Rupes Recta + 42 Ceti

Good evening, everyone.

I have the 8.5 day old slightly gibbous Moon some 299,000 kms away from Earth. Rupes Recta is hugging the terminator. I can see it at 40X, but it looks glorious at 112X, 140X and 167X. Rupes Recta means the Straight Fault. It's 110 km long.
I can also see a chain of craters below it within the huge 234 km Deslandres crater. I'm going to have to Goggle that chain later on.

But nearly directly south of the Moon, there is the small matter of a true binary and it is a goodie! 42 Ceti has magnitudes 6.5 and 7. The separation is 1.6". The PA is 22 degrees. It is blowing me away! The colours are white and yellow. It is not quite split at 112X. But I have a lovely tight split at 140X and 167X.

Clear skies from Aubrey.

42 Ceti is about 2.5 degrees south of the Moon.

Maybe some of you will check it out.

Kind regards from Aubrey.

Hi Aubrey, 

Very many thanks for your observational report. As you will see I'm going to spend some time observing, and sketching the Moon this year. So, it was great to read about what you observed on it tonight. I never knew that Rupes Recta meant 'straight fault' - thanks for that - I always enjoy how these little pearls of wisdom feature in your reports!

 Also, it sounds like 42 Ceti is a fairly tight double star. So, congratulations on splitting it tonight.

Clear skies,

Darren.

Hi Darren.
It was truly a very special night!
Guide 9.1 DVD came up with the goods all round.
I do own the excellent book of Antonin Rukl's Atlas of the Moon.
www.stelledoppie.it gave me the figures for 42 Ceti.
It must be rare enough to find the Moon in the Cetus constellation.
The ecliptic never travels through Cetus.
A few years ago Saturn was in north east Orion! I kid you not.
I'm checking out your 1st lunar sketch also, Darren.

Clear skies,

Aubrey.

The Moon in Cetus - that is an interesting one alright, and I'd say Saturn looked amazing in Orion. I wonder if there are any photos online of the latter?

Funny you mention a Moon Atlas. Considering I'm planning to focus some attention on the Moon over the coming year, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to buy one. I did download a free virtual one last night, but I'd like to have a hard copy book to have with me when observing. 

Do you think I should go for the one you mention?

Kindest regards,

Darren. 

Antonin Rukl's Atlas of the Moon has become outrageously expensive in recent years.
I wish you the very best if you do take the plunge.
To me it is the greatest atlas available.

Kind regards,

Aubrey.