The Moon Drawing of Features Quick! Use scale Near terminator 0=black, 10=white Near terminator Quarter phases
Best Features Well defined craters Ridges Mountain Chains Discolorations
Copernicus (39) Tycho (86)
Plato (72) Kepler (57)
Archimedes (24) Alphonsus (22) Theophilus (84)
Alps Mts (B) Apennine Mts (F) Altai Mts (E)
Lunar Transient Phenomena Unpredictable Flashes of color/light Outgassing? Volcanism? Illusions? Impacts?
Occultations Timing is everything!
International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) Maps Notice of events Object types (planets, asteroids, stars) Location dependent Time dependent Hints for observations, recording
Earthshine
Lunar Eclipses
Danjon Brightness Scale Brightness best measured at mid-totality L = 0 Very dark eclipse. Moon almost invisible, especially at mid-totality. L = 1 Dark Eclipse, gray or brownish in coloration. Details distinguishable only with difficulty. L = 2 Deep red or rust-colored eclipse. Very dark central shadow, while outer edge of umbra is relatively bright. L = 3 Brick-red eclipse. Umbral shadow usually has a bright or yellow rim. L = 4 Very bright copper-red or orange eclipse. Umbral shadow has a bluish, very bright rim.
Future Total Lunar Eclipses December 21, 2010 April 15, 2014 October 8, 2014 April 4, 2015 September 28, 2015