Month after month, the Moon reigns as the most obvious and beautiful thing in the night sky. But how much do you know about the Moon? Can you name even the biggest craters? Do you know what gives the Moon its subtle colors?
SPACE.com's "Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon" answers these questions and more. It's your road map to the most easily observed object in the cosmos. With our printable Moon map, some tips and facts, along with a pair of eyes, you're ready to explore. No telescope required.
Reading the Moon: Step 1
Avid Moonwatchers say the best time to view it is not just during a full Moon, but also around the time of first quarter or last quarter [See our Moon Phase chart & Sky Calendar]. For about a week around each of these times, the Sun strikes the Moon's surface at a steep angle, rendering craters in sharp relief.
Though it's tempting to use a telescope, your first explorations should be with the naked eye. Become familiar with the Moon's major features. Then use binoculars to study the features more closely. Learn the names of a few craters and plains (called maria, after the Latin word "mare," which means sea).
If you use a telescope, zero in on the line where light and shadow meet. Here you'll see the greatest contrast and the most detail.
-- Robert Roy Britt, Senior Science Writer
More Moon Info
