Mare Insularum
Mare Insularum (Lunar II target 32) is located between lunar crater Kepler on the west and Copernicus on the east. It is bordered on the north by the Carpatus mountains and maybe around crater Lansberg in the south (not shown here). In the image below Copernicus is the huge crater on the right (east); Crater Kepler is just out of view on the left; Crater Reinhold is near bottom center. It appears to be a relatively flat region. Rays from both Copernicus and Kepler extend across the mare.
Image acquired early Sept. 4, at 5am., Louisville, CO. Celestron Nexstar 11 Telescope and Phillips Toucam 840K webcam. One minute video at 20 fps aligned and stacked with Registax4. Enhanced, cropped, and labeled with Photoshop Elements2. Sky was clear, temperature 59°F, 0-1mph wind, transparency excellent, turbulence between 5 and 6/10.
September 6th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Those are spectacular pictures. What do you think of the NexStar telescopes? I am looking to buy a new one and the NexStar is one that I am considering.
September 9th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Thanks Phil! I have had a Celestron Nexstar 11 for about 3.5 years now. I am quite pleased with it, optics are great and has been very reliable. I haven’t yet had any problems that I couldn’t fix myself — all I’ve had to replace so far is the power connector. I use mine a fair amount, 3 or 4 nights a week weather permitting. I selected the Nexstar11 as it was the largest, lightest scope I could comfortably handle and set up by myself (all parts are less than about 60 lbs).