Sinus Iridum. The north of Moon through a telescope.

It is not the first time we talk about "Gulf of rainbows" or Sinus Iridum. This great golf, Mare Imbrium basin full of lava, has 236 km. The wall forming the crescent-shaped bay is called Montes Jura.

Sinus Iridum is very popular among the "lunatics" because of its shape and because it is in stark contrast to Mare Imbrium, which is dark and the two features combined make the bay to stand out as it is observed even by a ordinary binoculars.
Sinus Iridum's name was given by Giovanni Riccioli.

Magnitude: -12.11
Phase: 0.96
Distance: 401.329 km
Illuminated: 96.2% (0% = New, 100% = Full)

Astronomical instrument: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope,
Eyepiece: Plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Apparatus: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 08.11.2011
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: FastStone Image Viewer

In the pictures below are labeled craters and other lunar features in the region. To better understand this photo, you should note that the label with the name or the letter of larger craters could be found at their center, and on the small craters, you should find them around them, usually above.

Image from 3 march 2012.

Read more »

Sinus Iridum in darkness Video through telescope.

These video images, along with a picture processed in Registax, shows northern Moon area, specifically the northern part of the Gulf of Rainbows, or Sinus Iridum.

Golf is in shade at this stage, leaving just a dark bow to be noticed. Montes Jura mountains which form this sinus, are illuminated by the Sun, and on them we observe three craters scattered along this mountains called Foucault (23 km), Sharp (40 km) and Sharp B (21 km) (from right to left).



Video: Victor Lupu
Optics: Celestron C8 "-Newtonian telescope, 20mm Plossl, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: Sony CX-130
Video Mode: Full HD 1920x1080 progressive
Filter: no
Date: 11/september/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: Sony Vegas 10

Read more »

Chang'e-3 and Yutu rover landed on the Moon (images).

685 frames at 85% best quality in Registax.

 The region where Chang'e-3 and Yutu landed.

 Age of the Moon: 27.32 days
Distance: 381.700 km
Phase: 88.8% (0% = New, 100% = Full)

Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, Plossl 20 mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Camera: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 26/09/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: Registax, FastStone Image Viewer



Saturday December 14, 2013 , Chang'e -3 Chinese space probe successfully landed on the Moon , and Sunday , rover Yutu ( Jade Rabbit) , left the ship platform which carried it there. The first image has been already transmitted (below).

First image of Tutu rover.

CCTV Television provided live images from the time of the successful landing program that authorities consider it a major step for military space .
China hopes to have a space station by 2020. This is the third country after Russia and the U.S. in history successfully sending a rover on the Moon.
The rover will activate it's mission on Sinus Iridum bay, of the northern Moon. The nearest crater of rover Yutu is Laplace F.

Yutu is designed to travel about 10 km during the mission, and has the task of analysis with the help of it's instruments on it the lunar soil, on and around craters, and the material ejected from the impacts and the rays ( albedo) resulted, but also soil analysis from the deep . The purpose of the mission is the discovery of natural resources.
Chang'e -3 , was launched from Earth on December 1, 2013 and has completed it's journey to the Moon in 13 days.

Yutu rover, image made by Chang'e-3 space probe.

Chang'e-3 space probe.

Read more »

Great video of Sinus Iridum

In this video is surveilled all region around Sinus Iridum bay. Clarity is acceptable and therefore more interesting features are observed, much better than other times.

We start with Montes Recti on Mare Imbrium, the elongated hill, and continue with craters like Maupertuis, on east of the bay (46 km) and Bianchini (38 km). To the north, on Mare Frigoris, notice a dark crater, named Harpalus (39 km), and to its north is a large canker crater, named South (108 km), which makes its appearance at 0:12 second.

Montes Jura, are the surrounding mountains of Sinus Iridum, shaped with an arc shape.

Age of the Moon: 11 days
Distance: 386 658
Phase: 85% (0% = New, 100% = full)




Optical Telescope Celestron C8 "-Newtonian plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: Sony CX-130
Video Mode: Full HD 1920x1080 progressive
Filter: no
Date: 23/03/2013
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: Sony Vegas 10

Image for guidance from January 17, 2011.

Read more »

HD Video by astronomical telescope crater Plato and Sinus Iridum bay

Plato crater and Sinus Iridum, are both located on the north Moon on southern Mare Frigoris. There are two common articles with these videos, those being processed in Registax: Crater Plato Registax images and Sinus Iridum in sunlight Pictures through the telescope. Both have pictures from this video.


Between the two, Sinus Iridum and Plato (101 km), are 367 km from the eastern edge of the Sinus Iridum (Promotorium Laplace), and the center of Plato. In this area are Montes Teneriffe and Montes Recti located on the plateau of Mare Imbrium basin.

