Archive
Ephemeris: 02/06/2025 – The Moon tonight, two days after first quarter
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, February 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 5:59, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:54. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 4:30 tomorrow morning.
Tonight the moon will be about a day and a half past first quarter it is showing some very nice craters for the binoculars or small telescope. Near the south end of the moon near the terminator, the sunrise line, is the crater called Clavius which has an arc of several craters within it, each of decreasing size. North or above that is the sharp-edged crater called Tycho which, during a full moon, shows several long ejecta rays across the face of the Moon, but are almost invisible now. Near the top edge of the Moon the flat floored crater called Plato is seen by the edge of the large sea Mare Imbrium or Sea of Showers. A mountain range at the opposite side of Imbrium is called the Apennines Mountains.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
03/11/2022 – Ephemeris – Looking at the northern part of the Moon and the crater Plato
This is Ephemeris for Friday, March 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 41 minutes, setting at 6:43, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:00. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 4:18 tomorrow morning.
As the Moon moves around the Earth, now one day past first quarter, more of it is revealed in sunlight. The top or north part of the moon is of interest now. The second-largest lunar sea, Mare Imbrium, or Sea of Showers, is now half illuminated by the advancing terminator, the sunrise line. That can be seen with the naked eye. With binoculars, in the mountains north or above Imbrium can be found the flat floored crater or walled plain called Plato. This crater is situated in the lunar Alps. Mountains on the Moon are named after their earthly counterparts. Visible in telescopes now will be the Alpine Valley cutting through the Alps just to the right of Plato. Each night from new to full, more of the Moon’s features are revealed near the terminator.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon tonight, a day past first quarter, March 11, 2022, outlining the Mare Imbrium, crater Plato area, which is seen in detail below. Created using Virtual Lunar Atlas.
The Moon tonight, March 11, 2022, highlighting the crater Plato and lunar Alps. The Alpine Valley (Vallis Alpes), lies under the caption “Alpes” for the mountains. One of cool things to watch when the terminator is situated just right is to watch the shadows of the mountains retreat across Plato’s crater floor as the Sun rises. The shadows of the peaks appear very jagged as they retreat. Created using Virtual Lunar Atlas.
05/29/2012 – Ephemeris – The moon tonight
Ephemeris for Tuesday, May 29th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 9:18. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 2:38 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:01.
The moon tonight is a wonderful sight for binoculars or a small telescope. There are some very nice craters now revealed near the terminator, the line between day and night on the moon. The terminator in the two weeks between new and full is the sunrise line on the moon. From the top or north on the moon is the flat floored crater Plato Then about midway down the moon and right on the terminator is the beautiful crater Copernicus. Then to the south end of the moon is the bright and crisp crater Tycho. Its splash marks called rays will be better revealed at full moon. At the bottom of the moon, just coming into light is the huge crater Clavius. A telescope will reveal smaller craters within.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The moon on 5/29/2012 showing large craters on the terminator. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 