Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
- astroavani
- Mars Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:51 pm
- 4
- Location: Cidade de Canoas, Estado do Rio GRande do Sul, Brazil
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Sinus Iridum, its craters and the Jura Mountains are a favorite target for all lunar observers.
Its mountains always seem to catch the light in a different way, and in good lighting conditions, the contrast mixing brightness and darkness on both sides makes this place something magical. The low sun in this region is something to be treasured, so each small crater stands out like a ring of light. This low lighting also emphasizes the ridges present in the sea (peculiar low sinuous ridges) making them very prominent and easily visible on the flat floor of the bay.
Sinus Iridium is called a bay, but it is actually a crater whose southeastern wall has been practically destroyed, only a few very low disconnected fragments can be traced. On the other hand, the hills to the northwest are continuous and quite high, thus superbly highlighting the Montes Jura, whose outer rim is disturbed by the prominent Bianchini crater. The continuous section of these mounds is bounded at both ends by the Promontorium Heraclides and Laplace.
One thing that should be very clear is that the Iridium floor slopes downwards towards the southeast, thus penetrating Mare Imbrium, so that the opposite side is about 61 meters below sea level, that is, completely buried. There is nothing like it anywhere else on the moon. The sequence of events that took place appears to be quite simple. The sea itself was formed about 3 billion years ago, probably after the Great Bombardment. Since the impact that formed Sinus Iridum must have occurred earlier, this leads us to believe that at least 4 large floods of lava that formed the sea were responsible for burying the entire southeast edge of this magnificent crater.
Sinus Iridum is one of the moon's most enchanting features, but to do so, you must observe it at the right time. As the sun rises over it, the mountain tops are illuminated by sunlight, while the floor is still in darkness. The result is that the wall appears to be floating above the moon, beyond the terminator. Lunar observers refer to this as Rainbow Bay.
This occurs once every lunation (lunar cycle), but it doesn't last long, and as the sun creeps into the lower floor, the floating arc effect soon wears off. It is fascinating to follow the changes that occur with the increase of the sun's altitude, even a small telescope will show it very well.
Take a closer look at the exact location of Laplace Promontory and its intriguing geology. Imagine yourself at the top at 2,600 meters high, observing all this immense plain around you! Did you feel a chill?
Text: Avani Soares
https://forum.firegoto.com.br/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7760
Its mountains always seem to catch the light in a different way, and in good lighting conditions, the contrast mixing brightness and darkness on both sides makes this place something magical. The low sun in this region is something to be treasured, so each small crater stands out like a ring of light. This low lighting also emphasizes the ridges present in the sea (peculiar low sinuous ridges) making them very prominent and easily visible on the flat floor of the bay.
Sinus Iridium is called a bay, but it is actually a crater whose southeastern wall has been practically destroyed, only a few very low disconnected fragments can be traced. On the other hand, the hills to the northwest are continuous and quite high, thus superbly highlighting the Montes Jura, whose outer rim is disturbed by the prominent Bianchini crater. The continuous section of these mounds is bounded at both ends by the Promontorium Heraclides and Laplace.
One thing that should be very clear is that the Iridium floor slopes downwards towards the southeast, thus penetrating Mare Imbrium, so that the opposite side is about 61 meters below sea level, that is, completely buried. There is nothing like it anywhere else on the moon. The sequence of events that took place appears to be quite simple. The sea itself was formed about 3 billion years ago, probably after the Great Bombardment. Since the impact that formed Sinus Iridum must have occurred earlier, this leads us to believe that at least 4 large floods of lava that formed the sea were responsible for burying the entire southeast edge of this magnificent crater.
Sinus Iridum is one of the moon's most enchanting features, but to do so, you must observe it at the right time. As the sun rises over it, the mountain tops are illuminated by sunlight, while the floor is still in darkness. The result is that the wall appears to be floating above the moon, beyond the terminator. Lunar observers refer to this as Rainbow Bay.
This occurs once every lunation (lunar cycle), but it doesn't last long, and as the sun creeps into the lower floor, the floating arc effect soon wears off. It is fascinating to follow the changes that occur with the increase of the sun's altitude, even a small telescope will show it very well.
Take a closer look at the exact location of Laplace Promontory and its intriguing geology. Imagine yourself at the top at 2,600 meters high, observing all this immense plain around you! Did you feel a chill?
Text: Avani Soares
https://forum.firegoto.com.br/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7760
Scopes: Celestron C14 Edge, Celestron C9,25 XLT
Mounting: Celestron CGE PRO, Celestron CG5 Advanced
Cameras: ASI 290MC, ASI 178MM
Accessories: Tele Vue Powermate 2X, Baader L filter, Baader IR Pass 610 and 685, Astronomik IR Pass 742, Tele Vue Binovue, various orthoscopic eyepieces
Mounting: Celestron CGE PRO, Celestron CG5 Advanced
Cameras: ASI 290MC, ASI 178MM
Accessories: Tele Vue Powermate 2X, Baader L filter, Baader IR Pass 610 and 685, Astronomik IR Pass 742, Tele Vue Binovue, various orthoscopic eyepieces
- Juno16
- Universal Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 8210
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 3:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Absolutely beautiful image Avani!
