Super Gibbous Moon with
Excellent northern libration
 with the
Orion 10" f/3.9 Newtonian Astrograph
December 28, 2017
Uploaded 12/29/17

Note: Conventional usage of South is up in all images, more info below.

 

            
Normal projection, look at how close Clavius near the top is 
to the limb.  Also Mare Frigoris along the bottom is quite distant
from the northern limb.  It normally takes 4 images to cover this 
phase of moon with the 10 inch, but tonight I just couldnt fit it
on 4 and had to add two more to get the whole moon!

Select size for enlarged view:

1400 x 1200




            
Same Image but changed to Azimuthal Equadistant
Projection.  This makes each 10 degrees of Lattitude and
Longitude equal in lenght from center to disk. It basically
removes the edge compression distortion so craters on the limb
appear more or less round again all the way to the center to edge.
For example, look at Mare Crisium.  Its totally round now, so is
Clavius at top and most of the polar craters.

Select size for enlarged view:

1400 x 1200




            
5x power mate set for 5 meters of focal lenght (f/20) close ups.  Seeing was 2.5/5 so its not razor sharp, but some details are present.








































Processing:
            25/1200 best frames, alignment in Autostakkert, USM, Levels and
            Contrast Masking In Photoshop CS2 and Image J.
Instrument:  Orion (GSO) 10" f/3.9 with 5x Powermate
Platform:  Astrophysics AP1200
CCD Camera:  Image Source DMK 51
Filter:  Orion IR Pass
Exposure:  1/30 sec  12fps
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing 4/5, Transparency 7/10
Outside Temperature:  55F