International Observe the Moon Night 2025: 4 things to see on the lunar surface on Oct. 4
Get Ready to Witness Incredible Lunar Sights on International Moon Viewing Night 2025
If you're a stargazer or a space enthusiast, gear up for the International Moon Viewing Night 2025. This is when the moon's disk will ascend over the eastern horizon, providing a visual treat for onlookers. So, what should you be anticipating on this special night?
Every year, a prominent space agency collaborates with numerous global associates to conduct activities to encourage public interest in moon observation and to educate people about human attempts to investigate our natural satellite. There are over 950 online and on-site events planned to commemorate this occasion, so don't miss out!
To help enhance your experience, here's a list of incredible sights you can spot on the moon's surface. You can use a telescope, binoculars, or simply your naked eye to marvel at these fascinating lunar features.
Lunar Sights to Look Out for on International Moon Viewing Night 2025
On the moon, the terminator is the line that separates night from day. On this particular night, this dim divide will be visible on the extreme left side of the moon, which will be 95% illuminated. It's just two days away from its full moon phase, promising a spectacular full "Harvest Supermoon". Look towards the top of the terminator to spot the dark form of a 75-mile-wide crater on the moon's surface. Further south, you'll see the western edge of a massive crater beneath the striking oval shape of another impact crater.
South of the moon's equator, you'll find the Mare Nubium, meaning "the Sea of Clouds", which darkens a large section of the moon's surface. This basalt plain is marked by several prominent craters. These lunar seas were created billions of years ago when lava lakes filled the impact basins formed by violent asteroid hits. After the lava cooled and hardened, it resurfaced the moon, resulting in vast areas that seem relatively untouched by the asteroid attacks that damaged the older sections of the moon's surface.
- Mountains Bordering the "Bay of Rainbows"
Montes Jura is a large mountain range located on the northern boundary of the Sinus Iridum impact site, also known as the "Bay of Rainbows". The upper peaks catch the sun's light around 11 days after the new moon phase, making it look like a huge "Golden Handle" is resting on the moon's surface.
The nights around the full moon phase are the perfect time to spot ejecta rays brightening the lunar surface. These radiant streaks, which radiate from craters, are formed when asteroid impacts fling out reflective material from inside the moon, and they can stretch for hundreds of kilometers. Look out for them spreading out from large impact sites, including a 53-mile-wide crater that dominates the southern lunar surface.
All impact craters once had ejecta rays, but they have faded over time due to prolonged exposure to the space environment. The ones visible today are relatively new, with one of them being just 108 million years old.
So, get ready for an awe-inspiring night of lunar exploration. Happy viewing!
