Latest news with #lunarX
National Post
13 hours ago
- Science
- National Post
How to see the letters X and V on the moon tonight
The full moon is a glorious sight, and the sliver of a brand-new moon a wispy delight, but tonight's first-quarter moon has its own unique treat — for a few hours, you can make out the letters X and V on the lunar surface. Here's how. Article content Article content As the photo shows, the lunar X appears about a third of the way from the bottom of the moon, while the Lunar V is a little above the centre. Both features straddle the line between the light and dark sides of the moon, known as the terminator, with the X appearing a little into the dark side, and the V closer to the light side. Article content Why do the letters appear? Article content Article content They're not really there on the surface, and you can't see them at any other time. What you're looking at is called the 'clair-obscur' effect, in which the play of light and shadow on the surface creates the appearance of shapes; in this case, giant letters, formed by the partially lit edges of craters. Article content According to British astronomer Mary McIntyre, the effect kicks off tonight at about 7:30 p.m. ET, and should last about four hours. That means by the time the sun has set and the moon is at its brightest, you should be able to get a good look, clouds permitting. Article content What's the best way to see them? Article content Naked eye is a little tricky, since they are quite small. But decent binoculars (or better yet a small telescope) should bring them into focus. Article content Humans have been looking at the moon since we were human, and through telescopes since they were invented, so it's not surprising that other transient shapes have been noticed and given evocative names, including the jewelled handle, Cassini's moon maiden, Plato's hook and the eyes of Clavius, not to mention the so-called 'man in the moon' that many people see in the full moon. Article content McIntyre has a chart of when to look for them, while BBC's Sky at Night Magazine has a nice picture that shows their locations. The best part about all this is that if you miss them, they'll come back again every 28 days, forever. Article content
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A giant glowing X and V will appear on the Moon's surface tonight
Two unusual formations will be visible on the Moon on Wednesday night, with a giant X and V appearing on the lunar surface. The rare celestial event will be observable for around four hours as the Moon approaches its first quarter moon phase, with both letters forming from sunlight hitting crater's on the Moon's surface at just the right angle. The lunar V appears when light illuminates the Ukert crater, while the lunar X is formed from the Bianchini, La Caille and Purbach craters. The lunar X and lunar V will only be observable through a telescope or binoculars pointed at the Moon's terminator – the line separating its light and dark side. This line is typically the most interesting part of the Moon for amateur astronomers to observe, as the shadows help to emphasize the topography. 'The lunar surface appears different nearer the terminator because there the Sun is nearer the horizon and therefore causes shadows to become increasingly long,' Nasa's website explains. 'These shadows make it easier for us to discern structure, giving us depth cues so that the two-dimensional image, when dominated by shadows, appears almost three-dimensional. 'Therefore, as the Moon fades from light to dark, shadows not only tell us the high from the low, but become noticeable for increasingly shorter structures. For example, many craters appear near the terminator because their height makes them easier to discern there.' The lunar X and lunar V phenomenon will appear from 4:41am on 3 July (11:41pm EDT on 2 July). The skies over the British Isles are expected to be mostly clear at this time, according to the latest weather forecast from the Met Office, though parts of Wales and the west coast of Ireland will be obscured by cloud. 'The Werner X does not leap out all at once but gradually appears over an interval of two hours and 20 minutes as the Sun rises on the spot,' astronomer David Chapman noted in a paper on the subject. 'Watching this is either excruciatingly slow (if you are in a hurry) or exceedingly quick (if you are attempting to sketch the scene). Remember, the Sun rises about 30 times slower on the Moon.'
