February 3rd 2007, 200mm Reflector F/6, 6mm Eyepiece (203X) south is up, 15.59 Days Lunation, 20:30UT - 21:45 UT, Seeing 3, Transparency average, 53.2000ºN, 6.1000º W
300gm Daler Rowney Paper, Daler Rowney Soft Pastels, Conte Crayons, Cocktail Stick, Fingers, Temp 2 degrees C.
The 16 day Moon looked stunning as she rose over the sea on February 3rd. Because many recent evenings were clouded out, I began to sketch when she was barely at 15 degrees altitude. As I observed the terminator on the eastern lunar edge Mare Crisium appeared very inviting and darkly dramatic. The highland areas of the mare looked like they were clinging to the lunar surface, mimicking barnacles on marine rocks. The rays of Proclus hugged the Marsh of Sheep. That gossamer beach like area looked challenging and worth a special visit some day soon.
I tried a 2X Barlow with my 6mm eyepiece but the slight wobble was just accentuated too much. The view was favourable when steady, but it was too inconsistent for my liking. I detailed crater Condorcet and its environs and noted the flat floor of Firmicus. I tried to pay particular attention to the apparent difference in height between the Mare floor and the surrounding rugged lighter toned highlands. Proclus E and D formed a long triangle with the parental and radiant emitting Proclus.
My favorite time to observe Mare Crisium is a few days past full moon, a few hours past local midnight. On February 3, 2007, the 17-day old waning moon was high in the sky and the night offered perfect seeing conditions. The inner wrinkle ridge ring and the mare boundary, the Crisium ring define the main features and are more visible at sunset (on Crisium).
Through the exceptional optics of the 7-inch Astro-Physics refractor, Mare Crisium's contrasty greys are visual poetry. Telescope F/9 AP180EDT refractor, 25mm Zeiss Abbe Orthos and Zeiss Binoviewer. 180x (RUKL 26).Click here for another Mare Crisium sketch, this one showing a sunset ray!.