The Ultimate Guide to Observing the Moon

The Moon: Our Timeless Celestial Companion

The Moon! That glowing orb in the night sky continues to captivate us in 2025 just as it has for millennia. Whether you're gazing up from a city rooftop or a quiet countryside, the Moon remains a source of beauty, mystery, and inspiration.

Throughout history, the Moon has fueled legends and lore. Ancient cultures believed it held mystical powers that could sway human behavior, giving rise to the word lunatic, derived from its Latin name Luna. Even today, tales of werewolves and other nocturnal creatures are associated with the full Moon's eerie glow.

Beyond the myth, the Moon is vital to Earth's ecosystem. Nocturnal animals rely on moonlight to forage and evade predators, and hikers and explorers use it to navigate the wilderness. During solar eclipses, the Moon briefly steals the spotlight, casting dramatic shadows across the Earth, a spectacle that continues to awe observers around the globe.

Our fascination with the Moon has only grown. It remains a gateway to the cosmos from NASA's Artemis missions, aiming to return humans to the lunar surface, to amateur astronomers capturing stunning lunar landscapes with backyard telescopes. Whether you're just beginning your journey into astronomy or are a seasoned Moon-watcher, this guide will help you connect more deeply with our closest neighbor in space. So grab your telescope, or just your eyes, step outside, and let the Moon spark your imagination.

 

Noteworthy Lunar Events

December 3–4: The Cold Supermoon Meets the Pleiades

  • December 3 to December 4, 2025, the Cold Supermoon will occult part of the Pleiades star cluster.
  • The cluster's proximity to the brilliant Moon will be a stunning sight through binoculars or telescopes.

December 4: The Cold Supermoon

  • Symbolizes the frigid month before the Winter Solstice, marking the beginning of long, frosty nights.
  • The final full Supermoon of the year and the last Supermoon until January 2026.
  • At perigee, the Moon will be approximately 221,965 miles (357,219 kilometers) from Earth, making it appear ~7–8% larger and ~15% brighter than an average full Moon.


Observing the Moon

For many amateur stargazers, the Moon is the first celestial destination, and for good reason. It's large, luminous, and easy to spot, making it an ideal starting point for any astronomical journey. The Moon is the only celestial object where you can observe surface features with the naked eye, and no equipment is required. Its phases unfold predictably throughout the monthly lunar cycle.

Even without optical aid, prominent surface features like the dark gray lunar mares and the bright, reflective highlands are clearly visible. For a closer look, a pair of 7x or 8x binoculars will reveal craters and subtle textures, while remaining light enough to hand-hold with minimal shake. Larger binoculars, such as 15x or 20x models, offer higher magnification but are more prone to vibration and are best used with a tripod for steady views.

With a telescope, the Moon truly comes alive. Craters, mountains, and maria reveal themselves in stunning detail, even through modest gear. You don't need high-end equipment to enjoy lunar viewing. An entry-level 60mm telescope at 70x magnification delivers crisp, captivating views that can keep you exploring for hours.

There is an old belief that the full Moon is the best time for observing. While it is very picturesque during its full phase, it's not the best time to observe lunar features. Why? Sunlight striking the Moon head-on washes most of the surface with its intense glare. A full Moon can be uncomfortably bright when viewed through optics. However, using a moon, neutral density, or polarizing filter will reduce glare and make viewing comfortable. Surface features like the Tycho crater's impressive impact rays are easily discernible when using filters like these:

Using Celestron's Observer's Map of the Moon is an invaluable tool to help quickly identify key lunar targets for exploration. The locations of the most fascinating mountain ranges, seas, valleys, and rilles will no longer be a mystery with a map by your side:

 

Top Lunar Observing Targets

Montes Apenninus 

Montes Apenninus, named after Italy's Apennine Mountains, formed nearly four billion years ago during the impact that created Mare Imbrium. Stretching over 370 miles with more than 3,000 peaks, it's one of the Moon's most dramatic ranges. Its tallest peak, Mons Huygens, rises about 18,000 feet from base to summit. Use a high-magnification telescope to explore this rugged region in stunning detail.

Aristarchus

Aristarchus, named after the Greek astronomer of Samos, is one of the Moon's most spectacular and reflective impact craters. Located in the northwest region of the Moon's near side, it's a relatively young formation, about 450 million years old. It stands out as the brightest prominent feature on the lunar surface. In fact, the crater is deeper than the Grand Canyon, making it a dramatic target for observation. Nearby is Schröter's Valley, the Moon's largest sinuous rille shaped like a tadpole with a long tail. A telescope best explores both features, especially under low-angle sunlight when shadows enhance their detail.

