Lunar Observing---Help Needed

I have been observing for 6 months and have learned a lot along the way. To
date, I haven't spent any time looking at the moon. This is the month to
start! So, I picked out a couple targets for our newbie group to observe
(March 27th). So, last couple of nights I go out and try to practice
finding our targets, which I thought would be easy, and I can't get properly
oriented! The pictures on the software programs look a lot different than
the actual moon! (Starry Night Enthusiast & Virtual Moon) The "tilt" of
the moon seems to change----does it rotate about 20 - 30 degrees clock, then
counter clock wise? The two programs I use don't seem to agree on this
"tilt". I want to locate the Apollo 11 landing site----no, not the stuff
left behind----and for size reference, the crater Theophilis.

I did get my scope(s) views right in my head---I understand which scope
reverses and flips what view, and I did orient my software to actual. But
I'm still having trouble getting precisely oriented to locate these
features. Is a 60 miles dia. crater too small of a target? (5" refractor,
8" reflector) using V Block --- yes, the moon is WAY too bring now but I
wanted to practice----and 12-10-8-6 & 4mm Radian eyepieces in the arsenal.

Here's what I did and it seemed to help me get oriented. I used my newly
arrived Steady Pix to hold my digital camera in place....I took a couple
basic shots of the full moon and I'm using those---at least they are what I
am actually looking at---seeing. Tranquillity looks totally different that
the software models----lighting at full moon?---and Theophilis is a spec!
This using a 25mm eyepiece----don't want the camera scratching a Radian....

Lunar tips? Are there any good charts or books out there? I can't seem to
find anything....I started a group last fall and we'll have 20 observers
here on the 27th....I'll need to be familiar with our targets by then!

Chris

http://www.inconstantmoon.com/

http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhaseCD/

http://astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/

http://www.roboticobservatory.com/je..._reference.htm

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/research/cla/

These are but a handful of the Lunar sites that I visit on a regular basis.

Try them out and see what you think.

Good luck,
F Marion

Have you had similar issues? That is, difficulty translating the "perfect"
views of software into the real views from earth?


"Francis Marion" wrote in message
news:rr23c.86987$PR3.1224539@attbi_s03...
http://www.inconstantmoon.com/

http://www.nightskyobserver.com/LunarPhaseCD/

http://astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/


http://www.roboticobservatory.com/je..._reference.htm

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/research/cla/

These are but a handful of the Lunar sites that I visit on a regular
basis.

Try them out and see what you think.

Good luck,
F Marion

To be honest with you............. I don't recall if I did or not. I've
been looking at the moon for about 43 years and I know it so well at this
point that 'most' of the time I don't really have a need to look at the many
maps that I have all that much.

I was an airbrush illustrator for the USGS for many years and I spent so
much time looking at the moon under different illumination that I just
automatically (mentally) switch views in my head. I can even switch sun
dirrection in my head and have an accurate idea as to what a feature should
look like. Sounds kinda' wierd I guess, but I think it happens to anything
that you spend so much time looking at.

I can tell you that when I switch from a reflector to refractor to
binoculars that it does take me a minute or 2 to reorient myself to the
view.

It just takes lots of time and practice to learn how to do this stuff
automatically and I don't really have any great "Secrets" as to how to do
it. Just spend as much time looking a the real thing and practice using any
lunar maps you can get your hands on.

Good luck and clear skies,
F Marion

Hi Chris,

Check out VMA at:
http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html

You can switch the view around. You can also find it and LPP reviewed at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-...g/message/1137

The new review will be coming out as soon as I get samples of the next
version, which should be in a week or two.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Doink" wrote in message
...
I have been observing for 6 months and have learned a lot along the way.
To
date, I haven't spent any time looking at the moon. This is the month to
start! So, I picked out a couple targets for our newbie group to observe
(March 27th). So, last couple of nights I go out and try to practice
finding our targets, which I thought would be easy, and I can't get
properly
oriented! The pictures on the software programs look a lot different than
the actual moon! (Starry Night Enthusiast & Virtual Moon) The "tilt" of
the moon seems to change----does it rotate about 20 - 30 degrees clock,
then
counter clock wise? The two programs I use don't seem to agree on this
"tilt". I want to locate the Apollo 11 landing site----no, not the stuff
left behind----and for size reference, the crater Theophilis.

I did get my scope(s) views right in my head---I understand which scope
reverses and flips what view, and I did orient my software to actual. But
I'm still having trouble getting precisely oriented to locate these
features. Is a 60 miles dia. crater too small of a target? (5"
refractor,
8" reflector) using V Block --- yes, the moon is WAY too bring now but I
wanted to practice----and 12-10-8-6 & 4mm Radian eyepieces in the arsenal.

Here's what I did and it seemed to help me get oriented. I used my newly
arrived Steady Pix to hold my digital camera in place....I took a couple
basic shots of the full moon and I'm using those---at least they are what
I
am actually looking at---seeing. Tranquillity looks totally different
that
the software models----lighting at full moon?---and Theophilis is a spec!
This using a 25mm eyepiece----don't want the camera scratching a
Radian....

