I spent February 4th/5th, 2003 UT at the Astronomical Society Harrisburg's (www.astrohbg.org) Edward L. Naylor Astronomical Center in Lewisberry, PA (Lat 40.15 d N, 76.9 d W, Elev 390 m). Between 01:00 and 01:30 UT I also believe I discovered a lunar ray using the 17" at 259X below the Craters of Mare Crisium and Cleomedes. No such ray is mentioned anywhere on the web. After speaking with Tony Donnangelo and investigating Lunar Orbiter Photos he sent me I traced a crevous where the light for this V shaped ray occured from. I sent a detailed diagram of the ray and report to Rob Robinson who runs the Robinson Lunar Observatory Page (www.lunar- occultations.com/rlo/rlodx.htm) . Thanks Tony for your help getting the Lunar Orbiter Pictures! After consulting with Tony Donnangelo last night, I believe I have "solely" now discovered my first lunar ray ;) . This ray isn't mentioned anywhere on your site, and Tony has never seen it either. It was cloudy where Tony was last night. I was part of the group that discovered the ray in Callipus, so I'm positive this was a lunar ray. I've attached a picture of where the V Shaped Ray was observed on February 4th between 8:00 and 8:30 PM Eastern Time. In the picture you can clearly see a gap where light can go through. Regards, Ted A. Nichols II President of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, PA., Inc. |
Since the ray was not actually in the crater Cleomedes, it will be used as the reference name. The coordinates of the location were the ray occur, using Rukl's Atlas of the Moon, Chart #26, were estimated to be longitude 53deg, latitude +23deg. Cleomedes longitude and latitude is 55.5deg, +27.7deg (NASA database of 6,000 craters).
Site Longitude = +40.150 Site Latitude = +76.900 Site Elevation = +390.000 Feature = Location near Cleomedes Feature Longitude: = +53.000 Feature Latitude: = +23.000 Reproducing Lighting For: 2003/2/5 at 00:15 U.T. Desired Solar Altitude = +1.009(Rising), Azimuth = +92.044 Average Co-longitude = 308.096
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