Neglect of an old friend

Hey there

I hate to admit it, but I've been neglecting a dear friend for some time now, and last night I tried to make up for it, I think I'm forgiven.

I haven't observed the moon for some time now, I've been wrapped up in double star observations, therefore, last night I put the refractor on the alt-az mount and got back in contact.

And I've forgotten how beautiful the moon is, my own favourite spectacle are the shadows, I love the the shapes they make on crater floors, the flat plains of the maria and terraced walls. Copernicus was magnificent, isn't it always, I pushed the scope to my maximum magnification of X208 and was rewarded by stunning views of the terraced walls and the floor of the crater. The isolated Teneriffe Mountains and Mons Pico displayed some insterest shadows on the Mare Imbrium

Clavius ishowed tself well, the sequence of craters on the floor stood out well, the distubed area between C & N showed up nicely.

I managed to see the three small craters of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins in the Mare Tranquilitatis, at 2.4km Collins is the smallest, to the best of my knowledge they are the only lunar craters named after living people.

Did anyone notice the annular ring of cloud that surrounded the moon last night? it was like the moon burned a hole through it. Can anyone explain this effect?

To everyone out there don't forget your old friends and pay them regular visits.

She is especially beautiful tonight, after nearly a month of bad skies

sometimes its nice just to sit and look, without aim or purpose, and enjoy the spectacle as a child would.