Great read too!
Great read too!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
- John Donne
- Orion Spur Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 967
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 5:34 am
- 3
- Location: US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Beautiful Avani !
SCOPES :ES127 f7.5, SW100 f9 Evostar, ES80 F6, LXD75 8" f10 SCT, 2120 10" f10 SCT, ES152 f6.5.
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.
"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
MOUNTS: SW AZ/EQ5, MEADE LXD75, CELESTRON CG4, Farpoint Parallelogram.
BINOCULARS: CL 10X30, Pentax 8X43, 25X100 Oberwerks.
EP: Many.
"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
- astroavani
- Mars Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:51 pm
- 4
- Location: Cidade de Canoas, Estado do Rio GRande do Sul, Brazil
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
I believe that the ridges shown in this image seen from above the LROC are traces of the buried wall, as the lava must have slid over it and taken on this wavy shape. The backs can also be seen in my photo.
Scopes: Celestron C14 Edge, Celestron C9,25 XLT
Mounting: Celestron CGE PRO, Celestron CG5 Advanced
Cameras: ASI 290MC, ASI 178MM
Accessories: Tele Vue Powermate 2X, Baader L filter, Baader IR Pass 610 and 685, Astronomik IR Pass 742, Tele Vue Binovue, various orthoscopic eyepieces
Mounting: Celestron CGE PRO, Celestron CG5 Advanced
Cameras: ASI 290MC, ASI 178MM
Accessories: Tele Vue Powermate 2X, Baader L filter, Baader IR Pass 610 and 685, Astronomik IR Pass 742, Tele Vue Binovue, various orthoscopic eyepieces
- Razz
- Pluto Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2021 9:17 am
- 2
- Location: Brewerton, New York
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Very nice image and write up.
Telescopes: SvBony SV503 80mm, Apertura AD10, Daystar SS60DS,Bresser AR-127s, 6" GSO Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
- AstroBee
- Moderator
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2272
- Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 11:03 pm
- 4
- Location: Henderson, NV
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Beautiful image. I'm not sure I've ever seen so much detail in an image outside of the NASA orbiters. Really amazing. This is one of my favorite regions of the moon along with nearby Plato and Montes Recti.
Greg M.~ "Ad Astra per Aspera"
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
Cameras: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro, ZWO 2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600mm
Filters: 36mm Chroma LRGB & 3nm Ha, OIII, SII, L-Pro, L-eXtreme
Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
Software: N.I.N.A., SharpCapPro, PixInsight, PhotoShop CC, Phd2, Stellarium
https://www.nevadadesertskies.com
Scopes: Celestron EdgeHD14", Explore Scientific ED152CF & ED127 APO's, StellarVue SV70T, Classic Orange-Tube C-8, Lunt 80mm Ha double-stack solar scope.
Mounts: Astro-Physics Mach One, iOptron CEM70EC Mount, iOptron ZEQ25 Mount.
Cameras: ZWO ASI2600mm Pro, ZWO 2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600mm
Filters: 36mm Chroma LRGB & 3nm Ha, OIII, SII, L-Pro, L-eXtreme
Eyepieces: 27mm TeleVue Panoptic, 4mm TeleVue Radian, Explore Scientific 82° 30mm, 6.7mm , Baader 13mm Hyperion, Explore Scientific 70° 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, Meade 8.8mm UWA
Software: N.I.N.A., SharpCapPro, PixInsight, PhotoShop CC, Phd2, Stellarium
https://www.nevadadesertskies.com
- Makuser
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 6394
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 12:53 am
- 4
- Location: Rockledge, FL.
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
Hi Avani. Another superb lunar image and this time of Sinus Iridium with the C14 Edge telescope. Fantastic surface details in your capture along with a very informative explanation text. Thanks for sharing this fine work with us Avani and I always enjoy your great lunar images.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
- messier 111
- Universal Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 9579
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2020 2:49 am
- 3
- Location: Canada's capital region .
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
very nice image and report , thx .
I LOVE REFRACTORS ,
REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .
EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .
FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .
Mounts , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .
“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov
Jean-Yves
REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .
EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .
FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .
Mounts , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .
“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov
Jean-Yves
- Ylem
- Universal Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 7560
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
- 4
- Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Sinus Iridum, the Rainbow Bay
That's absolutely amazing Avani!!
Looks like you captured that from Lunar orbit!
Looks like you captured that from Lunar orbit!
Clear Skies,
-Jeff
Member; ASTRA-NJ
Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
-Jeff
Member; ASTRA-NJ
Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute