IWLOP #115 - Kepler & Encke
Recent impact crater Kepler (32 km), with its uneven floor and bright ray system, contrasts with older crater Enke of nearly the same size.
Location: 8.1 N 38.0 W Origin: Impact Diameter: 32 km (Kepler), 29 km (Encke) Rukl: 30 Type: Complex Crater
Objects: Kepler, Encke
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Observation 1: R1: Kepler deeper than Encke. Kepler, because of its size, gave me the initial impression it was shallower until I looked at it in more detail using a different eyepiece (9.7 mm vs. 4.7 mm). Kepler's floor and inner walls quite bright compared to Encke. C2: The tiny crater N was barely discernible on the west wall of Encke. It took patience; had to wait for the seeing to improve. |
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Observation 2: R2: Kepler's rays extend north to Aristarchus, west to Reiner and Gamma Reiner, and overlaps some of the ejecta from Copernicus in the east. Very little ejecta visible to the south. C1: The extent of Kepler's ray system was sketched. |
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Observation 3:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-06-20
Time: 10:37 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x530
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Transparency: Very Good (4)
I decided to have another look at these two craters.
- Kepler was now evidently quite deep with the floor mostly in shadow due to the steep walls.
- Encke's flat(?) floor was exposed. A small crater in the north wall was very noticeable.
- Maestlin, southwest of both craters, was visible. It was small, possibly steep-sided with its crater rim well lit. Its floor was very small and dark.