The Moon and All the Crashes
J. Hendrickson,
Sky Haven Observatory
A clear blue summer sky finally grows dark and
the new telescope, hastily
set up in the backyard, generates excitment
and anticipation.
"I bought it for the kids ...", Dad assures himself as he over-anxiously
supervises the two young boys' efforts to center a bright, first quarter
Moon, in the finder. The evening's first target acquired, James adjusts
the focus knob and falls silent. Suddenly, "Wow, looks just like on
Apollo 13!".
His younger brother Christopher takes his turn. "Do you
see the Moon?", James asks, eager to provide guidance
based on his own observing experience. Christopher echoes his brother's
enthusiasm, "Yes, and I see all the crashes too!".
The view they shared was not too different from
the above image of a six day
old moon, recorded in July 1995 by Rhode Island amateur
astronomer Jim Hendrickson.
Along the terminator, the line between lunar night and day, the shadows
outline to advantage
the spectacular craters -- caused by
all the crashes.