Moon Crater Humboldt: Cluster of Central Peaks and Crater Chain

The week of March 28 – April 3rd takes us from Day 26 to Day 3. This week we will highlight the moon crater Humboldt.

Humboldt¹: [SE/M18] This moon crater is best viewed when there is a pronounced libration; tonight it is caught just inside the leading edge of the Moon. Because of foreshortening, it appears to be extremely elongated north to south. It has a cluster of central peaks, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a long catena (crater chain) extending from the northeast rim of the crater.

OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE THE WEEK OF MARCH 28 – APRIL 3:

One of the loveliest views of the Moon can be seen around Day 3 and to appreciate it, you don’t even need a telescope. Go out in the evening of the third day, just as deep twilight is ending, and look west. The Moon will seem magically suspended over the horizon, and its dark side will be softly glowing from earthshine. At such times the daylight portion of the Earth shines a beacon of reflected sunlight toward the Moon, whose dark side acquires a lovely ethereal glow, and if you can possibly add the aroma of nearby apple blossoms, then you will have created a scene of transcendental beauty.

¹ William von Humboldt (22 June 1767 – 8 April 1835) was a Prussian philosopher, linguist, government functionary, diplomat, and founder of the Humboldt University of Berlin.

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It is highly recommended that you get a copy of Sky and Telescope’s Field Map of the Moon, the very finest Moon map available for use at the telescope. It is available for $10.95 at www.skyandtelescope.com and on Amazon. All features mentioned in this blog will be keyed to the grid on the Field Map and will look like this: Plato: [NW/D9]

Credits:
Courtesy of Gray Photography of Corpus Christi, Texas
Lunar photos: NASA / USGS / BMDO / LROC / ASU / DLR / LOLA / Moon Globe. Used by permission

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Andrew Planck

Author and Astronomer Andrew Planck shepherds you to the moon and its mysteries of intrigue and surprise. Learn about the moon’s most fascinating objects, understand how the moon was formed and the names of many of the craters … and why they honor individuals who have changed the course of history.

OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE THE WEEK OF MARCH 28 – APRIL 3:

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