Lunar Observing Schedule for: South_Africa - Centurion



Produced by the Department of Physics at Aberystwyth University, UK
Ill is percentage illumination of the Moon


2017-Aug-01 UT 19:59-20:57 Ill=70% Copernicus

     BAA Request: On 2012 Sep 24 E. Horner noticed a very strong red 
     colour around part of the sunlit inner rim of Copernicus, 
     sometimes a 1/4 and sometimes 1/2 around the interior. Quite 
     likely this was some form of atmospheric spectral dispersion - 
     though the observer checked for similar effects on other craters 
     but saw none. But to be sure we would like to obtain some colour 
     images or visual observations of this crater. The minimum sized 
     telescope to be used would ideally a 6" reflector. Low elevation 
     angles for the Moon are ideal as we want to try to replicate 
     this effect if it is indeed due to atmospheric spectral 
     dispersion. Please send any high resolution images, detailed 
     sketches, or visual descriptions 
     to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2017-Aug-01 UT 22:57-23:01 Ill=71% Cichus

     BAA Request: Following an article by Nigel Longshaw in the 
     Journal of the British Astronomical Association in 2015 June 
     (p154-157), we would like to encourage sketches and images of 
     the Cichus-Weiss region of the Moon. At this particular 
     illumination you may be able to see (depending upon libration) 
     a "curved thread of light" effect extending into the night 
     side of the Moon, just north of Cichus. The effect was 
     originally detailed by Thomas Elger in a sketch from 1888. We 
     would very much like to know the duration of this effect. 
     Ideally suited for scopes of aperture 4" or larger. If 
     imaging, try over exposing slightly in order to bring ut 
     detail on the terminator. Please send any observation 
     you make to: 
     n i g e l @ a j c o c k e r a s s o c i a t e s . c o . u k


2017-Aug-03 UT 23:13-00:10 Ill=86% Aristarchus

     ALPO Request: On 2013 Apr 22 Paul Zellor noticed that the two 
     closely spaced NW dark bands in Aristarchus had some (non-blue) 
     color to them. Can we confirm his observation of natural colour 
     here? Ideally you should be using a telescope of 10" aperture, or 
     larger. Please send any high resolution color images, detailed 
     sketches, or visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2017-Aug-07 UT 00:21-00:32 Ill=99% Aristarchus

     ALPO Request: Try taking hand held digital SLR telephoto shots 
     of the Moon at an image scale capable of detecting Aristarchus. 
     Do not use the digital zoom feature. What we are attempting to 
     do here is to mimic a report from 2011 where the images showed 
     variations in the brightness of Aristarchus - possibly due to 
     vibrations when pressing the camera shutter? We would like a 
     new set of images, at the same illumination, to check out this 
     theory. All images should be sent to me on the email adrress 
     below: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2017-Aug-13 UT 23:26-00:01 Ill=61% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2017-Aug-15 UT 00:02-04:14 Ill=49% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2017-Aug-16 UT 01:07-04:13 Ill=37% Earthshine: Kappa Cygnids: ZHR=3 vel=25km/s

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2017-Aug-17 UT 02:12-04:12 Ill=26% Earthshine: Kappa Cygnids: ZHR=3 vel=25km/s

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m


2017-Aug-18 UT 03:14-04:11 Ill=16% Earthshine: sporadic meteors

     These can only be observed using low-light level cameras running at 25 frames per sec,
     or faster, and capable of recording 9th or 10th magnitude stars in real time.
     Dates/UTs of observing runs, or detections of impacts, should be emailed to:
     ALPO - email: c u d n i k @ s b c g l o b a l . n e t
     BAA - email: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k
     UAI - email: a m . 5 4 8 5 2 @ g m a i l . c o m