January 10, 2013

Full Moon Last Quarter

image by Jerry Hubbell

The problem with being confined to Earth is that our perspective of the Moon is always about the same.
Sure, librations move limb features a little into or out of better view, but we can't see the infinity of phases
that exist from observation points other than on the surface of our planet. But by using Jim Mosher's LTVT
program Jerry has recreated an observing position out in space, 90° from Earth, in the Moon's orbit. We
have seen a few images similar to this from lunar orbiters or passing spacecraft, but with LTVT any imager
can view the Moon from any vantage point. And when the perspective is new what you see is different. For
example, I can imagine that the underlying impact basin that contains Mare Fecunditatis is much bigger
than I thought. Was there a circular basin defined by the mountain arc southwest of Taruntius (Secchi Mtns),
running along the bright ridge northeast of Nectaris, and at the edge of a maria bay near Petavius? If you look
at the overhead view of Fecunditatis on p 87 in a remarkable new lunar atlas, ahem, you will see that the
large basin is probably not the best fit - a smaller one that curves up to Langrenus - is. And the Andrusov
and Mawson mare ridges parallel the smaller basin rim. So my first thought from the different perspective
probably isn't right, but forced me to look again more carefully at a poorly defined features, and that is good.

Chuck Wood

Technical Details
2012-12-30 0700 UTC. Explore Scientific ED127 APO Carbon Fiber plus my ATIK 314e TEC CCD. 4 frame mosaic of 30-40 stacked frames

Related Links
Jerry's website

Yesterday's LPOD: Moonlight And Moondark

Tomorrow's LPOD: Battered Rings

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