frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Bright rayed crater Proclus (28 km.) lies between the highland Marsh of Sleep (Palus Somni) and the lowland Sea of Crisis (Mare Crisium). Proclus is a young crater about the same age as large crater Copernicus. But unlike Copernicus, the Proclus impact event arrived at an angle less than 15° from the west southwest based on the butterfly wing pattern of debris seen on the lunar surface. This pattern can be seen again on the eastern side of the moon several hundred kilometers to the south of Proclus with craters Messier and Messier A (not drawn here). The gray area to the upper right of Proclus is Palus Somni inside the “forbidden zone” where no rays can occur in the uprange direction. See chapter 10 of “The Modern Moon” by Charles Wood, Sky Publishing Corporation, for a more complete explanation. The rim of this crater in the high sunlight was as brightly illuminated as the rays. This crater is nearly as bright as larger Aristarchus across the lunar nearside to the west. Like crater Tycho this is one of those craters that are most impressive at high sun even with a modest size telescope. More than a lifetime of observing and even sketching awaits the amateur astronomer on moonlit nights.
Sketching
For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper 12”x8”, white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and a blending stump. After scanning, Brightness was decreased (-6) and contrast increased (+5) using Microsoft Office Picture Manager.
Telescope: 10 inch f/ 5.7 Dobsonian and 6 mm eyepiece 241 x
Date: 7-16-2008, 4:20-5:45 UT
Temperature: 25° C (76° F)
Clear, light winds
Seeing: Antoniadi III
Colongitude 67.6°
Lunation 13 days
Illumination 95.8 %
Frank McCabe 
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cildarith
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 2112
Loc: San Diego, CA
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Frank, spectacular sketch and interesting perspective! 
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Eric
6" f/6 Parks Newtonian
10x50 Bushnell Binocs
CN Sketch Gallery
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3076
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Frank,
An outstanding observation of the crater Proclus which lies on the western border of Mare Crisium. You have recorded the ray system very nicely. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Links;
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/cla/info/d1/
http://www.lpod.org/?m=200601
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/topophoto/61B2S1/
Carlos
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Tommy5
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1382
Loc: Chicagoland
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Very nice looks like some ancient writing on the moon,i see a book in your future.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Eric, Carlos and Tommy5,
Thank you for your compliments and comments.  It was another beautiful July night for observing.
Frank
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3477
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Frank,
Glad you're getting good weather too--you're taking good advantage of it. This is a wonderful sketch of an impressive splash of light on the Moon. I was looking at Luna with my 12x36 image stabilzed binoculars on the morning of July 16th in between comet observations and Proclus jumped out at me. 
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Michael,
Thank you much. Yes, since last Friday I have noted that Proclus and its rays seemed more noticable than usual. I thought it was just me.
Frank
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rodelaet
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 2628
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Frank,
Excellent sketch with spectacular rays!
You keep me surprising with your fine observations.
I love your technique, my friend. 
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Rony
My Astronomy Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Rony,
Thank you and back at you when it comes to technique.
Frank
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mickmrn1
member
Reged: 05/18/08
Posts: 25
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
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Very nice detail in this one Frank! Great job!
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Michelle D.
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Michelle,
Thank you. I hope hurricane Dolly is not messing up your observing.
Frank
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markseibold
sage
Reged: 01/19/08
Posts: 435
Loc: Portland Oregon
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Frank
Beautiful artwork!  You have reminded me that I need to concentrate on some close-ups and leave my whole moon sketches behind for awhile. When will I learn to stop trying to include the whole universe??
-Mark
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Dee
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/12/06
Posts: 640
Loc: Ireland
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I am a Proclus fan, love looking at it and The Marsh of Sheep.
Very strong sketch
Dee
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 3001
Loc: Illinois
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Dee,
Thank you. Yes, I would say, it does beckon to be sketched at high sun. I seem to recall you did a sketch here not long ago.
Frank
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