Lunar tips? Are there any good charts or books out there? I can't seem
to
find anything....I started a group last fall and we'll have 20 observers
here on the 27th....I'll need to be familiar with our targets by then!

Chris

Chuck! I knew you'd reply! I have VMA but the view is VERY different from
what I actually see. Is a 60 mi dia crater impractical to see?
"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message
...
Hi Chris,

Check out VMA at:
http://www.astrosurf.com/avl/UK_index.html

You can switch the view around. You can also find it and LPP reviewed at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-...g/message/1137

The new review will be coming out as soon as I get samples of the next
version, which should be in a week or two.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Doink" wrote in message
...
I have been observing for 6 months and have learned a lot along the way.
To
date, I haven't spent any time looking at the moon. This is the month
to
start! So, I picked out a couple targets for our newbie group to
observe
(March 27th). So, last couple of nights I go out and try to practice
finding our targets, which I thought would be easy, and I can't get
properly
oriented! The pictures on the software programs look a lot different
than
the actual moon! (Starry Night Enthusiast & Virtual Moon) The "tilt"
of
the moon seems to change----does it rotate about 20 - 30 degrees clock,
then
counter clock wise? The two programs I use don't seem to agree on this
"tilt". I want to locate the Apollo 11 landing site----no, not the stuff
left behind----and for size reference, the crater Theophilis.

I did get my scope(s) views right in my head---I understand which scope
reverses and flips what view, and I did orient my software to actual.
But
I'm still having trouble getting precisely oriented to locate these
features. Is a 60 miles dia. crater too small of a target? (5"
refractor,
8" reflector) using V Block --- yes, the moon is WAY too bring now but
I
wanted to practice----and 12-10-8-6 & 4mm Radian eyepieces in the
arsenal.

Here's what I did and it seemed to help me get oriented. I used my
newly
arrived Steady Pix to hold my digital camera in place....I took a couple
basic shots of the full moon and I'm using those---at least they are
what
I
am actually looking at---seeing. Tranquillity looks totally different
that
the software models----lighting at full moon?---and Theophilis is a
spec!
This using a 25mm eyepiece----don't want the camera scratching a
Radian....

Lunar tips? Are there any good charts or books out there? I can't seem
to
find anything....I started a group last fall and we'll have 20 observers
here on the 27th....I'll need to be familiar with our targets by then!

Chris

"Doink" wrote in message
...
Chuck! I knew you'd reply! I have VMA but the view is VERY different from
what I actually see. Is a 60 mi dia crater impractical to see?

A 60 mil crater should be very big/easy in a 5" or the 8"

You mentioned the eyepieces, but I didn't see the focal length of the
scopes. What magnification? 60 miles should show up in a good pair of binos.

The view will be different as the appearance of the moon is constantly
changing. The charts simply give you the locations.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

I am just getting used to this!
Both my 5" refractor and 8" reflector have FL of 1000mm , what you recommend
looking at Theopilis? 12mm? 8mm? I have all the Radian eyepieces to 4mm

"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message
...
"Doink" wrote in message
...
Chuck! I knew you'd reply! I have VMA but the view is VERY different
from
what I actually see. Is a 60 mi dia crater impractical to see?

A 60 mil crater should be very big/easy in a 5" or the 8"

You mentioned the eyepieces, but I didn't see the focal length of the
scopes. What magnification? 60 miles should show up in a good pair of
binos.

The view will be different as the appearance of the moon is constantly
changing. The charts simply give you the locations.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Doink" wrote in message
...
I am just getting used to this!
Both my 5" refractor and 8" reflector have FL of 1000mm , what you
recommend
looking at Theopilis? 12mm? 8mm? I have all the Radian eyepieces to
4mm

What eyepiece to use depends also on the seeing and the optics quality.
There never is an eyepiece that is right for a certain object. The next
night will be different. I would try both the 12mm and 8mm. If seeing
supports it, keep going with higher power until it mushes. A good 5" achro
or 8" newt should both easily support those magnifications.

More important than the eyepiece or even the seeing is the lunar phase.
Theophilus (or any other lunar feature) will show best when near the
terminator. It will become nearly invisible at full moon. When you have
about 3/4 moon, the sun will be at high noon over Theophilus, meaning there
will not be any shadows, so it will be very hard to see anything in that
area.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Thank you Chuck. I wish I could correspond directly! Will the 27th of
March be ok for Theophilis?

Chris

"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message
...
"Doink" wrote in message
...
I am just getting used to this!
Both my 5" refractor and 8" reflector have FL of 1000mm , what you
recommend
looking at Theopilis? 12mm? 8mm? I have all the Radian eyepieces to
4mm

What eyepiece to use depends also on the seeing and the optics quality.
There never is an eyepiece that is right for a certain object. The next
night will be different. I would try both the 12mm and 8mm. If seeing
supports it, keep going with higher power until it mushes. A good 5" achro
or 8" newt should both easily support those magnifications.

More important than the eyepiece or even the seeing is the lunar phase.
Theophilus (or any other lunar feature) will show best when near the
terminator. It will become nearly invisible at full moon. When you have
about 3/4 moon, the sun will be at high noon over Theophilus, meaning
there
will not be any shadows, so it will be very hard to see anything in that
area.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************