Grabbing The Horns of 1058

The Waxing Crescent Moon, Lunation 1058
Sketch and Details by Frank McCabe

Waxing Crescent Moon: Lunation 1058

This was the beginning of a wonderful observing night. I started observing and sketching the moon well before sunset and finished sketching before twilight ended. Because of my early sketch completion, no evidence of earthshine was visible.

The current lunation number is 1058. A lunation number changes approximately at 29.5 days and between two successive new moons. This interval of time for the moon is also known as the synodic revolution of the moon as it returns to the same phase. Lunation number one was the first new moon beginning in 1923 with the first new moon of that year more than 85 years ago.

Sketching:

For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper 11” X14”, white and black Conte’ pastel pencils, crayons and a blending stump. Brightness and contrast were slightly adjusted after scanning.

Telescope: 4.25 inch f/ 5 Dobsonian and 21mm eyepiece 26x

Date: 7-5-2008 1:05-2:10 UT

Temperature: 20° C (68° F)

Clear with slight haze, calm

Seeing: Antoniadi III

Colongitude: 303.5 °

Lunation: 2.9 days

Illumination: 11.7 %

Frank McCabe