DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Have you seen the first-quarter moon, where half of the moon's Earth-facing side is lit by direct sunlight? Until tonight, there has been a waxing crescent moon gradually growing in brightness. That will now change as the moon becomes waxing gibbous, brightening each night until it becomes the full Hunter's Moon on Oct 6.
This evening also features, for a few short hours, Lunar X and Lunar V. They are famous optical features on the moon, visible through telescopes. So, when the moon’s terminator—or line between light and dark on the moon—is located in just the right place, you can see a letter X and letter V on the moon’s surface.
The illusion of Lunar X is created by sunlight falling on the rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Bianchini and Purbach. The V is caused by light illuminating crater Ukert, along with several smaller craters.
Thanks to Greg Redfern for the picture.
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