Clavius 

Named after Jesuit astronomer Christopher Clavius, Clavius is one of the largest and oldest impact formations. Situated in the rugged southern highlands near the Tycho crater, Clavius spans over 143 miles in diameter. It is best seen in binoculars or small telescopes during the Moon's first and third quarter phases. NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) detected water molecules, specifically H₂O, within the crater's floor. 

Copernicus 

Named after astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, Copernicus is one of the Moon's most famous impact craters with a prominent bright ray system that extends out to 500 miles. Copernicus measures 58 miles wide with a depth of 12,467 feet. Its outer rim gives it a noticeable hexagon shape. Just off center inside its crater, a lunar mountain rises 3,940 feet above its floor. Use binoculars to spot the crater, but a telescope provides an "astronaut's" view.

Lunar X and V

The mysterious Lunar X and Lunar V are two striking optical illusions on the Moon, visible only when sunlight hits the lunar surface at just the right angle. Lunar X, also known as the Purbach Crater or Werner Cross, appears near the First Quarter phase, along the terminator between the craters La Caille, Purbach, and Blanchinus. During lunar sunrise in that region, its visibility lasts only about four hours. At the same time, Lunar V reveals itself farther north in the Mare Vaporum area, forming a distinct "V" shape. Slightly larger than Lunar X, it also sits along the terminator line. Spotting both letters together is a fun challenge for lunar observers!

Mare Crisium

Mare Crisium, known in English as the Sea of Crisis, is a large 345-mile-wide impact basin formed by an asteroid collision. It is located northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility). Mare Crisium is the only major mare not connected to any other extensive mare system on the Earth-facing front side of the Moon. It's visible in binoculars but is best viewed through a telescope.

Petavius

Often called the "Clock Crater," Petavius is an unusual double-walled impact crater near the Moon's southeastern limb. Best viewed for a few days after the new Moon, it offers a unique visual treat. Its prominent, straight rille, Rimae Petavius, resembles a clock's long minute hand, while a more minor fissure represents the short hour hand. What time is it? It's time to use your telescope to see for yourself!

Plato

Named after the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato is a striking lava-filled impact crater near the Moon's upper northern region. Spanning approximately 68 miles in diameter, it has one of the darkest and smoothest crater floors on the lunar surface. Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius famously referred to it as the Greater Black Lake. With a small telescope at around 100x magnification, observers can spot a triangular section of the western rim that appears to have broken off, likely due to a powerful asteroid impact.

Rupes Recta (Straight Wall)

Latin for Straight Cliff, Rupes Recta is a dramatic linear surface fault on the Moon stretching over 62 miles, with a width between 1.2 and 1.9 miles, and a height ranging from 787 to 984 feet. Located on the floor of Mare Nubium, it is a favorite among amateur astronomers for its distinctive appearance. About a day or two after the first quarter Moon, it shows up as a sharp black line, its shadow cast across the lunar surface. Near the third quarter, the cliff appears bright white when sunlight hits from the opposite direction. It's an easy and rewarding target for small telescopes. Don't miss it!

Schiller

Schiller is a distinctive, elongated lunar crater shaped like an oval shoeprint. It is located near the Moon's southwestern limb and densely packed with impact features. Stretching approximately 112 miles, Schiller stands out with its well-defined rim and unusual form. Its location near the Moon's southern edge makes it an excellent target for telescope observers, especially those seeking something out of the ordinary.

Sinus Iridum

Latin for Bay of Rainbows, Sinus Iridum is a stunning C-shaped impact crater that opens into the expansive lava plain known as Mare Imbrium. Located along the Moon's northwestern edge, it spans nearly 250 miles in diameter. Its graceful, semicircular rim is bordered by the Montes Jura mountain range, creating a dramatic contrast against the smooth mare surface. This feature is a favorite among lunar observers for its elegant appearance.

Tycho

Named after Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, Tycho is a relatively young lunar crater, formed about 108 million years ago. It's one of the lunar surface's most prominent and recognizable features in the Moon's southern highlands. Often described as a bright "button" or the "Lady on the Moon's pendant," Tycho is especially striking during the full Moon. Its most dramatic feature is the system of brilliant rays—ejected material that fans over 1,600 miles, resembling a dazzling pendant. At its center lies a triangular-shaped mountain that rises nearly a mile high. 

 

Fascinating Facts About the Moon

  • The Moon formed about 4.5 billion years ago, shortly after Earth. While early theories suggested Earth's gravity captured it, most scientists today support the Theia Impact Hypothesis, a Mars-sized body collided with Earth, ejecting vaporized debris that eventually coalesced into the Moon. Imagine having ringside seats to that cosmic spectacle!

