Clavius 8-8-2015
Clavius crater is a visual treat in any angle of sunlight, but in this waning phase the rugged terrain is nicely enhanced. According to Kaguya data, it has a diameter of 152 miles, a depth of just over 2 miles. It is the 3rd largest crater on the visible near side of the Moon, and due to the curvature of the Moon, the floor of Clavius has a convex shape, and if you were lucky enough to be standing near the center of the crater, you may not be able to see the far crater walls that would be below the horizon. The sequentially diminishing arc of craters that extend across the floor of Clavius is unmistakable, and it begins on the southeast rim with Rutherford crater (34 miles), then Clavius D (16 miles), C (12 miles), N (8 miles), J (7 miles), and lastly JA (5 miles). Notice the remnant of a central mountain range between Clavius C and N. There are also some 30+ smaller craters that speckle the floor of Clavius. The crater is named after a 16th-century German mathematician, astronomer and Jesuit Priest, Christopher Clavius, and is one of the oldest formations on the lunar surface. It is believed to have been formed around 4 billion years ago during the Nectarian period.
Just to the West of Clavius is Blancanus Crater, and has a diameter of 72.7 miles. It’s lava-filled floor appears flat and smooth.
This final re-process is the best 35% of 2000 captured frames stacked with Autostakkert.
Camera=ASI120MC-S
Telescope=Celestron CPC800 XLT
Shorty 2X Barlow.
Kaguya flyover approaching from the South -
Clavius 8-8-2015
Clavius crater is a visual treat in any angle of sunlight, but in this waning phase the rugged terrain is nicely enhanced. According to Kaguya data, it has a diameter of 152 miles, a depth of just over 2 miles. It is the 3rd largest crater on the visible near side of the Moon, and due to the curvature of the Moon, the floor of Clavius has a convex shape, and if you were lucky enough to be standing near the center of the crater, you may not be able to see the far crater walls that would be below the horizon. The sequentially diminishing arc of craters that extend across the floor of Clavius is unmistakable, and it begins on the southeast rim with Rutherford crater (34 miles), then Clavius D (16 miles), C (12 miles), N (8 miles), J (7 miles), and lastly JA (5 miles). Notice the remnant of a central mountain range between Clavius C and N. There are also some 30+ smaller craters that speckle the floor of Clavius. The crater is named after a 16th-century German mathematician, astronomer and Jesuit Priest, Christopher Clavius, and is one of the oldest formations on the lunar surface. It is believed to have been formed around 4 billion years ago during the Nectarian period.
Just to the West of Clavius is Blancanus Crater, and has a diameter of 72.7 miles. It’s lava-filled floor appears flat and smooth.
This final re-process is the best 35% of 2000 captured frames stacked with Autostakkert.
Camera=ASI120MC-S
Telescope=Celestron CPC800 XLT
Shorty 2X Barlow.
Kaguya flyover approaching from the South -