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View Full Version : The moons Straight Wall April 22 night


mtbdudex
21st of April 2010 (Wed), 12:00
Saw this @ space.com, who's gonna shoot it?
I'll try.

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/see-the-moon-straight-wall-100421.html
http://i.space.com/images/moon-straight-wall-100421-01b.jpg
On Thursday night, April 22, the sun will rise over the one of the most spectacular topographic features on the moon – the Straight Wall – giving skywatchers a good chance to spot the lunar marvel.

The moon is the only astronomical body on which topographical features can be seen in detail with small telescopes or even binoculars. It is fascinating to watch the sunlight playing on these features as the moon rotates.

To locate the Straight Wall (or Rupes Recta, as it's formally known in Latin) first look for the trio of large craters right in the center of the terminator, the line dividing light and shadow on the moon's surface: Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus, and Arzachel. Just to the southwest of Arzachel is a large ruined crater, flooded by lava from the Mare Nubium. The Straight Wall is a huge fault crossing this ghost crater.

It will be interesting to look at this area again in a little under two weeks, on the morning of May 6, when the sun is setting on the Straight Wall. The face of the wall, currently in shadow, will then be bathed in the light of the setting sun, a brilliant white line instead of the current black one.

troypiggo
21st of April 2010 (Wed), 16:48
I had a go at it last month (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=849751).

http://piggo.com/%7Etroy/photos/2010/2010_03_25/straightwall_100325.jpg

Adrena1in
22nd of April 2010 (Thu), 01:27
If it's clear tonight I might get my scope out at home for the first time in months. :)

troypiggo
22nd of April 2010 (Thu), 02:17
Beer. Don't forget the beer. :)

You're at home this time, so no excuses like "I had to drive" etc. ;)

Adrena1in
23rd of April 2010 (Fri), 10:01
How about my usual excuse of, "Oh, I can't be bothered!". Seems to be quite a regular excuse these days! :(

mtbdudex
24th of April 2010 (Sat), 14:14
Sweet picts Tony, my 55-250 @ 250 can't get enough detail for me to see the straight wall, I did try, here is my best shot
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_FqTNmgNQHz8/S9NCr3yjtwI/AAAAAAAAJwQ/ZNadcGU0zNs/_MG_6068.jpg