Above~ The 24 Day Moon as viewed from the front porch with Venus rising to the left and Jupiter and Mars above the crescent Moon at 4:39 am, May 25, 2022.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022~ 4:20 – 5:20 am.
Location~ Moosehorn Creek, NB
Sky Conditions~ Mainly clear with some thin clouds. Cold morning with frost, some mist on the ground in different places.
Temp~ 1° 50%H
Moonrise~ 3:43 am
Nautical Twilight~ 4:18 am
Blue Hour~ 5:06
Golden Hour~ 5:20
Sunrise~ 5:42 am
Moonset~ 4:02 pm
Age of Moon~ 24d 11h 2m
24 Day Moon and a return to front porch observing~
For once the body and skies cooperated. Awoke 3:22 am, got a coffee and made it out to the front porch @ 4:05 am. A beautiful orange crescent Moon had just nicely cleared the horizon with Venus, Jupiter, and Mars on display. Venus had just cleared the horizon.
Had to go out to the Ob and get my “kit” of the 10mm eyepiece, bullnose for the camera, camera, etc. Had been unable to prepare it yesterday. Made it back at 4:20.
Got my first look with the AR 102 and the 10mm at 4:22. Moon was beautiful, but atmospheric turbulence made 10mm viewing somewhat difficult. Decided to grab some shots with just the camera and tripod. After, attached bullnose to camera and inserted into scope. Earth shine was dramatic!
Above and below~ My first attempts at prime focus on the AR 102. The one above shows earthshine.
This was my first time trying to take pics prime focus through the AR 102. Not good pics at all but at least I got a record. This also marked my return to front porch observing.
Meanwhile, the ambient sounds of an owl somewhere across the road on our neighbour’s property “lit up” the predawn morning. Then, some kind of creature began answering it. Strange.
After shots, observed the lunar surface again. Up higher now, clearer. The Sea of Rainbows (Sinus Iridum) and Mare Humorum were partly cut off by the terminator, but the double ender/bookend effect of the “Engagement Rings” of Gassendi and Bianchini/Sinus Iridum was very noticeable. The most prominent feature near the middle was a craggy formation I could only identify as (most probably) T. Mayer at the end of the Montes Carpatus. Copernicus is long gone by this time.
Planets rising~
Decided to get some views of the planets. Jupiter had at least two prominent moons, but light was changing so quickly I probably missed at least two. Venus was very bright. However, Mars was blocked by the tree and Saturn was visually impossible to spot by this time without binos (which I left in the Ob).
Note to Self: remember binos and do visual of planets before they get blocked or washed out by the advance of the rising Sun.
Anyway, a visually stunning and stimulating sight first thing in the morning. Shut it down at 5:20 am.
Summary~
Moon at 24d 11h 2m at 66 magnification
Sinus Iridum and Mare Humorum
Gassendi and Bianchini
T. Mayer, Montes Carpatus
Jupiter with two moons
Venus
All above at 66 magnification
Scope– ES AR 102 – 102mm f/6.5 663mm Doublet Refractor
Mount– Twilight I
Eyepiece used– 10mm Ethos
Sources~
New Atlas of the Moon by Thierry Legault & Serge Brunier [2006]. Beautiful Firefly reference book with overlays, unfortunately out of print.
Sky and Telescope’s Field Map of the Moon~Mirror image laminated fold out map. I use this all the time, handy.
The PhotoPills App~ Exact time and age of the Lunar Cycle, sunset, twilight phase info for our gps location, etc. Great app.
