7 mm eyepiece
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 & 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).

Details
Hits: 194

IWLOP #057 - Linné

The actual crater is a small difficult object but the bright halo around it is easy to spot. Linné has been described as a crater, cloud, crater-cone, or pit in a depression. The true nature of this bright and simple crater was settled using Apollo photos.

Location: 27.7 S 11.8 E    Origin: Impact     Size: 2.4 (actual crater); bright halo larger     Rukl: 23     Type: Simple Crater (CS)

Objects: Linné
Others Identified : Dorsa von Cotta, "Valentine Dome"

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 7:59 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Good (3)
Transparency: Good (3)

R1: Linné has a bright halo around a pinpoint. Stands out against the dark Mare Serenitatis floor. 
R2: Viewed Linné eight hours before First Quarter.

C1: In brief moments of very good seeing, I was able to see a black dot just slightly off-centre. 

Note: Don't know how much detail is required when asked to resolve its small crater. Could see Dorsum von Cotta to its south and the "Valentine Dome" to its NW. Numerous Dorsa on the Mare Serenitatis floor easily seen. The Mare Serenitatis floor, especially in the N-NW, is particularly darker that that of the dorsum and other parts of the E-SE. 

     

Details
Hits: 167

IWLOP #059 - Manilius

Deep (3.2 km) terraced crater with high (2.6 km) central peak. Eratosthenian-age crater.

Location: 14.5 N 9.1 E    Origin: Impact     Size: 39 km     Rukl: 23, 34     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Manilius
Others Identified : Boscovich, Bowen, Daubrée, Lacus Lenitatis, Lacus Hiemalis, Lacus Gaudii, Lacus Doloris, Lacus Odii, Lacus Felicitatis, Mare Vaporum, Sinus Fidei, Sulipicious Gallus, Yangel

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 8:09 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece + x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Seeing: Very Good (4)
Transparency: Good (3)

R1: Manilius was found on the eastern shore of Mare Vaporum. Circular and deep with west inner rim looking ridged (or slumped?). Several lakes to its west and north - Lenitatis, Hiemalis, Gauldi, Doloris, Odii, Felicitatis - and Sinus Fidei.

C1: Banding on the floor was observed. Its centre peak looks like two.
C2: Did. not view this crater under high Sun conditions to note the ray material over Mare Serenitatis at this session.

Details
Hits: 174

Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (38.6%)
Q-Day: -1

Moonset: 2:32 AM         Moonrise: 11:10 AM                 
Sunrise: 6:23 AM          Sunset: 8:05 PM

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-19
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:05 PM
Temperature: 12° C - 9° C
SQM: 19.2 at 9:45 PM
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece with x2 Barlow
Magnification: x1060
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

The Moon was adjacent to Pollux and Castor in Gemini.

Nothing “new” found for this program but did review some features and found others for the IWLOP. It was fun seeing features under a different light from previous observations.

The first “re-discovered” features were Vallis Alpes in the Montes Alpes and Cassini to its south.

Cassini was viewed quite well, this time with the higher magnification being able to see craters A and B on its floor.

Next was Purbach with its line of craters that broke its north wall and continued onto its floor. Walther to its south also had an interesting line of craters across its floor.

I then revisited Julius Caesar at 9:18 PM. I had viewed it 2 years ago, but the floor could not be seen well at x250 magnification. This time I used a 4.7 mm eyepiece with a x2 Barlow to obtain x1000 magnification. It was then I noticed that the E and SE walls were in essence non-existent. There was a line of small craters across the east wall from SE-NW. There was a small crater on the NW wall.

Details
Hits: 127

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).

 

Details
Hits: 117

IWLOP #004 – Vendelinus

Large, eroded pre-Nectarian crater located near the eastern limb of the Moon. This area can be seen during the waxing crescent phase or the waning gibbous phase, after Full Moon.

Location: 16.3 S 61.8 E    Origin: Impact      Size: 147 km.      Rukl: 60, 49      Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Vendelinus, Lamé, Holden, Lohnes
Others Identified:  Vendelinus E, F, H, l, Y

Moon Phase:  1st Observation (5.7% illumination)
Moon Phase:  2nd Observation (68.8% illumination)

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2020-05-25
Time: 9:05 PM ADT
Equipment: 6" Dobsonian, 15 mm Plösl
Magnification: x80
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)

R1: The northern wall of Vendelinus is worn down. Lava flow perhaps (?).
R2: The crater chain in Lamé appears to be along its eastern wall.
R3: Lohse and Holden both had central peaks and from the length of shadows on the crater floors seem to have steep walls.

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Other details not noted

R2: The crater chain in Lamé is visible as shadows in a row along the eastern crater wall that appears to extend beyond Lamé's wall to continue southward and east of Vendelinus.

