the railroad! (Toronto)

I just viewed the Lunar Straight Wall!

Quick and fast!

Wandered outside, when I continued to see blue sky from the west window. Saw thin, high cloud overhead. No low clouds speak of. Walked to the front sidewalk. I always forget this is south-east. Moon caught my eye, to the right. I backed up. Oooh. Hazy. But bright! OK. Let's go!

Fired up the Questar 3½ on my wiggly wood TV table at the end of the neighbour's driveway. 4x, focused the eyepiece. 40x, moved the mirror. Lovely. Filling about 1/3rd of the field. And there it was, plain as day, on the lower side of the dark mare! A thin, straight, dark line (just over 100 km long). The Straight Wall (or Rupes Recta).

Bumped up to 80x with the flick of a lever. Very clear. Seeing was above average. But these higher powers really drop the light level.

What's that little, round, deep crater right beside it, I wondered (Birt, according to Virtual Moon Atlas).

Didn't take long for the mozzies to find me...

Dashed inside to grab my notepad and pen.

Offered Diane's Mom a peek. She enjoyed the view, particularly the craters. Tried to coax Jane out. Jane said she wasn't dressed appropriately. Meanwhile, I looked around the corner of the garage. There was Venus, about 25° up.

Clouds moved in. Alas, I had my brief look! Success.

I packed up.