Viewing the Moon

Even a small telescope can reveal an enormous amount of detail on the surface of the Moon.

This table provides simulated images and other data for the Moon every Tuesday that it is visible this semester. The dates link to images showing how the Moon will appear that evening. The altitude column gives the angle in degrees between the Moon and the horizon at 20:30 HST (8:30 pm) as seen from Honolulu; large altitudes are easier to observe. The diameter column gives the Moon's angular diameter, measured in minutes of arc. The phase column indicates the angle of sunlight in degrees.

Web Resources

• Phases of the Moon: high resolution; low resolution

  Shows the appearance of the Moon from 01-Aug-2011 at 00:00 UT to 31-Dec-2011 at 18:00 UT (31-Jul-2011 at 14:00 HST to 31-Dec-2011 at 08:00 HST). Besides the obvious changes in phase, this animation also shows the variation in the Moon's apparent diameter and the `wobbling' motion known as libration. Generated using Solar System Simulator (Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech).

• Virtual Moon Atlas

  Free software which simulates the appearance of the Moon at any time. You can zoom in, scan across the surface for interesting formations, and click on specific features to display names and other information. Developed by Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand.

  Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. Lunar Section

  Resources for amateur and professional lunar observers. Has links to ongoing observing projects.

• The Moon

  A collection of articles on the Moon from Sky and Telescope.

• Blank Chart (Postscript file)

  Chart to be used when sketching the whole Moon.

Joshua E. Barnes      (barnes at ifa.hawaii.edu) Updated: 18 August 2011 http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/ast110l_f11/moonviewing.html