PCW Memorial Observatory – Erika Rix

Starting off with my AL list, I used a 20mm to knock down 7 more features. The hardest one for me tonight was Rima Hyginus. I played with the focus, let it settle, and referred back to the velveteen Rukl several times…nearly ready to find another EP, I gave it one last go. All of a sudden, it was as if my eyes suddenly focused and it stuck out like a sore thumb. The elusive rille has been snared!

I nearly settled on Gemma Frisius for a feature tonight as it was one of the checked items on my list, however close by I noticed Maurolycus, Bush, and Barocius and quickly focused on that area instead. Starting off with a 3x Barlow and my 8mm TV Plossl, I decided to stack another Barlow on top of it, using an additional 2x. It did assist me for more detail, however I am not sure if I got the total 233 magnification out of it. That’s assuming I worked it out correctly anyway: ((350/9)*2)*3 Actually I just looked at my formula and see I’ve stuck a 9 in there instead of an 8, which would have made it 262.5x.

It was very clear with that configuration so I stuck with it for my sketch, trying yet another sketching technique.

Maurolycus is approx. 117km (VMA) and was named after Francesco Maurolico (1494-1575). He was an Italian mathematician and an opponent of the Copernican theory. Areas of it appeared to be more craters, but after coming inside to confirm my findings, I realized it was just the terrain in the SE adding to the dramatic views. During my session, I saw a clown laughing to the western side of Maurolycus and quickly recognized my first sketching subject, Stofler.