March 24, 2008

Abrupt Stoppage

image by Hold Siegfried, St. Marein, Austria

I like this image for two reasons. First, it was taken with a schiefspiegler telescope, an exotic multiple mirror telescope that I had an unconsummated passion for 40 years ago. Although schiefspieglers are rare in the US, apparently a number have been built in Europe and Hold's image (originally posted on the LPOD Photo Gallery) is the first I've seen from one of these legendary telescopes. The second reason I like the image is that it shows a neat area of the Moon, where a lot has happened. It is the border of Mare Nubium and the southern highlands. The floor-fractured crater Pitatus is at upper right, with the ring within a ring concentric crater Hesiodus A to its left. Striking at an angle that isn't concentric or radial to any nearby basin is the Hesiodus Rille. This is a typical U-shaped rille with a sunken floor bounded by two scarps. I hadn't realized that the rille stops dead in Palus Epidemiarum, and don't know why it does so. But notice that it also just stops at its eastern end too, hmm. The three well known domes in Capuanus are clearly visible-they always seem very difficult to see at the eyepiece.

Chuck Wood

Technical Details
Dec 29, 2006. Schiefspiegler 300/6000 + DMK 31AF03 + Astronomik 742 filter.
To see entire image and his other images visit Hold's LPOD Photo Gallery

Related Links
Rükl plates 54 & 63
Hold's website

Yesterday's LPOD: Skinny Moon

Tomorrow's LPOD: Four Moons

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COMMENTS

(1) Chuck--I wonder what caused those sharp grooves in the southeastern wall of Wurzelbauer?

--Bill

(2) Secondaries from Tycho is a possibility, or ejecta from the Humorum Basin perhaps.
Chuck

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