Astroblog

Western evening sky on Friday, August 1 as seen from Adelaide at 20:17 ACST	Western evening sky on Friday, August 1 as seen from Melbourne at 20:57 AEST	Western evening sky on Friday, August 1 as seen from Perth at 18:57 AWST

The Lunar X (also known as the Werner X) and the Lunar V will be visible this Friday as the Moon reaches First Quarter. The Lunar X is a chiaroscuro effect in which strong contrasts of light and shadow create the appearance of a letter 'X' on the rim of the Lunar craters Blanchinus, La Caille and Purbach and a letter V from the rim of the crater Ukert, along with several smaller craters. 

The X and V are seen at first quarter, visible on the lunar surface for about 4 hours. However, the Moon is not always above the horizon from a given vantage point when this happens. This month is good for Australian observers, with the Moon moderately high above the horizon in the eastern sates, and quite high on the west coast.

Lunar X occurs on Friday, August 1, 10:57 UT,  20:57 AEST, 20:17 ACST, 18:57 AWST). This is earlier than official first Quarter which occurs at 22:11 ACST.

This is a telescope (and maybe good binoculars) only event. For the west coast the start of the Lunar X occurs with the Moon being 70° above the horizon, central states see it at 53° above the horizon, and for the east coast at 45° above the horizon.

Upcoming Lunar X' s are shown below:

Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time, times in colour are daylight saving times.

Labels: Lunar X, Moon, Occultation, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:16 pm 0 comments

Western evening sky on Wednesday, June 3 as seen from Adelaide at 22:31 ACST	Western evening sky on Wednesday, June 3 as seen from Sydney at 23:18 AEST	Western evening sky on Wednesday, June 3 as seen from Perth at 21:18 AWST
Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 19:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is just becoming visible.	Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 22:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is becoming visible. Some crater walls are beginning to light up and the first hints of the Lunar X are there.	Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 23:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is  visible. Some crater walls are lighting up and the Lunar X is clear.

The Lunar X (also known as the Werner X) and the Lunar V will be visible this Saturday as the moon reaches First Quarter. The Lunar X is a chiaroscuro effect in which strong contrasts of light and shadow create the appearance of a letter 'X' on the rim of the Lunar craters Blanchinus, La Caille and Purbach and a letter V from the rim of the crater Ukert, along with several smaller craters. 

The X and V are seen at first quarter, visible on the lunar surface for about 4 hours. However, the Moon is not always above the horizon from a given vantage point when this happens. This month is okay for Australian observers, with the Moon low to the horizon in the eastern sates, and reasonably high on the west coast.

Lunar X occurs on Wednesday, June 3, 13:18 UT,  23:13 AEST, 22:30 ACST, 21:11 AWST). This is later than official first Quarter which occurs at 13:11 ACST.

This is a telescope (and maybe good binoculars) only event. For the west coast the start of the Lunar X occurs with the Moon being 36° above the horizon, central states see it at 24° above the horizon, and for the east coast at 9° above the horizon.

Upcoming Lunar X' s are shown below:

Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time, times in colour are daylight saving times.

If you are setting up to see the Lunar X, why not start early so you can watch sunrise on the Moon? You can watch the sides of crater walls light up as hours progress.Starting from nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, image the Moon through binoculars of a telescope every hour until around moon set and you can see the walls of the Lunar V light up, then the walls of the X. 

Also if you are setting up early, catch the reappearance of Chi Leo from occultation by the Moon. this is an occulation in the late twilight, Darwin and Perth miss out.

The moon as seen from Adelaide at 17:750 ACST as Chi Leo is reappearing from occultation.	The telescopic view of the moon as seen from Adelaide at 17:750 ACST as Chi Leo is reappearing from occultation.

Labels: Lunar X, Moon, Occultation, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:16 pm 0 comments

The Lunar X and V (indicated) as visible in telescopic views. Click to embiggen for a clearer view.	Western evening sky on Saturday April 5 as seen from Adelaide at 23:17 ACDST	Western evening sky on Saturday April 55 as seen from Brisbane at 22:43 AEST
Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 20:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is just visible.	Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 21:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is becoming visible. Some crater walls are beginning to light up	Sunrise on the Moon: Moon at 21:00 ACDST, the Lunar V is  visible. Some crater walls are lighting up and the frist hints of the Lunar X are there

The Lunar X (also known as the Werner X) and the Lunar V will be visible this Saturday as the moon reaches First Quarter. The Lunar X is a chiaroscuro effect in which strong contrasts of light and shadow create the appearance of a letter 'X' on the rim of the Lunar craters Blanchinus, La Caille and Purbach and a letter V from the rim of the crater Ukert, along with several smaller craters. 

The X and V are seen at first quarter, visible on the lunar surface for about 4 hours. However, the Moon is not always above the horizon from a given vantage point when this happens. This month is okay for Australian observers, with the Moon low to the horizon in the eastern sates, and reasonably high on the west coast.

Lunar X occurs on Saturday April 5, 12:43 UT, 23:43 AEDST,  22:43 AEST, 23:17 ACDST, 22:17 ACST, 20:43 AWST). This is later than official first Quarter which occurs at 12:45 ACDST.

This is a telescope (and maybe good binoculars) only event. For the west coast the start of the Lunar X occurs with the Moon being 25° above the horizon, central states see it at 11° above the horizon, and for the east coast at 6° above the horizon.

Upcoming Lunar X' s are shown below:

Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time, times in colour are daylight saving times.

If you are setting up to see the Lunar X, why not start early so you can watch sunrise on the Moon? You can watch the sides of crater walls light up as hours progressStarting from nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, image the Moon through binoculars of a telescope every hour until around moon set and you can see the walls of the Lunar V light up, then the walls of the X. 

Also if you are setting up early, catch the reappearance of Iota Geminorum from occultation by the Moon.

Iota Geminorum about to be occulted by the Moon as seen from Brisbane at 19:09 AEST	Iota Geminorum emerging from behind the Moon as seen from Brisbane at 20:09 AEST

Labels: Lunar X, Moon, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 12:14 am 2 comments

The Lunar X and V (indicated) as visible in telescopic views. Click to embiggen for a clearer view.	Western evening sky on Wednesday February 5 as seen from Adelaide at 21:43 ACDST	Western evening sky on Wednesday February 5 as seen from Brisbane at 20:19 AEST

The Lunar X (also known as the Werner X) and the Lunar V will be visible this Wednesday as the moon reaches Firt Quarter. The Lunar X is a chiaroscuro effect in which strong contrasts of light and shadow create the appearance of a letter 'X' on the rim of the Lunar craters Blanchinus, La Caille and Purbach and a letter V from the rim of the crater Ukert, along with several smaller craters. 

The X and V are seen at first quarter, visible on the lunar surface for about 4 hours. However, the Moon is not always above the horizon from a given vantage point when this happens. This month is good for Australian observers

Lunar X occurs on Wednesday February 5, 08:13 UT, 21:13 AEDST,  20:13 AEST, 20:43 ACDST, 19:43 ACST, 16:13 AWST). This is later than official first Quarter which occurs at 18:32 ACDST.

This is a telescope (and maybe good binoculars) only event. For the west coast the start of the Lunar X occurs when the sun is up, but the X is still visible 3 hours later in the deep twilight, with the Moon being 34° above the horizon, central states see it at 22° above the horizon, and for the east coast at 20° above the horizon.

Upcoming Lunar X' s are shown below:

Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time, times in colour are daylight saving times.

Labels: Lunar X, Moon, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:56 pm 0 comments