[Atmob-discuss] Observing the Straight Wall

[John Boudreau]

Early last night (Thursday) I set up to image the ISS/Atlantis pass, and while using the Moon to focus the scope I noticed that the Straight Wall was as prominent as I've seen in years--- it had only been in sunlight for about 5 hours at the time and the relief was greatly exaggerated! The seeing was very good too, and since Mars was beckoning I decided to muss the ATMoB meeting in favor of a night of backyard imaging. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to get back to the Straight Wall and record it, but it looks like I did get some good videos of Mars and apparently some very good ones of Saturn . The seeing actually improved throughout the evening until around midnight, when the clouds rolled in. All in all, it ended up being one of the best nights of fine seeing we've had since mid-December. 

While my ISS video that night had some problems, I was able to get a good capture during tonight's pass. I hope to post something early in the coming week, as I'm leaving for a few days early this AM. Unfortunately the seeing was quite poor this evening, and the Straight Wall wasn't remotely as impressive as last night. The poor seeing hurt my ISS/Atlantis results too, but it's always kinda cool just to capture any detail of it at all.

---John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Beckwith" <stevebeckwith at comcast.net>
To: <atmob-discuss at atmob.org>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 5:21 PM
Subject: [Atmob-discuss] Observing the Straight Wall


Dear ATMoB Members,

As mentioned in last night's monthly meeting,  the "Straight Wall" on the
Moon, can best be when the moon is eight-days-old.  This is due to the low
sun angle casting a nice dark shadow that highlights the wall. As always,
the key to seeing the Straight Wall is having a clear sky and it appears
that might be the situation for some of us tonight.   

 

Log into the ATMoB website (www.atmob.org <http://www.atmob.org/> ) and link
to the galleries and you'll find posted, an excellent picture of the
Straight Wall taken by John Blomquist.     I've also pasted in a link to a
map that will help you find the Straight Wall in which it is listed under
its official name of  "Rupus Recta".    You'll find it on the right hand
side of Mare Nubium (near the small crater "Bert").   The approximate lunar
latitude and longitude coordinates are -20, 10W.

 

I've always found this a fascinating object and as mentioned last night, my
interest in it was stoked by the wonderful photograph that Tal Mental took
through one of his hand-made reflectors.  He shared it at a club meeting
some  twenty years back when Tri-X and Pan-X were the medium of choice.
It might be interesting to do take images, make drawing or take notes and
then share them via the website or one of the upcoming monthly meetings.  

Good Luck,

- Steve

 

http://ralphaeschliman.com/luna/lnslamasm.jpg

 

 

 

 




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