{"id":23179,"date":"2021-08-23T13:43:35","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T13:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=98727"},"modified":"2021-08-23T13:58:09","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T13:58:09","slug":"a-guide-to-the-moons-mare-imbrium-and-sinus-iridium","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/a-guide-to-the-moons-mare-imbrium-and-sinus-iridium\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to the Moon\u2019s Mare Imbrium and Sinus Iridium"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Patrick Moore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 23 August 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

One of the loveliest features of the Moon has to be the Sinus Iridum or Bay of Rainbows. It leads off the vast Mare Imbrium and was shown and named by the famous lunar observer Giovanni Riccioli in his map drawn in 1651.<\/span><\/p>\n

In those days, of course, it was generally believed that the dark areas really were seas, and that the Moon could well be a world suited to life.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more info on lunar observing, read our guides on how to observe the Moon<\/a> and the best features on the Moon<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\""Moon\"<\/div>
Moon by Ronald Piacenti Junior, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Equipment: Celestron C6, HEQ5 Pro mount, Expanse ASI 120 MC CMOS camera<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Sinus Iridum is called a bay, but it is really a crater whose seaward wall has been virtually destroyed; only a few very low, disconnected fragments can be traced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elsewhere the mountainous \u2018wall\u2019 is continuous and fairly high, though the outermost edge is disturbed for a short distance by the prominent crater Bianchini.<\/span><\/p>\n

The continuous section is bounded by two capes, Promontorium Heraclides and Promontorium Laplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\""Montes\"<\/div>
Montes Jura and Sinus Iridum by John Brady, W. Lancashire, UK. Equipment: Skywatcher 200p, DMK41 mono CCD.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Facts about Sinus Iridum<\/strong><\/h1>\n