Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! If we’ve explored the Moon in “Astronomy For Kids”, then by all means let’s explore the Moon in Astronomy for BIG kids! This weekend would be an great opportunity to dust off your telescopes or binoculars and do a little moongazing, because… Here’s what’s up!
Friday, April 11 – Tonight we’ll begin our SkyWatcher’s Weekend by heading toward the lunar surface to view a very fine old crater on the northwest shore of Mare Nectaris – Theophilus. Slightly south of midpoint on the terminator, this crater contains an unusually large multiple-peaked central mountain which can be spotted in binoculars. Theophilus is an odd crater: it’s shaped like a parabola – with no area on the floor being flat. It stretches across a distance of 100 kilometers and dives down 440 meters below the surface. Viewable in binoculars, Theophilus tonight it will appear dark, shadowed by its massive west wall, but if you’re using a telescope, look for sunrise on its 1400 meter summit!
On Saturday night, Mars will play a very important role in observing as it will be slightly more than a degree away from the Moon’s limb for many observers. As grand as observing can be when the planet is near, it doesn’t even come close to the details that can be seen on the Moon. An outstanding feature visible tonight will be crater Maurolycus just southwest of the three rings of Theophilus, Cyrillus and Catharina. This Lunar Club challenge spans 114 kilometers and goes below the lunar surface by 4730 meters. Be sure to look for Gemma Frisius just to its north.
Wishing you clear skies!
This week’s awesome lunar images belong to noneother than Wes Higgins. Many thanks!
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