Observation Log

In the 114mm reflector at 91x with the 10 mm eyepiece, Montes Alpes appears as a large chain of mountain peaks trailing from the crater Plato curving to the southeast. At least two-dozen individual mountain peaks are noticeable in the chain.

Vallis Alpes lies to the east of the crater Plato and at 54x with the 17mm eyepiece in the 114mm reflector; it appears as a straight, dark lane that runs across the Montes Alpes mountain chain.

Plato lies at the northwestern end of the Montes Alpes mountain chain. In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5mm eyepiece, Plato’s most prominent feature is the dark gray color of the crater floor, which stands out against the color of the surrounding lunar surface. At 182x in the 10mm/Barlow combination, the crater floor appears smooth with no central spire. In this view, with Plato close to the terminator, the shadow from the eastern wall extended across nearly three-quarters of the crater floor. The shadow consists of three peaks, one thin peak on the southern side, and wider peaks in the center and on the northern side.

Mons Pico lies almost directly south of the crater Plato within an area of sparse detail. At 182x with the 10mm eyepiece and barlow combination in the 114mm reflector, the bright reflection of the sun on the side of the mountain makes is stand out against the dark grey color of the surrounding lunar surface.

Mons Piton lies near the end of the Montes Alpes mountain chain southeast of the crater Plato. The mountain lies within an area of sparse detail and easily stands out against the surrounding lunar surface in the 114mm reflector at 182x with the 10mm eyepiece and barlow combination.

The large Cassini crater lies at the end of the Montes Alpes mountain chain east of Mons Piton. In the 114mm reflector at 182x with the 10mm eyepiece and 2x barlow combination, the Cassini A craterlet is easily visible almost in the center of the Cassini crater. The Cassini B craterlet is also visible on the southwest side of the Cassini crater.

With the 114mm reflector at 121x in the 7.5mm eyepiece, Archimedes appears as a slightly oval crater located on the eastern side of Mare Imbrium. The crater lies at the end of the Montes Archimedes mountain chain. At 182x in the 10mm and 2x barlow combination, Archimedes has a shadow that extends barely past the eastern crater wall and the crater floor appears completely smooth. The small crater Bancroft lies to the southwest.

In the 114mm reflector at 91x with the 10mm eyepiece, Palus Putredinis appears as an arrowhead shaped area southeast of the crater Archimedes. The coloring in this area is darker colored than its surrounding, which makes it easy to resolve.

In the 114mm reflector at 91x with the 10mm eyepiece, Montes Apenninus appears as a large mountain range forming the south/southeastern wall of Mare Imbrium.

With the 114mm reflector at 121x in the 7.5mm eyepiece, Mons Hadley appears as a high, steep mountain at the northern edge of the Montes Apenninus mountain range near the point where Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis meet. The mountain is bordered by a valley that surrounds the mountain on the northern edge.

In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5mm eyepiece, Ptolemaeus appears as a large crater (listed as 153 km) with a not well defined crater edge. The floor of the crater is smooth with some subtle color variations. There is a very noticeable, large craterlet on the northeastern side of the crater floor. Ptolemaeus is a member of a trio of craters with Alphonsus and Arzachel to the south.

With the 114mm reflector at 121x in the 7.5mm eyepiece, Alphonsus appears as a large, circular crater with well defined steep edges. A high central mountain is visible in the center of the crater. The southern floor of the crater appears rough with channels running north/south from the southern edge of the crater to the central mountain. Alphonsus is the middle crater in a trio of craters with Ptolemaeus to the north and Arzachel to the south.

In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5mm eyepiece, Arzachel appears as a large, circular crater with very well defined, steep walls. An elongated central mountain is located in the center of the crater with a very noticeable craterlet (Arzachel A) located on the northeast edge. Arzachel is a member of a trio of craters with Ptolemaeus and Alphonsus to the north.

With the 114mm reflector at 54x in the 17mm eyepiece, Walter appears as a large crater with a well defined crater wall. A cluster of craterlets lie just east of the craters center. A large craterlet lies on the western edge of the crater near the crater wall.

In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5mm eyepiece, Maginus appears as a large crater with a well defined eastern wall which becomes very indistinct on the western side. The western crater wall is riddled with craterlets. The center of the crater appears to be a mound and has many craterlets scattered along the surface.

In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5 mm eyepiece, Tycho appears as a circular shaped crater with very high, terraced, and well defined walls. The center of the crater contains a very high mountain that casts a shadow nearly to the western crater wall.

With the 114mm reflector at 121x in the 7.5mm eyepiece, Clavius appears as a oval shaped crater with ill defined walls that are riddled with craterlets and two large craters on the northeastern and southeastern edges of the crater wall. The western edge of the crater lies in the dark shadow. An arc of five craterlets spans the center of the crater. Many smaller craterlets are scattered about the floor of the crater.

With the 114mm reflector at 91x in the 10mm eyepiece, Sinus Aestuum appears as a large, very flat region southeast of the crater Eratosthenes. Some darker spots are visible along the floor of the region. A faint ridge is seen running from the northeast to the southwest.

In the 114mm reflector at 121x with the 7.5mm eyepiece, Eratosthenes appears as a circular shaped crater with well defined, terraced walls. The floor of the crater is nearly filled with a central mountain, which is surrounded by a small ring of flat crater floor.