Details
Hits: 203

IWLOP #009 – Endymion & Mare Humboldtianum

Prominent Nectarian age mare-filled crater with wall reaching 4.5 km. To the south, Endymion points to Mare Humboldtianum, also known as "Humboldt's Sea," a limb feature best seen during favourable libration.

Location: 53.6 N 56.5 E     Origin: Impact and Volcanism      Size: 125 km.      Rukl: 7      Type: Complex Crater (CC) and Mare-Basin

Objects: Endymion, Mare Humboldtianum
Others Identified:  de la Rue, Lacus Temporis, Strabo, Thales

This session was conducted as part of the lunar observing session - Lunar Session - April 15, 2021.

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:44 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

R1: Endymion appeared elongated with a dark flat floor. NW wall looked ridged. A large flat area to its NW that looked shallower and about as large as Endymion. Lacus Temporis is to its SE.

C1: Mare Humboldtianum just visible on the Moon limb at the horizon. Could not view it all.
C2: not addressed at this time

Details
Hits: 209

IWLOP #010 – Snellius & Vallis Snellius

Impact feature associated with Mare Nectaris, likely caused by ejecta plowing out a valley.

Location: 29.3 S 55.7 E     Origin: Impact      Size: Snellius=83 Vallis Snellius=500 km.      Rukl: 59 (69)      Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Snellius, Vallis Snellius, Borda, Santbech
Others Identified: Stevinus

This session was conducted as part of the lunar observing session - Lunar Session - April 15, 2021.

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

R1: The walls of Snellius are not visibly terraced. South rim looks degraded.
R2: Vallis Snellius appears as a small flat area near Borda and then appears as a line of irregular shapes, some being craters as it passes between Snellius and Stevinus. Vallis Snellius does not appear as deep as the craters on either side, and is similar in appearance to Vallis Rheita.

C1: Vallis Snellius has a rib cage appearance, perhaps indicating several overlapping craters (refer to sketch).

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Time: 9:52 PM ADT

C2: Santbech is south of Montes Pyranaeus (refer to sketch). It is circular with a central peak, and an indent or crater on its south wall. Crater D is on its eastern rim and H is just outside its western rim. 

Sketched April 15/21
 Sketched May 16/21

 

Details
Hits: 213

IWLOP #012 – Stevinus

Prominent circular crater with deep-terraced walls.

Location: 32.5 S 54.2 E      Origin: Impact      Size: 75 km.      Rukl: 69      Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Stevinus, Reichenbach
Others Identified: Snellius, Vallis Snellius

This session was conducted as part of the lunar observing session - Lunar Session - April 15, 2021.

Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:38 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

R1: Stevinus definitely looked deeper than its neighbour Snellius. It's central peak looked elongated.

C1: Reichenbach was in the SW. The partial semi-circle of craters starting at Reichenbach F were F, G, A, R, B, B. Did not see crater A attached to the second B as shown in Rukl.

 

Details
Hits: 231

IWLOP #014 – Vallis Rheita

A spectacular lunar valley that is the longest and widest visible from Earth.

Location: 42.0 S 51.0 E     Origin: May have formed with Nectaris Basin     Size: 500 km in length      Rukl: 68      Type: Valley

Objects: Rheita, Vallis Rheita, Young & Young D, Mallet & Mallet A, Neander 
Others Identified: Reimarus

This session was conducted as part of the lunar observing session - Lunar Session - April 15, 2021.

Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:10 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

R1: Vallis Rheita appeared to run north-south, beginning as a thin strip near Reimarus, widening at Mallet and appeared almost like a ribcage as it went northward towards Rheita. Rheita's peak appeared elongated, i.e., linear not circular in appearance.

Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-15
Time: 9:00 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)

C1: Elongated crater NE of Rheita appeared to have a flat floor; the area in its NW appeared rugged/terraced.
C2: Craters Young, Young D, Mallet and Mallet A were found. Did not find Neander on April 15 nor in this evening's observations.

Observation 3:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-05-16
Other details not recorded

C2: Neander found during this evening of observing other lunar objects.
Details
Hits: 218

Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent (8.1%)
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
Temperature: 2° C
Equipment: 10” Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece with Moon filter
Magnification: x530
Transparency: not recorded
Seeing: not recorded

No breeze to mention and no clouds to begin this session.

8:10 PM:
The first target was Vallis Rheita, the second last target on the ETM list for me to find. FOUND! It looked like a series of craters running almost straight north south. The crater Rheita was at its north end; Mallet was at the south end. Identified in this area of the lunar surface were:

  1. Craters: Breila, Hagecius, Mallet, Rheita, Steinheil, Watt, Young. Rosenberger was deep in shadow on the terminator.
  2. Valley: Vallis Rheita

8:38 PM:
Also looked at Snellius and Stevinus just north on the terminator. The more southerly Stevinus had a central peak, quite large actually. Snellius had no central peak and its southern rim looked warn down or perhaps it was lava inflow or ejecta (?).

