For those of you new to the AAC, ‘The Lunatix Challenge’ is an expansion of the Astronomical Leagues Lunar Club. Completing the Challenge will entitle you to the AL Lunar Club admission, with the wall certificate and lapel pin, as well as an autographed Reformed Calendar by Ralph Bridges. If you are already a member of the Lunar Club, you can count those objects as viewed on the Challenge, but make it more worth your while and take your time this go round and really learn the objects.
The Challenge is designed to be done in one year, and full instructions and a list of the primary sites to study, the DOMES, are included in Challenge #1. Either Keith Burns or Philip Sacco can supply you with the details and any challenges you may have missed.
I hope you will take the time to look some of these sites up as you will come to love our nearest neighbor.....Go ‘Dirt Viewing’ for a change....!
Now for your challenge:
Naked Eye Targets:
1. What is the longest valley on the near side of the moon?
2. What is the term used for lunar soil?
3. This Months Challenge: If you stood in the center of crater Clavius, assuming a diameter of 140 miles how high would the walls have to be to see them?
Here’s a Whopper for you naked eye hunters!
Pickerings Ultimate Naked Eye Challenge:
Can you see:
Can you see the Riphaeus Mountains without optical aid? This is a rated 12 challenge.....
Binocular Targets:
1. Mountains Pico and Piton - solitary peaks
2. Rheita Valley - 3 to 4 day or 17 to 18 day old moon
3. Palus Epidemiarum - Marsh of .....?
4. Crater Aristillus
Telescope Targets:
1. Domes between Kepler and Copernicus?
2. Petavius Wall
3. Reiner Gamma
4. Montes Alpes