Maurolycus Revisited

Maurolycus Revisited

This is a notable crater in the southern highlands as the terminator approaches. On this twentieth day of lunation the setting sun shadow could be seen crawling across the crater floor to the east. The large size (115 km.), central peaks on a flat floor and high terraced walls identify this ancient crater (Nectarian period) as a walled plain impact. The east wall rises steeply above the floor 4.2 kilometers. Part of a previous large crater juts out from under Maurolycus to the south (on top in the sketch). Central peaks casting shadows were seen north of the center point on the crater floor. The floor is mostly flat and smooth with a few visible craters. Among the many similar craters in the southern highlands this is a crater that truly stands out.

Sketching:

For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper 9”x6” (half sheet), white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and a blending stump. After scanning, Brightness was decreased (-4) and contrast increased (+4) using the scanner.

Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian and 6 mm eyepiece 241 x
Date: 7-2-2010, 8:30-9:00 UT
Temperature: 16° C (60° F)
clear, calm
Seeing: Antoniadi III
Colongitude: 157.7 °
Lunation: 20 days
Illumination: 71 %

Frank McCabe