  • The Moon follows an elliptical orbit around the Earth. At its closest point to Earth (perigee), it's about 225,623 miles (363,104 kilometers) away; at its farthest (apogee), it stretches to 252,088 miles (405,696 kilometers). On average, the Moon sits 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) from Earth.

  • The Moon's diameter is 2,159 miles (3,474 kilometers), roughly the same distance from Los Angeles, California, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

  • The Moon's orbit takes 27.3 days, but the cycle from one new Moon to the next is 29.5 days, due to Earth's simultaneous motion around the Sun.

  • The Moon is our closest celestial neighbor. Though it appears similar in size to the Sun from Earth, this is a cosmic coincidence: the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, but also 400 times farther away.

  • Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon, is the fifth largest in the Solar System. It is even bigger than the dwarf planet Pluto.

  • Erosion is nearly nonexistent on the Moon. With no wind or weather, surface features remain unchanged for millennia. Footprints from Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and 1970s are still there today, undisturbed unless struck by a meteor or future explorers.

  • The Moon's atmosphere, called the exosphere, is thin and lacks oxygen. It contains trace gases like sodium and potassium, elements not found in the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, or Mars.

  • On October 26, 2020, NASA's SOFIA observatory confirmed the presence of water on the sunlit surface of the Moon! Scientists were surprised to discover water on the sunlit surface since they had previously believed it existed only in permanently shadowed polar craters.

  • Lunar temperatures are extreme. Sunlit areas can reach 260°F (127°C), while shaded regions plunge to -280°F (-173°C).

  • The Moon's gravity drives Earth's tides. The Moon pulls ocean water toward it, creating a bulge, matched by a smaller bulge on the opposite side of Earth. When the Sun, Moon, and Earth align during new Moon and full Moon phases, their combined gravitational forces produce Spring Tides. These are the most dramatic tides, with the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.

  • During the first and third quarters, the Sun and Moon form a 90-degree angle relative to Earth. Their gravitational pulls partially cancel each other out, resulting in Neap Tides with more moderate tidal changes.

  • There's no "Dark Side of the Moon." Both sides receive equal sunlight. However, due to tidal locking, the Moon rotates at the same rate it orbits Earth, so only one side is visible. Thanks to a slight wobble (lunar libration), we can glimpse up to 59% of its surface over time.

  • The far side of the Moon is significantly more cratered than the side facing us because it lacks the volcanic activity and heat-producing elements that smoothed out the near side.

  • In 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3 transmitted the first images of the Moon's far side. In 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts became the first humans to see it with their own eyes.

  • From 1969 to 1972, NASA successfully landed 12 astronauts on the Moon during six crewed Apollo missions: Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Apollo 13 was scheduled to land, but an oxygen tank explosion en route forced the crew to abort the landing, orbit the Moon, and return safely to Earth.

  • NASA's Artemis program will hopefully send astronauts around the Moon in early 2026 and land them on its surface in 2027, marking humanity's bold return to deep space exploration after five decades.

  • And finally, no, the Moon is not made of cheese. That's one myth that's delightfully full of holes.

 

Special Lunar Phenomena to Explore

The Moon is more than just its familiar phases. It also provides fascinating phenomena to enjoy. The Moon never stops surprising us, from dramatic lunar eclipses to ever-changing shadows across crater rims. Whether you're a casual observer or a seasoned stargazer, there's always something new to discover. Let's explore some of the most captivating lunar sights you can enjoy from Earth.

Earthshine

Earthshine is a subtle yet beautiful lunar phenomenon that occurs when sunlight reflects off Earth's surface, bounces onto the Moon, and then returns to Earth. This soft glow gently illuminates the "night" side of the Moon, allowing you to see surface features that would otherwise be hidden in darkness. Earthshine is best seen a few days before or after a new Moon, during the waxing or waning crescent phases. Look just after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is still in deep twilight. 
Lunar Halo

A lunar halo is a stunning atmospheric phenomenon caused by the refraction of moonlight through ice crystals in thin, high-altitude cirrus clouds. These halos form a perfect 22-degree circle around a bright gibbous or full Moon, and while they're typically white, you might catch a hint of faint rainbow colors along the edges. Lunar halos can appear in any season, and according to folklore, a ring around the Moon signals approaching rain. There's some truth to that since cirrus clouds often precede storm systems, but it's not guaranteed. 

