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Ephemeris: 07/16/2024 – Find the rabbit in the Moon

July 16, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Tuesday, July 16th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 9:24, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:13. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 2:10 tomorrow morning.

The Moon tonight is a gibbous phase which is between first quarter and full. The sunrise line we call the terminator is moving across the lunar sea Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms. As I look at the Moon more and more, I’m beginning to appreciate what the Chinese saw in the pattern of the lunar seas, that of a rabbit. A very particular rabbit named Yutu, belonging to the moon goddess Ching’e. He’s curled up head down towards the right. His two rabbit ears, his head and part of his body is displayed in the five connected seas of Fecunditatis (Fruitfulness), Nectaris (Nectar), Tranquillitatis (Tranquility), Serenitatis (Serenity), and Imbrium (Showers). The rest of his body is slowly being revealed by the advancing terminator to the left. He is shown with a mortar, the sea Nubium (Clouds) and pestle pounding out medicine according to Chinese mythology.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The Chinese lunar landers have been named Chang’e, and the rovers named Yutu.

The visible lunar seas tonight that depict Yutu the rabbit
The visible lunar seas tonight, July 16th 2024, that depict Yutu the rabbit. Only Oceanus Procellarum is missing, which depict his feet. It’s just coming into sunlight on the left side of the Moon. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
The Jade Rabbit drawn on a full moon
The Jade Rabbit drawn on a full moon rotated to the approximate orientation of the of tonight’s Moon. Based on an image from Wikipedia entry for “Moon Rabbit”
Categories: Chinese, Ephemeris Program, The Moon Tags: , ,