Late in the waxing gibbous phase of the Moon you can catch this view of Grimaldi (222km.) to Reiner (30km.) on the southwestern edge of Oceanus Procellarum. An eye-catching feature in this view is the dark valley west of crater Lohrmann (31km.) as it meanders to the terminator. It was named for the Japanese amateur astronomer Sakuzo Miyamori, (Miyamori valley) but it is not an approved IAU name. Dark floored crater Grimaldi is also an interesting feature as it is the innermost ring of at least a two ring crater that extends out beyond crater Damoiseau (36km.).
Also visible in this sketch are craters: Hevelius (106km.); Cavalerius (58km,) and Hermann (15km.) In addition, I included the bright feature Reiner Gamma, crustal magnetism swirls easily seen in this lunar phase.
Sketching, Equipment and materials
For this sketch I used: black Strathmore 400 Artagain paper (9” x 12”), white and black Conte’ pastel pencils and blending stumps.
Telescope: 16 inch f/ 4.41 Dobsonian and 9 mm eyepiece 200x on an equatorial platform
Date: 09- 28- 2023, 05:15-06:45 UT
Temperature: 29°C (85° F)
clear, calm
Seeing: average Antoniadi III
Colongitude 72.4 °
Lunation 13.15 days
Illumination: 97.8 %
Frank 5817