Lunar Occultation

A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon passes in front of a distant object such as a planet or star. The Moon occults dim stars regularly, but these occultations are not observable due to the Moon's overwhelming brightness. But occasionally, the Moon passes in front of a bright star such as Spica or Aldebaran and planets such as Mars or Jupiter. These events are best seen through a telescope and are fun to watch. The star or planet seems to disappear behind the Moon, only to reappear a short time later.

Lunar Conjunction

A lunar conjunction occurs when the Moon comes within close range of a bright star or planet. It usually takes place in the evening or morning sky. The most common conjunctions occur during the Moon’s waxing or waning crescent phases. A famous lunar conjunction occurred back in 2008 when the Moon, Jupiter and Venus came together to form a smiley or sad face depending on your location.

Solar Eclipses

A solar eclipse can only occur when the Moon is new and comes between the Sun and Earth to cast its shadow (umbra) on the Earth. However, a solar eclipse does not take place each new Moon because the Moon's orbit is tilted relative to Earth's orbit. Therefore, the Moon's shadow often passes above or below Earth. 

There are three main types of solar eclipses: total, where the Moon completely blocks the Sun, briefly turning day into night; annular, or "ring of fire," when the Moon appears smaller than the Sun and leaves a bright ring of sunlight around its edges; and partial, the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun, creating a crescent-shaped Sun.

The only safe time to view a solar eclipse with your unaided eyes is during totality. At all other times, including during annular and partial eclipses, you must use certified solar viewing glasses or a proper solar filter for telescopes and binoculars. Looking directly at the Sun without protection can cause permanent eye damage.

The next annular solar eclipse will occur on February 17, 2026, with full visibility limited to Antarctica. A partial eclipse will be observable from parts of South America, Africa, and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

The next total solar eclipse is set for August 12, 2026. Totality will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, while a partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, Africa, and North America.

Lunar Eclipses

A lunar eclipse occurs only during a full Moon, when Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. This alignment often gives the Moon a reddish hue, called "Blood Moon." Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are entirely safe to view with the naked eye, and no special equipment or protection is needed.

There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, where the entire Moon enters Earth's umbral shadow and usually turns red; partial, where only part of the Moon enters the umbra; and penumbral, where the Moon passes through the lighter edge of Earth's shadow, causing a faint dimming.

The next total lunar eclipse occurs on March 3, 2026. It will be visible across North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.

Moon Illusion

When the Moon rises near the horizon, it often appears much larger than when it's high overhead, a phenomenon known as the Moon illusion. This noticeable effect does not occur by any actual change in the Moon's size or distance, but rather by an optical trick of perception. Our brains compare the Moon to nearby objects like buildings or trees, making it seem bigger. When the Moon is overhead, with no reference points, it appears smaller. 

You can try a simple experiment to see this for yourself: take a photo of the Moon as it rises, then another several hours later when it's higher in the sky. Comparing the two images will show that the Moon's size remains unchanged. You can also trace the Moon's outline with a paperclip or small object and repeat the comparison later. These easy tests reveal how our minds can perceive things.

 

 

Faces on the Moon

When you gaze at the full Moon, you'll notice a patchwork of light and dark areas across its surface. The lighter regions, known as highlands, are rugged and heavily cratered, while the darker areas, called maria (Latin for "seas"), are vast plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. These contrasting features often spark our imagination to envision familiar patterns like the "Man on the Moon" or the "Lady on the Moon," thanks to our brain's tendency to recognize face-like shapes.

Next time you're moon-gazing, let your inner creativity run wild. You might also spot a rabbit, a jack-o'-lantern, or other whimsical shapes hidden in the lunar landscape. The Moon isn't just a celestial body; it's a canvas for your imagination.

 

Phases of the Moon

As the Moon orbits around Earth, sunlight hits different parts, causing it to appear to change shape. The Moon goes through a cycle of phases from new Moon to full Moon and back to new Moon again. This cycle takes about 29.5 days, and the entire cycle has eight phases. They are:

New Moon: The Sun and Moon align on the same side of the Earth, and because sunlight doesn't illuminate the Moon's front-facing side, we can't see it.
Waxing Crescent: Seen after dusk as a thin crescent of light and begins to move away from the Sun.
First Quarter: The Moon continues to grow and appears half-lit.

Waxing Gibbous: The Moon becomes brighter and appears between a first quarter and a full Moon.

Full Moon: When the Sun and Moon align on opposite sides of Earth, the Moon's face becomes fully illuminated. 

Waning Gibbous: The Moon begins to shrink after a full Moon and appears between a full and a third-quarter Moon.

Third Quarter: The Moon continues to shrink and appears half-lit.