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
Why a ‘V' and ‘X' can be seen on the moon overnight
Two unusual formations, a giant X and V, will be visible on the moon early on Thursday morning, appearing for approximately four hours. These rare celestial events form when sunlight hits specific craters on the moon's surface at just the right angle. The lunar V is created by light illuminating the Ukert crater, while the lunar X is formed from the Bianchini, La Caille, and Purbach craters. Observation of the lunar X and V requires a telescope or binoculars, pointed at the moon's terminator, the line separating its light and dark sides. The phenomenon is expected to appear from 4:41 am on 3 July, with clear skies anticipated over most of the British Isles. A giant glowing X and V will appear on the Moon's surface tonight
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
A giant glowing X and V will appear on the Moon's surface tonight
Two unusual formations will be visible on the Moon on Wednesday night, with a giant X and V appearing on the lunar surface. The rare celestial event will be observable for around four hours as the Moon approaches its first quarter moon phase, with both letters forming from sunlight hitting crater's on the Moon's surface at just the right angle. The lunar V appears when light illuminates the Ukert crater, while the lunar X is formed from the Bianchini, La Caille and Purbach craters. The lunar X and lunar V will only be observable through a telescope or binoculars pointed at the Moon's terminator – the line separating its light and dark side. This line is typically the most interesting part of the Moon for amateur astronomers to observe, as the shadows help to emphasize the topography. 'The lunar surface appears different nearer the terminator because there the Sun is nearer the horizon and therefore causes shadows to become increasingly long,' Nasa's website explains. 'These shadows make it easier for us to discern structure, giving us depth cues so that the two-dimensional image, when dominated by shadows, appears almost three-dimensional. 'Therefore, as the Moon fades from light to dark, shadows not only tell us the high from the low, but become noticeable for increasingly shorter structures. For example, many craters appear near the terminator because their height makes them easier to discern there.' The lunar X and lunar V phenomenon will appear from 4:41am on 3 July (11:41pm EDT on 2 July). The skies over the British Isles are expected to be mostly clear at this time, according to the latest weather forecast from the Met Office, though parts of Wales and the west coast of Ireland will be obscured by cloud. 'The Werner X does not leap out all at once but gradually appears over an interval of two hours and 20 minutes as the Sun rises on the spot,' astronomer David Chapman noted in a paper on the subject. 'Watching this is either excruciatingly slow (if you are in a hurry) or exceedingly quick (if you are attempting to sketch the scene). Remember, the Sun rises about 30 times slower on the Moon.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
An enormous 'X' and 'V' will grace the moon's surface on July 2. Here's how to see them
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The nights surrounding the first quarter moon phase on July 2 present a good opportunity to spot colossal 'X' and 'V' features emblazoned on the lunar surface. This month's first quarter phase occurs at 11:41 p.m. EDT on July 2 (0341 GMT on July 3), at which time the right side of the half-lit lunar disk will be illuminated by direct sunlight from the perspective of viewers in the northern hemisphere on Earth. At this time, the sun shines at such an angle to make it appear as if there is a gigantic 'V' and 'X' marking the barren lunar surface. This kind of phenomenon is referred to as a 'clair-obscur' effect and occurs when the interplay between light and shadow leads to the chance formation of familiar shapes on the moon's craggy terrain. The lunar letters are visible for roughly four hours in the run-up to each first quarter moon phase and are at their most impressive when seen just on the 'night' side of the terminator, with their upper reaches kissed by the sun's light. Try and find the lunar 'X' and 'V' on the lunar disk at sunset on July 2 and be sure to keep checking back to see how these shapes evolve over time. If you miss the letters on the night side of the terminator, there's no need to lose hope, as they'll continue to be visible for a brief period after they pass to the 'day side' of the moon. The lunar X is an optical effect formed when sunlight strikes elevated rim sections of the Bianchini, Purbach and La Caille Craters around the first quarter moon phase, according to stargazing website The feature can be found around 25 degrees south of the lunar equator close to the terminator, which is the line separating the dayside and nightside of the moon, close to the prominent Werner and Aliacensis Craters. To find the lunar 'V', moongazers must follow the line of the terminator up to a point less than 10 degrees above the lunar equator to find the partially shadowed form of the Ukert Crater. Both objects can be spotted through a small backyard telescope with a 6-inch aperture, though a larger scope will help resolve detail in the myriad craters and broken terrain dotting the surrounding moonscapes. TOP TELESCOPE PICK Want to see the lunar X and V? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 4SE review. Stargazers interested in exploring the lunar surface should check out our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars available in 2025. Photographers interested in capturing the moon's surface should also read our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography. This article was updated at 3:10 a.m. EDT (0810 GMT) on July 2 to change 'June 2' to the correct date of 'July 2'. Editor's Note: If you capture a picture of the letters on the moon and want to share it with readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
