Lunar Observations and Imaging Life Sciences Lab Report

Student Name
Course
Prof
Submission Date
Lunar Observations and Imaging
Introduction
The lunar surface is different from the Earth’s; unlike on the Earth, there is little or even no tectonic movement on the moon (Pajola et al. 73). The surface of the moon has remained the unchanged for billions of years and it lacks water and an atmosphere. The erosion, weathering, and processes like tectonic which take place on Earth are not present on the moon.
The moon’s surface also contains several features that are not found on Earth. Some of the most significant include seas, mountains, rills, craters, mountain ranges, and rays (Campbell et al. 27). These features are visible when the 300mm telescope is used for imaging the moon at f7.
Purpose of the Lab
The purpose of this experiment was to study the surface of the Moon, pick three features on the Moon for imaging and further online research, and image them using the ZWO 193 Planetary Camera as an Imaging device. The experiment was also aimed at helping learners to practice creating and using astronomical images.
Apparatus used in the Lab
The following apparatus were used in the field when conducting the experiment;
A Meade 300mm Telescope that was located in the B300 courtyard. The Moon was imaged at f7 for a set of sections of the Moon with learners’ selected lunar features visible in the image.
Lab computers were used in B316 to view lunar maps via Google Earth/Moon and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) website.
Procedure
The moon was imaged at f7 using the 300mm telescope. The moon was viewed through the attached monitor. Professor Schiano shared the images captured with learners later to be included in the final lab report. Learners and the professor then met in room B316 and learned to use the class laptops and the lunar maps provided by Google Earth, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), and other websites.
Results
Learners found three objects on the moon maps that they wanted to identify on the images that were shared. They determined the name of the feature and the general location of the object to be able to compare with the images. They also viewed the websites on their own during the week. The three features that were named were the lunar maria, Montes Apenninus, and Tycho crater. They are marked in the images shown below.
The lunar maria


Montes Apenninus


Tycho crater


Discussion
As mentioned earlier, the thr...