![]() The lunar surface would not be complete without its ridges, valleys, and faults. However, if you find that you are struggling, then a good pair of binoculars will help you. ![]() Most of these features can be seen when the moon is full or close to full and with the naked eye. These seas are also fairly dark and less reflective of the sun’s light than the light grey areas that surround them - this is all down to the rich amounts of iron found in these lunar seas.īut it’s not all great seas, if you look carefully enough, you can also spot some of the smaller lakes, marshes, and bays that litter the lunar surface. They are the first thing you are likely to spot when you gaze upon the moon’s surface, making that pattern that we often refer to as the Man or Rabbit in the moon the moon’s seas or, as astronomers call them, lunar maria.īut unlike our planet, and what early stargazers thought, these are not vast bodies of water that we’re used to, these are the plains of our companion’s very active past the mark of volcanic eruptions between some 3 and 3.5 billion years ago that spewed out lava, rapidly cooling to form stretches of grey basaltic rock. Because of the angle of the Earth to the moon, you’d be hard-pressed to spot anything interesting on the moon’s far side, but it is certainly worth looking out for. This is because our rocky companion spins on its axis at around the same time that it takes to orbit the Earth. Though it is not always entirely hidden, sometimes the interaction between the moon and Earth causes our satellite to rock backward and forwards in a motion known as libration, revealing about 9% more of its surface, and showing different halves at different times. There is something that our moon likes to keep relatively hidden from us - its far side the face we never see. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own. If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. The added beauty is that whatever phase of the moon is being revealed to Earth, it still has several features on show for you to find and observe. To see the finer details of its battered surface, though, you’ll need a pair of binoculars or a telescope the greater your instrument’s aperture, the better. What’s even better is that because it is the closest celestial body to us it is very easy to observe, even with the naked eye, and especially when some of its more obvious features are lit up by the sun. If you’ve never pointed a pair of binoculars or a telescope at our satellite, then you’ll be surprised to learn that the moon is an astronomical object worthy of observing in its own right. Related: Apollo landing sites: An observer’s guide on how to spot them on the moon We suspect that we’ve seen all that our moon has to offer. We see it on a nightly basis and, with the naked eye, we are able to pick out the craters, volcanoes, ridges, and basins that plague its terrain. This is because it always seems to be there. Despite its beauty, this chunk of rock that has accompanied our planet since its formation is something that many take for granted. Its unmistakable entrance is marked by lighting up the sky as a curved sliver of light- the waxing crescent - before revealing its entire face as the full moon.
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