Mr. Skilling,
While in Manzanillo, Mexico this past February, I took my 7×10 binoculars and looked at the moon…I was amazed, I’ve never seen that level of detail here in northern Wisconsin. Is there a reason for this or do my eyes deceive me?
Bill Conway, Minocqua, Wisc.
Dear Bill,
Observing the moon through binoculars is a spectacular sight. With clear skies, the moon is easily bright enough to overcome the light pollution of large metropolitan areas. The added clarity offered by the relatively dark skies of northern Wisconsin or the Pacific coast of Mexico would aid in viewing faint celestial objects but not add much to lunar viewing.
Although you do not mention the phase of the moon you observed in Mexico this past February, it is noteworthy that winter full moons are brighter than summer ones, because they are much higher in the sky in winter than summer. At the lower latitudes of Mexico (Manzanillo is about 19 (degrees) North), it is even possible to have winter full moons directly overhead, and that difference in elevation offers some viewing advantage. Perhaps of more importance is the local weather: winter astronomical observing is much more comfortable from tropical locations.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His weather forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN News at noon and 9 p.m.
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