The Caucasus Mountains (Montes Caucasus) can be found on the eastern edge of Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains). It is a mountain range that is approximately 100km wide and stretches for more than 520km. The tallest peaks of the Caucasus reach up to 3650m and cast long shadows on the lunar surface. The mountain range is just east of Cassini, Aristillus and Autolycus and they stretch all the way to the large craters, Eudoxus and Aristoteles in Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold).
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| Caucasus Mountains (Image Credit: NASA LRO) |
Observation
My abbreviated observation record can be found below:
| Date | 2020-05-29 |
| Time | 22:57 |
| Sky | Clear |
| Telescope | 8" Reflector (1200mm F.L.) |
| Eyepiece | 10mm (2x Barlow) |
| Magnification | 240x |
Comments
The south end of the Caucasus Mountains seems to have a lone mountain, followed by the much larger range to the north. An odd shaped crater (almost resembling a square) was seen on the eastern edge of the mountain range. Another crater of similar size was seen over the mountains just southeast of Cassini. The Alps and Apennine Mountain ranges seemed to both point to the Caucasus. The Caucasus stretched all the way north to the large craters Eudoxus and Aristoteles.
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| Caucasus Mountains |
Location
To help you locate this object a map has been provided from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Observer's Handbook. It is object H, highlighted below.
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| Caucasus Mountains (Mountain Range) |
Another great view is from the Apollo 15 mission. This is looking northward from the southernmost point of the Caucasus Mountains.
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| Caucasus Mountains (Image Credit: NASA Apollo 15) |
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