The sun shines from a high angle considering that the Moon was 93% illuminated.

I hope you enjoy this video made in a frosty winter night of 30 to 31 December 2013, the Earth's atmosphere was clean.

Most of these video craters can be seen even with binoculars and a good view is when the sun is at a low angle.

Moon Age: 17 days
Phase: 93% (0% = New, 100% = full)
Distance: 396.848 km




Video by Lupu Victor
Optics: CelestronC8 "-Newtonian telescope, plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5) motorized
Device: Sony CX-130
Video mode: Full HD progressive 1920x1080
Filter: no
Date: 31/12/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: Sony Vegas 10

Read more »

Mountainous area east of Sinus Iridum. Images by telescope.

La Condamine and Maupertuis craters 258 frames at 60%, in Registax

At this stage, lunar landscape is full of sunlight. For this reason, most craters shine like pearls. Notice the bright arc craters left in images, that are gradually decreasing in size. The first three, from top to bottom, are the satellite craters of La Condamine, which is 37 km in size and located in their right, but not showing an albedo. These are La Condamine A (18 km), D (10 km) and C (10 km), and the last and smallest on the tail of the arc, is Maupertuis L (6 km). What I find interesting, is that the depth of La Condamine is unknown even in the present.


Lower left, is the eastern part of Montes Jura and Sinus Iridum. Images are processed in Registax of a video that have taken more shots, merged to form a single image.

Age of the Moon: 17 days
Phase: 93% (0% = New, 100% = full)
Distance: 394.960 km

Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, 20mm Plossl, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5) motorized
Camera: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 31/12/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: Registax, FastStone Image Viewer

Read more »

Sinus Iridum in sunlight Pictures through the telescope.

Sinus Iridum in Registax, 385 frames at 70% best quality

Sinus Iridum in Registax, 728 frames at 65% best quality

In sunlight, Sinus Iridum, or "Bay of Rainbows" show it's undeniable beauty of the northern Moon. This bay, is contemplated by most observers through a telescope or binoculars, being the most popular feature of the Moon among amateur astronomers, which is easily recognizable and benchmarks.

It is difficult to get sharp images when the sun is at a high angle, but if you're lucky to film or photograph through a telescope in one night with a clear atmosphere, you can achieve amazing shots even in these conditions. The pictures above, are of a video processing in Registax, from which were taken 385 and 728 shots, merged to form a single image.

Sinus Iridum, is often misspelled "Iridium". You can convince yourself by a simple Google search. I admit that I wrote in all my posts before "Iridium" and I will correct all, except the name of the label, because it will not appear in any of the articles in the link I referred to this bay, becoming a broken link.

Age of the Moon: 17 days
Phase: 93% (0% = New, 100% = full)
Distance: 394.960 km

Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, 20mm Plossl, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5) motorized
Camera: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 31/12/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: Registax, FastStone Image Viewer

Image taken in March 3, 2012.

Read more »

Plato and Sinus Iridium Registax Images

Registax image 265 frames to 90%

Registax image 269 frames to 90%

Registax image 345 frames to 85%

The north of the Moon has many features to discuss. I talked about one of the regions in the article East of Sinus Iridium Bay Registax pictures , in which we described the characteristics of the eastern Sinus Iridium.

 In these pictures we see more features such as a part of the Mate Frigoris (top in photos), a part of Mare Imbrium (bottom in photos), on which is situated two small distinct craters called Helicon and Le Verrier, and also observe Plato crater, upper right in photo.

   Sinus Iridium is a gulf that has no resemblance on the entire surface of the Moon. Because the Moon visible from Earth is full of basins (mare), the craters have special features, not like the unseen Moon, where there are not so many basins but with highlands, mountains, deep craters full of unaffected by lava as we see on visible Moon from Earth. I would not wish that one day, the Moon to appear on our sky with the unseen part.

Age of the Moon: 9 days
Phase: 75% (0% = New, 100% = Full)
Distance: 392.049 km

Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, 20mm Plossl, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Camera: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 03/03/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: Registax, FastStone Image Viewer

Read more »

East of Sinus Iridium Bay Registax pictures

 

Sinus Iridium, located on Mare Imbrium, is a bay on the northern Moon. In these pictures above processed in Registax, we see more of it's eastern part. Mountains belt surrounding it, is actually the northwestern edge of a crater that has survived the floods of Mare Imbrium lava, and is called Montes Jura.

Bianchini crater (38 km), is near the northern edge of the bay. In photos, it is filled by darkness and only the inner wall of the western edge is illuminated by the Sun.