Identified in this area were:
a)     Craters: Borda, Furnerius, Petavius, Reichenbach, Snellius, Snellius A, Stevinus, Stevinus A. Santbech on the terminator so that only the SE exterior crater wall was visible.
b)     Valley: Vallis Snellius

8:50 PM:
Searched for and found Endymion – slightly elongated with flat floor. NW wall seems to be at edge of higher, flat area.

Lacus Temporis to its south, de la Rue, Strabo and Thales to its north.

Identified in this area were:
a)     Craters: de la Rue, Endymion, Strabo, Thales
b)     Lake: Lacus Temporis

(Note: Sketch from
IWLOP #9: Endymion & Mare Humboldtianum)

9:00 PM:

Went more southerly to find Langrenus and Vendelinus plus part of the Mare Fecunditatis. I was able to identify several craters adjacent to these two craters: Atwood, Barkla (I think), Bilharz, Holden, Kapteyn, Lamé, Lohse, Noanubu.

Also had a great view of Mare Crisium and its craters and several other features:

  1. Craters: Alhazen, Condorcet, Firmicus, Greaves, Hansen, Picard, Pierce, Shapley, Swift, Taruntius, Yerkes
  2. Dorsa: Dorsum Oppel, Dorsa Harker
  3. Lacus & Maria: Mare Undarum, Lacus Perseverantiae
  4. Promontorium: Agarum

Just as John Read suggested in the Moon at Noon, a smiley face appears when you consider Picard and Pierce as eyes and Dorsum Oppel plus the wall of Yerkes as the mouth.

Lacus Perseverantiae came as a surprise! Thought it was just a “space” between Firmicus and the SE of Mare Crisium. Wasn’t until I looked more closely at my lunar map that the area was identified.

Details
Hits: 156

IWLOP #077 - Montes Spitzbergen & Mons Piton

Picturesque small mountain range and an isolated mountain in Mare Imbrium. These peaks are interpreted to be relics of inner impact Mare Imbrium rings, and their shadow lengths are used to measure their heights. Montes Spitzbergen peaks rise to 1500 m whereas Mons Piton rises to 2250 m.

Location: 35.0 N 5.0 W    Origin: Impact     Length: 60 km (Montes Spitzbergen), 25 km diameter (Mons Piton)     Rukl: 12     Type: Mounts

Objects: A & B near Piton, Kirch, Mons Piton, Montes Spitzbergen, Piazzi Smyth

Location: Home
Date: 2021-03-23
Time: 10:13 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Excellent (5)

R1: Montes Spitzbergen is located west of Aristillus. Looks like a backwards "L"; each side is a broken line.
R2: Mons Piton is west of Cassisni and NE of Montes Spitzbergen. It's a single formation.

C1: The nearby craters Piazzi Smyth and Kirch appear round, saucer-like. Craters A and B were SW of Piton and are quite small and shallow.

NOTE:
Could see variations in the Mare floor, almost like ejecta rays (perhaps from Aristillus?). Darker around Montes Spitzbergen and area closest to Piton.

 

Details
Hits: 144

IWLOP #080 - Moretus & South Polar Region

Moretus dominates this jumbled terrain. It's an impressive Eratosthenian Era crater located in the southern region. Gigantic South Polar Basin is just beyond this on the far side of the Moon.

Location: 70.6 S 5.5 W    Origin: Impact     Size: 114 km     Rukl: 73     Type: Complex Crater (CC)

Objects: Moretus, Cysatus, Gruemberger, Curtius, Zach, Pentland, Simpelius, Short, Newton

Location: Home
Date: 2021-03-23
Time: 10:59 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Temperature: 4° C
SQM: 18.58

R1: Moretus is located SE of Clavius and has an oval shape. It's floor appears smooth except in its southern areas.
R2: Deep terraced walls easily identified. East walls seem steeper than those in the west. Central peak appears quite steep and is almost V-shaped. The joined Cysatus and Gruemberger are NW of Moretus; Cysatus appears to have impacted Gruemberger obliquely.

C1: All 6 craters were located. Short is south, much smaller and shallower. Newton's east side was largely in shadow and the crater may be deeper than is Short. Curtius, Zach and Pentland form a triangle to the NE. Simpelius in the east has a central peak. None of the craters appear as deep as Moretus.

   

 

Details
Hits: 150

IWLOP #094 - Montes Recti

Picturesque small mountain range in mare Imbrium that may be the remnant of an inner ring of the Mare Imbrium B