01/27/2015 – Ephemeris – Looking at a valley on the Moon

Ephemeris for Tuesday, January 27th.  The sun will rise at 8:07.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 5:44.   The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 2:36 tomorrow morning.

If it’s clear tonight drag out that telescope to look at the Moon. Your telescope may flip the moon around, viewing the Moon in different orientations.  What I’m describing will be north is up, south is down.  Your telescope may flop the image, so check your telescopic view with how it appears to the naked eye.  I will use the north-south terminology.  And we’ll stick close to the terminator, the sunrise line on the Moon.  One of the striking linear features of the moon is the Alpine Valley, about 2/3rds the way from the center of the moon to the north pole.  It is a fault valley through the lunar Alps.  About half way from the center of the Moon to the north pole.  It’s the largest of three craters in a nearly right triangle.  It’s named after Archimedes.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The Moon at 9 p.m. EST (UT -5h) January 27, 2015. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.

I notice that I have quite a few followers to this blog from the UK.  Unfortunately for you folks the crater Archimedes will not yet be visible tonight.  I’ve labeled some extra craters that I didn’t discuss in the program, plus I’m adding the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mosaic that’s mapped onto the Virtual Moon Atlas globe.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mosaic of the region at the eastern shore of Mare Imbrium. Credit NASA/GSFC/LRO, Virtual Moon Atlas