Observing Report -- 2008 Dec 07 at 00:10 UT

[Jim Mosher]

Newport Beach, CA
2008 Dec 7 at 00:10 UT :

It looks like it may be cloudy this evening, so I am starting my
observations with the Sun still 5 degrees above the horizontal (but
behind clouds) and the Moon up 44 degrees, using my 4-inch Maksutov,
this time at about 90X.

Malapert E (the "keyhole"-shaped crater) continues to be (as it was
last night) a very easy landmark to find if I look at the simulation
and think of it as being (together with the bright ridge connected to
it) like the dot at the end of a sideways exclamation point. When I
scan along the limb from the terminator here is only one pattern that
matches this..

As expected, Malapert E is librated a bit farther onto the disk
tonight, and despite mediocre seeing I can just barely make out the
sunlit ellipse of Faustini's rim in the depression at its limbward
side. I don't think I would be able to recognize it as such without
having seen the photos.

Amundsen is also recognizable from the notch in the limb its shadow
creates some distance to the left (in my mirror-inverted view), and
the bright streaks within the dark-shadowed area formed by Newton and
its satellites are also evident, as expected.

I hope others are having equal success finding these landmarks, and
that some will be taking photos.

-- Jim

[Dr. Diane Wooden]

Good description of where to point, Jim. It i similar to the scheme
we're executing here at the NASA IRTF on Mauna Kea.
Here's hoping for continued clear skies! This is our 3rd of 3 nights.
Aloha,
Dr. Diane Wooden

[Jim Mosher]

Thanks, Diane! I'm glad to hear our observations are helpful to your
pointing project.

Hope your final night is clear and successful.

-- Jim

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