On the icy cold morning of Wednesday, 2003/1/22, at approximately 8:40 UT I noticed what might be a previously unreported lunar light ray in the crater Maskelyne F using the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain (at magnifications of 162, 216, and 259x) at the ASH Naylor Observatory (76d53'4" west, 40d8'54" north - 2 miles northwest of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania).
My friend Tony Donnangelo was also observing that night but from his home using his Takahashi FS-102. We kept in touch throughout the night since we were curious whether a sunset ray would occur near the crater Stiborius (see http://www.shallowsky.com/moon/rukl67.html) at the time predicted. We both felt that the predicted time was several hours too early. As it turned out no ray materialized at the appointed time, although it appeared that conditions might be favorable for it to occur at the time we had calculated using the Lunar ToolKit program.
At any rate Tony called me to inform me about an unreported ray he was watching from his residence but he was unclear about where it was located other than it was near Maskelyne (Rukl chart #36). I happened to notice a very thin and faint ray in crater F while searching for the ray that Tony was watching. It turns out that Tony saw a ray in crater P. The next day he related to me that he was unable to see the one in F with his 4" Takahashi. So two new lunar rays were discovered that night while attempting to observe a reported ray that did not occur.
Dave Mitsky
Harrisburg, PA
My friend Tony Donnangelo was also observing that night but from his home using his Takahashi FS-102. We kept in touch throughout the night since we were curious whether a sunset ray would occur near the crater Stiborius (see http://www.shallowsky.com/moon/rukl67.html) at the time predicted. We both felt that the predicted time was several hours too early. As it turned out no ray materialized at the appointed time, although it appeared that conditions might be favorable for it to occur at the time we had calculated using the Lunar ToolKit program.
At any rate Tony called me to inform me about an unreported ray he was watching from his residence but he was unclear about where it was located other than it was near Maskelyne (Rukl chart #36). I happened to notice a very thin and faint ray in crater F while searching for the ray that Tony was watching. It turns out that Tony saw a ray in crater P. The next day he related to me that he was unable to see the one in F with his 4" Takahashi. So two new lunar rays were discovered that night while attempting to observe a reported ray that did not occur.
Dave Mitsky
Harrisburg, PA
Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
