Apollo 15 Landing Site
Last evening proved to be a fine night for observing the Moon and the planets. The atmosphere at sunset settled down to a Pickering 8/10 and 9/10 for brief intervals. This was predicted so I had two telescopes outside (my 18 inch f/4.9 and 13.1 inch f/6 both Dobsonians). At 373x using the 18 inch scope I could clearly see the floor of Palus Putredinis (The Marsh of Decay) and not far away Rima Hadley at the foot of Montes Apenninus. I spent a 3 hour interval on this sketch but actual sketching time was more like 2 hours. The sketch was done using the smaller scope because it is driven. 4 mm and 6 mm eyepieces gave me magnifications of 499x and 333x and occasionally I used the 18 inch scope to verify some of the meanders of Hadley rille and other small features. I have marked the landing site (red dot) of Apollo 15 Lunar Landing Module which occurred the summer of 1971, a very exciting time for the US space program.
Craters visible in this sketch include Hadley C 6 km. in diameter and Aratus (10 km.).
Sketching:
For this sketch I used: Gray sketching paper, 9”x 11”, white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and blending stumps.
Telescopes: 13.1 inch f/ 6 Dobsonian and 18 inch F/4.9, eyepieces : 4mm, 6mm
Date: April 29, 2015 01:00-04:00 UT
Temperature: 4.4°C (40°F)
Clear, calm
Seeing: Pickering 8.5
Transparency: 4/5
Co longitude: 29.9°
Lunation: 10 days
Illumination: 75.9 %
Frank McCabe
Frank,
As usual, another excellent sketch of the mooncraters!!
This is a beautiful capture of the Apollo 15 landing site!
You have “the moon in Your hand”!
Per-Jonny.
Hi Frank this is a nice idea to show the landing site from our planet. You push here your magnification to show us a very large amount of details.
A superb sketch once again.
Michel
Wow Frank! You took advantage of the exceptional conditions you had to create this sketch. I really like use of the grey paper, it seems to enhance the dark and light regions even better. Its amazing to think we actually were there at one time. Fantastic sketch!
Cindy
Wow, such fine detail and outstanding contrast on each of the features viewed at such a high power- absolutely beautiful. Frank, I think you may have outdone yourself on this one.
John
Per-Jonny, Michel, Cindy and John,
Thank you all for your kind remarks on this lunar sketch.
Frank 🙂
Hello Frank!! Great work Master! Finally i come in ASOD!! Nextly i sent my new sletches!
Ciao! Bravo!
Giorgio,
Thank you for those words.
I look forward to seeing your latest sketches.
Best,
Frank 🙂