Abstract
Often seen as a curse to those seeking to observe the objects in Chapter 4, the Moon is commonly underestimated as an observable target. Its brilliance that causes so much torment to those in pursuit of the subtle light from the deep sky is the very characteristic that makes it such an appealing subject from suburban skies. Even the worst city lights are unlikely to swamp out the Moon!
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- 1.
Free software such as Dial-a-Moon or Virtual Moon Atlas will help identify specific times and dates of favorable conditions together with the lunar phase. Use of the fast-forward tab in the Ephemeris menu will show the libration effect (together with the lunar phase and the effects of apogee and perigee) as the months scroll by. Use this feature to select the best libration for the object you wish to observe and note the date. It is entirely possible that the right conditions may not occur for several months. The key is to plan ahead and choose a strong libration, preferably one that occurs around lunar sunrise or sunset when shadows enhance the relief. Remember also that observations are best carried out when the Moon is at a high declination and high in the sky!
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Zack, M., Gannon, A., McRoberts, J. (2018). Observing the Moon. In: Stargazing Under Suburban Skies. The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90116-9_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90116-9_5
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