Friday, February 26, 2010

LHFS - Lunar Hot FlasheS

I do not know what it is about the moon. All these years observing her just makes me want more. This past Thursday our skies cleared between storms so why not drag out a newly repaired RED and have a quick view of a 9 day moon in our still blue skies.

Well before I knew it I was stuck with a case of LHFS - Lunar Hot FlasheS. What is this, the online dictionary defines it as : " An addictive experience derived from the overload of delightful moonscape views with Earth based optical telescopes. It is accompanied by a desire for fun food, body temperature elevation, heavy breathing, sleep deprivation, and astronomically based banter with other infected observers. It is very contagious." I got hit with it as I viewed these features and the accompanying 4 pics will show as close a view as I had .

Craters J.Herschel & Pythagoras : On the Mare Frigoris northwestern shore two ruined and rubble strewn craters are waking to a new Lunar day. I was imagining walking along the rubble fields and seeing in my minds eye flying molten debris carved out by the Imbrium event heading my way as I try to duck for cover - good luck!





Sunrise on Craters Aristarchus, Prinz, Montes Harbinger : Viewed so many times but never old. The moon's terminator was splitting Aristarchus down the middle and the surrounding terrain was causing me to lapse into fever! I was imagining viewing the Aristarchus complex from the Harbinger Montes and then looking eastward to the plains of the Ocean of Storms curving away in the distance!






Crater Letronne & Dorsa Rubey : Breathtaking indeed and very over looked with the nearby sunrise on the western shores of Mare Humorum stealing the show for most lookers. But with a case of LHFS you will begin to notice other things - like the shadows meandering through the walls of Letronne's southern exposure or Rubey snaking it's way into the flooded craters floor! I was getting pretty hungry by this point. You will burn calories with a case of LHFS!







Crater Schiller : This misshaped crater is easily recognized but what captured my attention was the steepness of the brightly lit southern wall. I saw myself in the crater looking up at the wall with the sunlight to my back and pondering the oblique impact that formed this excavation. Who can I share these views and musings with?







My LHFS had a gradual subsiding over dinner, conversation with Cindy, and 2 MASH reruns. But later that night all cozy on the couch I made the mistake and picked up one of my moon books and...............

8 comments:

Jo said...

Man, if having the Astronomy Bug is not enough! Now we can catch Lunar Hot Flashes too? I better make an appointment to see the doctor first thing Monday morning. Heaven forbid I catch this new disease!!!

Very entertaining post! You really had me laughing when you wrote,

"But with a case of LHFS you will begin to notice other things - like the shadows meandering through the walls of Letronne's southern exposure or Rubey snaking it's way into the flooded craters floor! I was getting pretty hungry by this point. You will burn calories with a case of LHFS!"

Pretty funny stuff! Keep it up!

Sidewalk Universe said...

Your getting the complete package! Don't fight it Johany - resistance is futile!

The only thing you can do is spread it!

Drive-by Astronomy said...

Sorry Johany, I agree with SUG...you caught it. Resisting only makes it harder. There is no cure. Treatment is palliative in nature only. You have a support group right here willing to help you through this.

I hope you get the new scope sooner than you anticipate. Then it will be eyepieces, filters, star charts, red flashlights, subscriptions to Sky and Telescope and Astronomy magazine, endless reference materials, and the list goes on.

You will make it through this with our help... and your credit card!

Sidewalk Universe said...

Dr.Mike knows this well as he has a significant credit card balance & is sometimes out in the dog house.

Funny thing is the doghouse is all set up for astronomy with his scopes seen coming through the roof and the dog no longer in residence!

Jo said...

You guys are sooooo funny! You keep me cracking up everytime!!!

Sidewalk Universe said...

It is kinda interesting how this astro thing can take over your life. I think about it all the time. Oh my life is very full but astronomy is something always on the burner somewhere and how. Last night NOVA -PBS had a Pluto show. Very moving concerning it's discoverer! Wonderful story which fueled my imagination & desire to look up!

Like today I get up and enjoy the sunrise through my eastern facing bedroom window and the first thing in my brain is "its clearing - waning moon observe @ 10:15 tonight after a outreach session!"

Total infection - no hope for recovery!

Jo said...

You are officially and utterly "insane", oops, I mean "obsessed!"

There is no cure or antidote for this infectious disease. I'm calling the Center for Disease Control right now!!! They'll be knocking at your door pretty soon!

Sidewalk Universe said...

Clear skies here in NV - morning waning 3rd qrt moon just awesome against the blue.......Ocean of Storms is just ginormous with the naked eye!

LHFS indeed!