I took some photometry images this morning (2009-9-9 11:30UT to 12:30UT) through Johnson V filter, exposuring to lunar south pole to a normal tone. Then the Alcyone multiple was imaged to get a rough calibration baseline. If I can get some reduction done, I'll have some firmer numbers for you. The short quick preliminary conclusion based on profile histograms of pixel values in a raw image of the south pole and the Alcyone multiple is that an integrated mag 5 star will just be visible in the Malapert "dark hole" - the shadowed area created by the Malapert alpha rampart and Liebnitz between, when a normal tone image is taken through a Johnson V-filter at an 0.0635 secs exposure at about f/30 and an efl of about 4500mm. Mag 8 is out of the question; mag 6.5 is "iffy". In reductions, I'll try to convert these into mpsas values. This will be a rough low precision, first-order analysis. For example, Alcyone itself is variable star, but with a low range of change. Shoemaker was absolutely stunning this morning. It was one of those rare observing sessions that makes this hobby worth all the effort. The light hit just a sliver of the whole rim of Shoemaker while it was sitting in the Malapert dark hole. The sliver rim had a beaded appearance to it and generated a perfect tilted ellipse shape. At the "back" or south side of Shoemaker, there is a small 6km crater on its rim, shown in high resolution radar topographic maps. That 6km crater was also crisply outlined when viewed with a 4mm TMB planetary e.p. with a 1550mm focal length and 125mm of aperature. Two small 6km and 4km craters just "below" or north of Malapert E were crisply seen - as was shadow terminator detail within 17km Malapert E itself. Part of the Faustini rim was also visible. Howarth in combination with the shadow of the Malapert alpha rampart makes a good dark hole, although there is bright sunlit terrain between Howarth and the south limb. Seeing held at Antatoldi III or better bewteen 11:30UT to 12:30UT (5:30 MDT-6:30 MDT) and into near nautical twilight. Just after 12:30UT, the morning atmospheric boil started. I feel there is an adequate margin of safety against bad seeing on impact day for my o.p. at 111W. The Moon will be in an analogous illumination and altitude for the LCROSS impact tomorrow morning at 5:30 MDT. I suspect the Shoemaker "beaded ring" effect is transitory, will fade as the terminator moves and will not be present tomorrow morning. More later. Clear Skies - Kurt