IWLOP #001 B – Western Mare Crisium
This spectacular lava-filled basin features impressive wall structures, and is actually oval-shaped but appears round because of its location near the lunar limb. Are Crisium covers 20 degrees of lunar surface, and may require various terminator angles for optimums view of all the features listed. Some of the se objects may be easier to see just after Full Moon.
Location: 17.0 N 70-50 E Origin: Impact and Volcanism Size: 570 km. Rukl: 38-27 Type: Basin
Objects: Swift, Pierce, Yerkes, Picard, Graves, Lick
Others Identified: Alhazen, Condorset, Eimmart, Firmicus, Hansen, Lacus Perseverentiae, Mare Anguis
Observation 1:
Location: Home
Date: 2020-05-25
Time: 9:02 PM ADT
Equipment: 6" Dobsonian, 15 mm Plosl
Magnification: x80
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
R1: Swift, Pierce & Picard easily located. Also located Yerkes.
R2: Graves located. The crater walls of Lick barely seen but the crater floor colour gave it definition.
Observation 2:
Location: Home
Date: 2021-04-15
Time: 8:15 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT, 4.7 mm eyepiece with Moon filter
Magnification: x530
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
I had sketched Mare Crisium on 2020-05-25 (refer to IWLOP #001 A – Eastern Mare Crisium). On 2021-04-15, I photographed the Mare and the craters identified for this objective. In the photo, it looks like the Mare has two eyes and a crooked smile.