Wernex 'X'

[Parsec]

Has anyone here attempted to photograph the lunar 'Werner X'?
Reason I am asking I believe tonight on this lunar cycle is the apperance and I may make an attempt at it.
The time of the peak event is 0535 UT.

[ben therrell]

Parsec,

      I ran it across the Moon section of my spreadsheet and it looks like
the terminator begins to cross Werner @ 23:25 UT (Mar 25).  It should
expose the W rim of Werner by 04:41 UT (Mar 26).  I think that may
be too late.

     I dredged up a shot of it by Carol Lakomiak from June, 2004 and it looks
like the terminator was about halfway across Werner at the time.

     http://www.lpod.org/archive/LPOD-2004-08-29.htm

    I would set up early (ca 2h - 3h UT) and monitor the situation because
(1) this is a Highlands object and (2) the southern libration is extreme tonite.
(6.51 degrees).

    If you can get out let me know how things time out because I don't have
any data on S Highland elavations.

Regards

Ben

[Parsec]

Will do Ben.
Although it may be very close for me here because of obstacles (trees) on the west horizon.
Fingers crossed.

[Parsec]

Unfortunately the moon was not in a good position for me to attemp a photo. Perhaps next time around.
However here are the times I got from another local amatuer.

first pin prick of light                0240 UT
"T" or partial X                        0335 UT
earliest X                                0500 UT
peak x                                   0535 UT
latest x                                  0600 UT
surroundings filled in                 0710 UT

[ben therrell]

Thanks Parsec,

     It seems the onset of the event happens just after the illumination of the
W rim of Werner.  I'm going to file that one and check it out next go-round.

    Carol Lakomiak's foto of it was taken 6/24/04 and the Moon was also in
extreme S libration on that date.  I don't know if the libration really matters
all that much but I'm going to run some periodic checks on that too.  I'll
keep you posted.

Thanx for the heads-up,

Ben

[Parsec]

I had never heard of the X before, but I haven't been around too long,

Ron, it is not well known.
I have been playing around in the astronomy sandbox since I was a kid  (physically), mentally things have not changed much, and I have only clued in on it the last couple of years myself.

It is really an interesting anomaly to 'go after'. When one has excellent observing condition and the 'X' decides to cooperate it is really worth the trouble.

Had I been paying attention the other night, rather than trying an observation from here I would have went up the observatory.
Thing is, it's a 30 minute drive from here, the outside temp was -7.5°C. I would have had to load my scope in the car or slid the roof off the building up there at 2:30am local time, ran the photo session then headed back home in the wee hours of the morning.
To capture the 'X' it would have been worth it.

Next time around I will get it. I haven’t calculated the lunar cycles yet. But right off the top I do not think we will have a window at least before May.

It seems the onset of the event happens just after the illumination of the
W rim of Werner.

Exactly Ben, when you catch glints of light on the high evelation of the Purbach crater wall. You know you are in the ball park and you will catch it.


In the mean time, here is a link to an article on Werner 'X'.  Dave submitted this article in Feb. 2006. It is informative and well written. As you see it is in pdf format.

http://halifax.rasc.ca/documents/novanotes/nn3701.pdf

[Ron]

Ron,

Thanks for the link

Very interesting read.

I'll definitely be looking for on the next go round

Ron

[ben therrell]

Friday, July 20, UT 06:53pm

     The terminator make an early evening pass on "Werner X" at about 01:55 UT tomorrow evening
 July 22.07986 ( that's Saturday nite our time - early Sunday UT )

     If anyone can get precise timings on it I would appreciate you posting them up.

Ben, 90.126 n 35.539

[ben therrell]

Saturday, July 21, 01h Ut

       Had the scope set up and found the sunrise on Werner X began around 01:30 and not
auspiciously - had to work on it.

      At 01:45 a "C" shape appears when the rim of Regiomontanus A illuminates.
 
     At 02:05 the c-shape became ragged and resembled a "V" with a tiny sprue to E as
         Purbach H illuminates.

     At 02:18 the X-shape became fairly apparent but not filled in well.

    At 02:30 the clouds got me but now I know the time I submitted (01:55) marked the event
        at just about the middle.   Give it about 20 min for the X to form up.

I got him now,   
Ben

[Jean-Yves]

Great observation, Cheers

Jean-Yves

[ben therrell]

Thank you, Jean-Yves.

Ben

[Parsec]

Ben, a belated, ‘Good Show’ on getting that elusive Werner ‘X’.

Ron W.

[ben therrell]

Thanks,

      I'll keep after it and make a note when the terminator makes an advantageous pass.

Ben

[Ron]

Ben,

Thanks for the post on your visual of Werner X

It's a shame you couldn't have slapped a camera on the lens and snapped a picture.

Keeps up informed on the next chance.

Ron

[Parsec]

Hi people,

Just a quick note here. The Werner'X' should make an appearance this Sept. 19 at 0001 -0147 UTC.
So, for most of us that would make it the evening of Sept 18.
I am going to try for a photo this time, that is if I am lucky enough to have clear skies.

One off topic note (Sept.19th jogged my memory and believe me it need a lot of jogging).

The PBS network will be airing an amateur astronomy program Sept.19 ( Seeing in the Dark).

http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/