Moon Approaching Last Quarter

Here’s a quick shot I took the other night shortly after moonrise. I caught the moon just after it appeared above the eastern horizon. It is a couple of days prior to last quarter (when the moon is 1/2 illuminated). Still, catching the moon low to the horizon is always a bit interesting… with the awesome colors it tends to display.

The moon is an easy target for backyard astronomers. You don’t even need a telescope to see it. Of course, if you have one (or even binoculars) you can see an incredible amount of detail. Mountains, valleys, lava flow even shadows from objects on the surface are within reach. Additionally, the view of the moon is always changing. As the moon orbits the Earth, it’s phase changes, offering a better view of different aspects of the lunar surface. Check it out the next clear night.