[AZ-Observing] Morning Observing, July 29

This morning, Jenn and I rose at 3:30 to have a look at Mars and the moon, just 
past Third Quarter.  The temperature was all the way down to 85F, and a light 
easterly breeze was a sign that seeing would not be great.

Mars has reached a diameter of 11", so 280x brings its apparent diameter 
through the eyepiece up to nearly 1 degree.  The planet is currently about "as 
gibbous as it gets", with the illumination at 84 percent.  Along the full 
length of the limb was a brighter limb haze, which shows up in many webcam 
images.  Near the meridian was Mare Sirenum, which I find to be the least 
interesting of the aspects of Mars, unless you're hunting for Olympus Mons.  
We'll try that when the planet approaches opposition.

The moon was at a very favorable phase.  The sun was setting on Tycho, and only 
the tip of its central peak was illuminated, looking like a faint star.  More 
impressive was the sunset lighting on Rupes Recta, the Straight Wall.  A shadow 
cast by the crater Birt and the rise surrounding it broke the Straight Wall 
into two segments.  Here's a good image of the approaching shadow before it 
reaches the wall.  Our view was at a much lower sun angle.

http://www.lpod.org/archive/2004/02/LPOD-2004-02-22.htm

As twilight was coming up, all of Orion minus Rigel was visible.  Orion in July?

Tom

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