Lunar Observing Schedule for: Australia TAS Hobart



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


2024-Oct-04 UT 08:45-09:46 Ill=2% Moon

     BAA Request: Please try to image the Moon as a very thin 
     crescent, tryimg to detect Earthshine. A good telephoto lens 
     will do on a DSLR, or a camera on a small scope. We are 
     attempting to monitor the brightness of the edge of the 
     earthshine limb in order to follow up a project suggested by 
     Dr Martin Hoffmann at the 2017 EPSC Conference in Riga, 
     Latvia. This is quite a challenging project due to the sky 
     brightness and the low altitude of the Moon. Please do not 
     attempt if the Sun is still above the horizon. Do not bother 
     observing if the sky conditions are hazy. Any images 
     should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2024-Oct-05 UT 08:51-08:54 Ill=6% Earthshine: October Camelopardalids: ZHR=5 vel=47km/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


2024-Oct-06 UT 09:15-10:23 Ill=11% Cyrillus

     BAA Request: Cyrillus. There is a small white craterlet just 
     north of the three central peaks. We are interested to receive 
     high resolution images of this in order to find out at what 
     selenographic colongitude, in the lunar morning, that it 
     starts to show it's white spot appearence. Please use scopes 
     largher than 6 inches in diameter. 
     Please email these to: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2024-Oct-06 UT 08:52-09:55 Ill=11% Earthshine: October Camelopardalids: ZHR=5 vel=47km/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


2024-Oct-07 UT 08:43-09:14 Ill=18% Mutus_F

     BAA Request: Can you see, or image, 4 points of light in the 
     shadowed floor of the crater? How do these change in 
     appearance over time? This is not a TLP but is still 
     interesting to observe as it might look like a string of 
     pearls effect. Please send any images, or sketches, to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2024-Oct-07 UT 08:54-10:57 Ill=18% Earthshine: Draconids: ZHR=5 vel=20km/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


2024-Oct-08 UT 08:55-11:57 Ill=27% Earthshine: Draconids: ZHR=5 vel=20km/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


2024-Oct-09 UT 09:09-09:30 Ill=35% Torricelli

     ALPO Request: On 2011 Dec 31 Raffaello Braga found the north rim 
     or Torricelli to be very bright at the start of the observing 
     session but dimmed considerably later. He was not sure on the 
     normal appearance of this crater, hence why it is really 
     imortant to establish this by re-observing under similar 
     illumination. Minimum telescope aperture required: 3", and try 
     to use a refractor if possible. Please send any high resolution 
     images, detailed scetches, or  visual descriptions to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-09 UT 08:56-12:55 Ill=37% 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


2024-Oct-10 UT 08:35-09:14 Ill=45% Ptolemaeus

     BAA Request: Examine the floor visually, sketch, or image to 
     show the progression of the shadow spires across floor and 
     the emergence of the centre of the floor into sunlight. If 
     observing visually, how would you describe the appearance of 
     the central lit area on the floor? If imaging, do a time lapse 
     e.g. 1 image per minute to show the progression of the shadow 
     spires. We are asking for these observations following an 
     observation by P. Shepherdson (BAA) on 2020 Feb 01 UT 
     19:40-19:50 who commented on an unusual appearance to the
     floor. However an image supplied suggests it is just shadow 
     spires. Nevertheless we would like to check at a repeat
     illumination. As another challenge, we have seen bright 
     stripes appear between shadow spires on the floor but these 
     fade in brightness after the shadow spires recede. See if you 
     can capture these on an image sequence and help us learn more 
     about what is causing this effect.Any sketches, visual 
     descriptions, or images taken, should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k 


2024-Oct-10 UT 09:20-10:01 Ill=46% Picard

     ALPO Request: How dark is wall of Picard? All visual brightness 
     measurements, sketches or monochrome images should be emailed 
     to: 
     t o n y . c o o k @ a l p o - a s t r o n o m y . o r g


2024-Oct-10 UT 11:25-12:23 Ill=46% Eudoxus

     BAA Request: Eudoxus - please try to image the interior of 
     this crater. We are trying to explain an observation from 
     Meudon Observatory in France made in 1877 for which a fine 
     line of light was seen acress the crater in an E-W direction. 
     Please send any images to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-10 UT 08:57-13:48 Ill=47% Earthshine: Delta Aurigids: ZHR=2 (vel=64km/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


