August 3, 2011

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Drawing the Line

LPOD-Aug3-11.jpg

south up sketch by Phil Morgan

Drawing the line in this instance refers to a great linear spire of shadow, stretching from west to east, and bisecting the entire floor region of the crater Pitatus. This observation was made in the early hours of the 24th of July last, and although I have made quite a number of late afternoon observations of Pitatus in the past, I have only once seen this effect before, and that was at least 35 years ago! Perhaps then being able to observe it is down to a certain combination of several factors such as solar altitude, libration etc. This great spire of shade that I have depicted in Pitatus is of course the combined effect of shadow from a peak on the craters western rampart marrying up exactly with the spire of shade from the (not-so) central peak. I wonder then has anyone else seen or recorded this before?


Phil Morgan

Technical Details
24 July 2011, 03:00 tp 3:40 UT. 305 mm f/5 Newtonian X400.

Related Links
Rükl plate 54

Yesterday's LPOD: ..., Sgt. Pepper Taught the Band To Play

Tomorrow's LPOD: Putrid Ridge Spoils Spurr




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