Lunar Viewing Tonight

[arnie-hauswald]

Such joy I can hardly suppress. S=4/5. T=4/5 Inst. is ST-80 refractor w/25mm (16x) E.P.. 13% Moon filter, with stacked on Med Blue filter.

The brightening was frightening, even with the 25% MF. Stacking on the Med Blue dampened it down to oh-so-nice. Not even looking for features. Just enjoying the view of the full disc.

[edit: 11:43PM. Tried swapping out the med blue filter with a deep yellow. The deep yellow better brought out the contrast between the Mare and the Highlands, but was not as aesthetically pleasing as the med blue. Guess that's why they offer multiple filters in sets?]

Hope you all are taking an opportunity to see it as well. Cheers,

Arnie

[Garret]

Is that piece any good for lunar imaging?

[arnie-hauswald]

Residence, NW HouTX. 8:34PM CDT. 57deg. F Clr. Cool. S= 3/5 T= 4/5

Magnificent lunar viewing for me tonight. My first look at the night sky and the Moon this month. Got final release from my doctor yesterday following cataract removal and astigmatism correction both eyes.

WOW! Like seeing it all for the first time. Such clarity and detail - and this at a D14 Moon. Ray pattern on cr. Proclus - first time I've seen that. And the contrast, just b/w Mare Crisium, cr Proclus, and Mare Tranquillitatis - spectacular. Tried capturing it with a rudimentary sketch, but fell short of what I really was seeing.

Of course, there is a drawback. As always. My close vision requires reading glasses. Try switching from sunglasses with giant binocs, to reading glasses to transfer info to a journal, while at the same time trying to hold a tiny flashlight to write by. . .I'm thinking a voice recorder may be the answer. That doesn't solve the issue of sketching from the eyepiece, but, one issue at a time.

Anyway, great being back at it again. Hope your viewing tonight was all it could be. Cheers,

-arnie-