2024-Oct-11 UT 09:51-10:42 Ill=57% Eratosthenes

     ALPO Request: This request comes about because of two 
     observations. Firstly on 2009 Nov 25 Paul Abel and others 
     detected some colour on the inner west illumntated slopes of 
     this crater. No similar colour existed elsewhere. On 2012 Aug 
     25 Charles Galdies imaged this crater and detected a similar 
     colour, approximately in the same location, though he also 
     imaged colour elsewhere. It is important to replicate this 
     observation to see if it was natural surface colour, 
     atmospheric spectral dispersion, or some effect in the camera 
     that Charles was using, namely a Philips SPC 900NC camera. 
     The minimum sized telescope to be used would ideally a 8" 
     reflector. Please send any high resolution images, detailed 
     sketches, or visual descriptions to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-11 UT 13:25-14:35 Ill=58% Tycho

     ALPO Request: Try viewing the central peak through a red and 
     blue filter e.g. Wratten 25a and 38, and comparing the 
     brightness to the  of the eastern sunlit rim. Does the size 
     of the central peak change between filters? If you do detect 
     colour here, obviously check for colour on other central 
     peaks. If taking colour images, make sure that you do 
     nderexpose slightly so as to avoid saturating the central 
     peak. All visual reports, sketches or colour images should be  
     emailed to: 
     t o n y . c o o k @ a l p o - a s t r o n o m y . o r g


2024-Oct-13 UT 09:11-09:34 Ill=78% Sinus_Iridum

     BAA Request: Is there a dark shaded area on the floor of size 
     approximately ~1/4 diameter of Sinus Iridum and on western 
     interior by the rim? Telescopes as small as 2" apperture can be 
     used for this study at a magnification of approximately 110x. 
     Any visual descriptions, sketches or images should be emailed 
     to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-14 UT 16:10-16:40 Ill=88% Vallis_Schroteri

     ALPO Request: The area to look at here  is to the west of 
     Herodotus, near the terminus of Valles Schroteri, where you 
     should be able to see four spots of light (just east of the 
     terminator). Are these better visible in red or blue light? The 
     original observation was made using Wratten 38A and Wratten 25 
     filters, but any blue and red filters will do, or indeed a 
     colour camera. Do these spots fade over time? If so, in what 
     order? If imaging, then time lapse imaging would be useful here.
     Minimum aperture telescope to use should be a 6", and if 
     possible a refractor - aim to use magnifications of around 114x 
     to 228x. Any visual descriptions, sketches of images should be 
     emailed to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-16 UT 12:23-13:22 Ill=99% Plato

     BAA Request: Two observers have reported colour on the rim 
     around this colongitude, once in 1938, and again in 2013. Please 
     take a look and report what you see, and where on the rim. 
     Please send any high resolution images, detailed sketches, or 
     visual descriptions to: a t c @ a b e r . a c. u k .


2024-Oct-17 UT 10:06-10:30 Ill=100% Full_Moon

     ALPO Request: Please take images of the Full Moon, but make 
     sure you under expose as we want to avoid bright ray craters 
     like Aristarchus, Tycho, Proclus etc from saturating. The 
     purpose behind this is we want to compare with images of 
     Earthshine which are essentially zero phase illumination 
     images, like at Full Moon. There have been reports in the past 
     that Aristarchus varies greatly in brightness compared to 
     other features. David Darling (a past TLP coordinator) has 
     suggested this was simply due to libration effects, i.e. 
     viewing angles, so we would naturally like to test this 
     theory out. Also if you have any past images of close to Full 
     Moon, please send these in too if the above mentioned craters 
     are not saturated. Pretty much any size telescope can be used 
     to take these images so long as we can clearly see the above 
     craters. Obviously do not attempt this if the sky is cloudy or 
     hazy. Observations will be presented in the "Lunar Observer" 
     - a monthly publication of the Lunar Section of ALPO. All 
     reports should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . uk


2024-Oct-20 UT 15:01-18:16 Ill=86% Cyrillus

     BAA Request: Cyrillus. There is a small white craterlet just 
     north of the three central peaks. We are interested to receive 
     high resolution images of this in order to find out at what 
     selenographic colongitude, in the lunar evening, that it loses 
     it's white spot appearence. Please use scopes largher than 6 
     inches in diameter. 
     Please email these to: a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k


2024-Oct-30 UT 18:14-18:30 Ill=3% Moon

     BAA Request: Please try to image the Moon as a very thin 
     crescent, tryimg to detect Earthshine. A good telephoto lens 
     will do on a DSLR, or a camera on a small scope. We are 
     attempting to monitor the brightness of the edge of the 
     earthshine limb in order to follow up a project suggested by 
     Dr Martin Hoffmann at the 2017 EPSC Conference in Riga, 
     Latvia. This is quite a challenging project due to the sky 
     brightness and the low altitude of the Moon. Please be very 
     careful around sunrise so as not to be observing once the Sun 
     has risen. Do not bother observing if the sky conditions are 
     hazy. Any images should be emailed to: 
     a t c @ a b e r . a c . u k