Maupertuis (46 km), however, is another crater that was more enlightened at that time, which is situated at east corner of the Jura Mountains (central in image), near Promotorium Laplace. Maupertius has an irregular shape with a very hilly and rugged floor.

All Montes Jura, is full of high peaks but dull, small craters and larger, as those mentioned above, easily observable by an 8-inch telescope. La Condamine crater, is observed to the north.

Going forward, east of Sinus Iridium, on Mare Imbrium, is a mountain range called Montes Recti, which is like a solitary island in the sea. These mountains taken together have an elongated horizontally shape, like a caterpillar.

Video images were processed in Registax software, video from which were used 11 to 15 frames, with a setting to select only those with 95 percent quality.

Moon Age: 9 days
Phase: 75% (0% = New, 100% = Full)
Distance: 392.049 km

Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, 20mm Plossl, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Camera: Sony CX130
Filter: no
Date: 03/03/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: Registax, FastStone Image Viewer

Read more »

Video by telescope Between Plato and Sinus Iridium through a telescope

In this 3:51 minute long video of the North of the Moon, is presented a region called Sinus Iridium. The image is upside down as seen through the telescope.
Bay of Rainbows, or Sinus Iridium, consists of Montes Jura mountains, forming a bay. It is actually the remnants of the walls of a large crater.
 Isolated and elongated mountain from Mare Imbrium, is Montes Rectum.
On Imbrium sea are visible two different colour shades that divides the sea in two. This highlights shows in fact that there are two types of soil found in this area.
Helicon and Le Verrier are two isolated craters located "offshore", visible in the region where the lunar surface color is darker.



Video: Victor Lupu
Optics: Celestron C8 "-Newtonian telescope, plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: Sony CX-130
Video mode: Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) progressive
Filter: no
Date: 03/03/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and Editing: Sony Vegas 10

Read more »

Montes Jura (astronomical telescope Video)

Two clips through my telescope Sinus Iridium on the Moon, or so-called "Bay of Rainbows". The clips are stabilized to eliminate the image shakes.
Golf is almost flooded with sunlight.

Mountain formation surrounding the Gulf (Sinus Iridium), it's called Montes Jura.

End of the southwest mountains is called Heraclides Promontorium, while the north-east end is called Laplace Promontorium. Peaks of these mountains are caught in sunlight, producing a series of bright dots, and that effect have been described as "jewels".

In the distant past Montes Jura formed the outer wall of a crater about 260 km in diameter. Southeast of the crater was later destroyed and flooded with basaltic lava inside , from Mare Imbrium.

The Jura mountain range, are craters of which I mention Bianchini, who is in the north-western mountains curve. A little further west is Sharp crater and to the northeast is Maupertuis, a ruined crater.





Video: VictorLupu
Optics: CelestronC8 "Newtonian telescope-, plossl20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: at 7x optical zoom SonyCX105
Total Magnification: 700x
Filter: no
Date: 14/05/2011
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and Editing: Sony Vegas

                     Picture above serves for orientation and I made ​​it on January 17, 2011

Read more »

Sinus Iridium-a flooded crater

Sinus Iridium
Photographer: Victor Lupu
Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian telescope, plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: Sony CX105
Filter: No
Date: 05/14/2011
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: video captures
Sinus Iridium is left is left of the crater Plato and it is a lava golf. In the period when the Moon was forming, Mare Imbrium lava filed to the northerm edge of the crater where the walls are higher. So, Sinus Iridium is actually a flooded crater, leaving him only from the north-western edge, like the Gulf of Mexico on Earth, where the ocean has flooded crater.

Read more »

Video - Sinus Iridium HD

From this short video I made the image from the previous post,processed in Registax.

Read more »

Sinus Iridium-Moon imagery

Photographer: Victor Lupu
Optics: Celestron C8-Newtonian reflector telescope, plossl 20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Device: Sony HDR CX105
Filter: No
Date: 13/02/2011
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing: video capture

Bay of Rainbows or Sinus Iridium, sits on top of Mare Imbrium.Sinus Iridium resembles Mickey Mouse's left ear.
It is surrounded by a mountain range called the Montes Jura mountains after the Earth's mountains to the border between France and Switzerland. Unlike terrestrial mountains, created by plate tectonics and erosion, lunar mountains are instead huge rims of impact craters.
. After Sinus Iridium formed, a much larger impact created a basin called Mare Imbrium .The missing half of Sinus Iridium, was probably destroyed in the impact. About 3.1 billion years, long after the impact, lava flooded within Imbrium basin and filled the remaining half of the Sinus Iridium.

Below is a image processed in Registax, 20 frames at 90% Highest quality, made ​​on the same date 13.02.2011. The video from wich I processed this image is HERE.

Read more »