September 20, 2014
Over the Pole And in the Hole
image by Yuri Goryachko, Mikhail Abgarian, Konstantin Morozov, Minsk, Belarus
Just beyond the North Pole is the broad-floored crater Hermite, with Rozhdestvenskiy's far, shadowed rim, cut by a bright-rimmed crater (Roz. K), on the limb. K is the deepest hole in this scene, being about 3.9 km below the mean lunar elevation. Two similar-sized craters, Sylvester and Lovelace, are to the left of Hermite - LRO's QuickMap identifies each of these features (and provides depths). Left of center in the foreground is Mouchez, with only a few pin-pricks of illuminated hills catching the light. The steep angle of observation means that little geologic interpretation can be made other than identification of younger impact craters by their crisp and bright rims. But seeing beyond the pole with such a low Sun is a rare pleasure for which I thank Yuri and the Astronominsk team.
Chuck Wood
Technical Details
September 18, 2014, 03:25UT.
Klevtsov-Cassegrain Santel D=360mm F=5760mm, barlow 1.6x,
Mount WS-180GT, Unibrain Fire-i 702 CCD b/w camera
(IEEE 1394, 1388x1040), Astronomik Red filter.
Processing in Autostakkert 2 and Maxim DL. Size 120%.
Altitude of Moon 44°, Altitude of Sun -4°. Seeing 7/10, trans 5/5.
Related Links
21st Century Atlas chart L8.
