The Moon: Tycho, Mare Humorum, & Mare Nubium

Another Pane in the Super Moon Series I took.

Section showing a few prominent features, such as Tycho

Again I missed the super moon on the exact date, but I was able to get out the first possible day which was 2 days, 9-10-2014 to get some photos. Fun fact about this photo, a light cloud had settled in right in between me and the moon. . .seriously it did that and sat there but I still got this photo.  (Shakes fist at the sky)

When looking at the moon you will see this area in the south west quadrant. the most noticeable and distinguishable feature is the Impact crater Tycho. Tycho is a relatively young crater, with an estimated age of 108 million years (Ma), based on analysis of samples of the crater ray recovered during the Apollo 17 mission. This age suggests that the impactor may have been a member of the Baptistina family of asteroids, but as the composition of the impactor is unknown this is currently conjecture. However, simulation studies give a 70 percent probability that the crater was created by a fragment from the same break-up that created asteroid 298 Baptistina;^[1] which was previously believed to be responsible for the formation of Chicxulub Crater and the extinction of the dinosaurs. However, that possibility was potentially ruled out by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer in 2011.

Notable features such as: Tycho, Mare Humorum, Mare Nubium, Pitatus, Apollo 12 & Apollo 14 landing locations

Notable facts about the features noted:

Tycho:

Diameter:    86.21KM/ 53.57 Miles – Depth: 4.8 KM/ 2.983 Miles

The rays spread out over 1,500 kilometers/932.06 miles

Piatus:

Diameter:    97KM/ 60.273 Miles – Depth: .9KM/ 0.55 Miles

Bullialdus:

Diameter:    61KM/ 37.9036 Miles – Depth: 3.5KM/ 2.175 Miles

Mare Humorum: “Sea of Moisture“

Diameter: 389 km (242 mi)

Mare Nubium: “Sea of Clouds”

Diameter: 715 km (444 mi

The Moon: Kepler and Copernicus

two craters, Kepler and Copernicus

I had done the moon a few times in the past, but never really had pictures I was thrilled with. August 8th, 2014 wa the last of the “super moons” for the year. that night it rained here and the following night same thing. After many of my Facebook friends were snapping shots with tier phones and sending me pics. . .I had to do something! Unfortunately with my scope, it  doesn’t let me take a full Moon shot, so I will have to make a mosaic.

Two prominent features, the two craters Kepler and Copernicus are seen. The mountain range in the east has a few mountains in it.to the south of Copernicus is an Apollo 12 & 14 landing sites. I took some time to label the larger notable features I referenced Google earth’s moon map.

Main features labeled

This was the first time using my Neximager5, for what ever reason I had forgotten to use it on the moon, probably because I had avoided the moon so much, it cuts down on light for DSO’s and I would operate opposite of the full moon to get darker skies. I ended Up taking a fist full of shots but I want to give each one the attention they deserve! Please enjoy and look around!

Some of the features of the marked areas:

Kepler:

Diam: 32 km/19.9Miles, Depth: 2.7 km/1.68Miles

The rays extend for well over 300 km /86.41Miles

Copernicus:

Diam: 93 km/57.8Miles, Depth:3.8 km/2.36Miles

The rays extend for well over 800 km /497.1Miles

Pytheas:

Diam: 20 km/12.43Miles, Depth: 2.5 km/1.55Miles

Grimaldi:

Diam: 173.49 km/107.8Miles, Depth:2.7 km/1.68Miles

Aristarchus:

Diam: 40 km/24.86Miles, Depth: 3.7 km/2.3Miles