A True Pioneer of the Human Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time
Posted: October 13, 2010 Filed under: American Astronomical Society, astronomers, astronomy, Goddard Flight Center, International Astronomical Union, John Hopkins University, Luna 24, Mare Crisis, Mare Marginis, NASA, National Solar Observatory, October 2010, Robert Goddard, rocket scientists, Royal Astronomical Society, Russian Space Agency, space history, the months, the Moon, the Sea of Crises, the Sea of the Margin | Tags: crater Goddard, craters on the Moon, Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time, Luna 24, Mare Crisium, Mare Marginis, Moon's eastern limb, Robert Goddard, the Moon, the Moon in October, the Sea of Crises, the Sea on the Margin, things to see on the Moon Leave a comment »
Crater Goddard arcs past the Moons' eastern limb during a few nights in October, beginning on the 10th
The Moon dances, spins and twirls and crater Goddard arcs past your view
On the 10th of October you'll see lots of real estate between the Moon's eastern limb and Mare Crisium
Star gazers can pay respects to a true pioneer of human space travel Robert Goddard beginning on the night of October 10th, by taking a journey to the Moon to view the crater named after this gentleman of astronomy. Your view of the Moon’s crescent will show plenty of open landscape between the Moon’s eastern limb and Mare Crisium on this night.
A large oval plain encompassing an area 270 miles wide by 350 miles long, with the long side running east to west, Mare Crisium will appear different on this night because of the foreshortening of the lunar globe. Mare Crisium also stands alone on the surface of the Moon and isn’t interconnected with the other maria you’ll view on the Moon’s surface during your “Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time”. The last place on the Moon’s surface to be visited by mankind, Mare Crisium, or the Sea of Crises, was host to the unmanned soviet spacecraft Luna 24 in 1976. Look for dark patches along the Moon’s limb on October 10th, which is actually hardened lava of Mare Marginis, the Sea on the Margin, and find the short white arc just beyond the eastern shore of the sea. This short white arc is in fact the illuminated rim of crater Goddard. Watch as Goddard arcs past the Moon’s eastern limb over the next few nights and you’ll get a good lesson in how the Earth’s satellite moves as the Moon’s eastern limb rotates away from Earth.
On October 15th, Goddard will appear in profile and you should see the rim of this crater poking outward, like two towering peaks framing a darker interior. On October 18th, Goddard will have disappeared over the limb and only about half of Mare Marginis will be viewable. On October 22nd, the Moon will be in full phase at 9:37 P.M. EDT, and only an outline of the shoreline of Mare Marginis will be visible. By this time Mare Crisium will appear much closer to the limb and is prominent in your view of the Moon.
Why does Mare Crisium appear closer and what causes this visual sleight-of-hand? The Moon actually spins at a pretty constant rate, generally completing one rotation on it axis each month. In the same time frame, however, the Moon orbits the Earth on an elliptical path, and this means the Moon’s speed of rotation will vary. This allows viewers to see a few degrees beyond the normal limb of the Moon during specific time frames of the lunar cycle, which is an effect astronomers refer too as the libration of the Moon.
Green Cheese? Anyone!
Posted: September 13, 2010 Filed under: American Astronomical Society, astronomers, Astronomical Societies, astronomy, Earth, entertainment, Goddard Flight Center, John Hopkins University, Lacus Autumni, Lacus Veris, Mare Australe, Mare Marginis, Mare Orientale, Mare Smythii, NASA, National Solar Observatory, Royal Astronomical Society, September 2010, Sol, The Earth, the months, the Moon, the planets, the solar system | Tags: astronomers, astronomy, green cheese, Lacus Autumni, Lacus Veris, Mare Australe, Mare Crisium, Mare Marginis, Mare Orientale, Mare Smythii, September, Sol, the Earth, the Moon Leave a comment »The Moon waxes-on and waxes-off in September
The Moon's Mare is a land feature you don't want to miss during September
Focus your time machine to the stars on the features along the Moon’s limb during the month of September. This is a rare chance to view a few limb sections of the Moon that star gazers have dreamed of taking a closer look at for generations, during a single month of the year. Astronauts didn’t report any green cheese, so our ancestors can rest safely, as we have ruled out green cheese as the main ingredient in the physical composition of the Moon.
Watch as the crescent Moon waxes, between September 11 to 13, and take a close look at Mare Crisium, and how far this feature is from the eastern edge. The features on the limb that you’ll notice will be the elongated dark patches of Mare Smythii and Mare Marginis. The regions near the south-eastern limb will feature primarily bright highlands that will slowly change as the 18 of September approaches and the mottled Mare Australe rotates into view.
Focus your time machine to the stars on the hilly south polar region a few nights later and you’ll see nice 3D effects that catch-the-eye of the viewer and Mare Smythii and Mare Marginis will have disappeared from view.
A Full Moon will greet star gazers on September 23 and this is the perfect time to take a look at some of the best features on the Moon’s surface. Mare Orientale will appear along the Moon’s western limb on September 23. A magnificent impact basin, with multiple visible rings and lava lakes, get your timing right over the next few nights, and you’ll witness a scene few humans have experienced. Watch patiently and you’ll see the rings appear in profile first. This scene will slowly change as the Moon’s libration and the rotation of the Earth bring the lava pools of Lacus Veris and Lacus Autumni into view.