Waning Crescent: Seen before dawn as a thin crescent of light as the Moon moves closer to the Sun.

 

Monthly Moon Names

Every 29.5 days, we are treated to the brilliance of a full Moon lighting up the night sky. Throughout the year, each full Moon carries a unique name, many of which date back centuries to when Native American tribes used lunar cycles to mark time and track seasonal changes. In 1955, The Farmer's Almanac officially adopted the most popular of these traditional names, preserving their cultural and agricultural significance.

One of the most well-known is the Harvest Moon, which occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. Its extended evening light once helped farmers gather their late-summer crops after sunset. The 12 full Moons of the calendar year are referred to in folklore and tradition:

  • January: Wolf Moon, Moon After Yule, Old Moon, Ice Moon, Snow Moon
  • February: Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Storm Moon, Chaste Moon
  • March: Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Sap Moon, Lenten Moon
  • April: Pink Moon, Seed Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon
  • May: Flower Moon, Milk Moon, Corn Planting Moon
  • June: Strawberry Moon, Mead Moon, Rose Moon, Honey Moon
  • July: Buck Moon, Hay Moon, Thunder Moon
  • August: Sturgeon Moon, Corn Moon, Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon
  • September: Harvest Moon, Full Corn Moon
  • October: Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon

Seasonal Note: October's full Moon can also be the Harvest Moon if it occurs closer to the Autumnal Equinox, as it did in 2025.

  • November: Beaver Moon, Frosty Moon
  • December: Cold Moon, Oak Moon, Long Nights Moon

Other Moon Names

In addition to the traditional 12 Moon names of the year, there are other unique names for different Moon events:

Black Moon

A Black Moon is a rare lunar event involving an extra New Moon. There are three recognized types: A monthly Black Moon, when there is a second New Moon in a single calendar month; A seasonal Black Moon occurs when there are four New Moons in a single astronomical season, and the third one is called the Black Moon. Additionally, a calendar month without a Full Moon can happen, but only in February, due to its shorter length than the lunar cycle. 

The next monthly Black Moon will occur on August 31, 2027, when two New Moons fall within August. The next seasonal Black Moon will occur on August 20, 2028, as the third of four New Moons in the summer.

Blue Moon

A Blue Moon doesn't actually turn blue. It's a term used to describe rare timing in the lunar cycle. There are two recognized types: A monthly and a seasonal Blue Moon. A monthly Blue Moon occurs when two full Moons appear in a single calendar month, which is possible because the lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days. Most months are long enough to fit two full Moons; A seasonal Blue Moon happens when four full Moons occur in one astronomical season, and the third Moon is called a Blue Moon.

The next monthly Blue Moon will occur on May 31, 2026, and the next seasonal Blue Moon will occur on May 20, 2027.

Red/Blood Moon

Although the Moon never turns blue, it can take on a striking reddish hue during a total lunar eclipse, commonly called a Red or Blood Moon. This phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes completely through Earth's darkest shadow, the umbra. As sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere, it scatters shorter wavelengths and bends red light toward the Moon, giving it a rusty or copper-red appearance.

Supermoon

A Supermoon is a full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at perigee, the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This proximity makes the Moon appear slightly larger and brighter than a typical full Moon as seen from Earth. The technical term for this event is a perigee syzygy, or simply a full Moon at perigee.

At perigee, the Moon can appear up to 14% larger in diameter and about 30% brighter than at apogee, its farthest point from Earth. American astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term "supermoon" in 1979.

2025 Supermoons will occur on October 7, November 5, and December 4. 

 

Helpful Observing Hints

Tip #1:
Use an Astronomy App or Moon Chart

Use an Astronomy App or Star Chart

Using a detailed Moon map is an excellent way of learning where to locate celestial wonders or other objects at any time of the year. It may be an old-fashioned learning tool, but it just works. Today's most modern and informative tools are in astronomy apps such as Celestron's SkyPortal Powered by SkySafari™ Mobile App. This full-featured planetarium app is included with the purchase of any Celestron telescope, available from the Apple App Store or Google Play. SkyPortal instantly provides new telescope owners with a wealth of information, including audio and written descriptions about various objects. It also offers celestial coordinates, a real-time sky map, rise and set times, and physical and orbital parameters.

Tip #2:
Seeing Conditions

Seeing Conditions

Steady seeing conditions are critical while observing objects such as planets, the Moon, or double stars. However, poor seeing conditions affect deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies less. Avoid nights of bad seeing when the atmosphere is turbulent, and lunar targets appear like shimmering blobs in the telescope's eyepiece. Start with low magnification and work up to higher magnifications if the views remain steady. You will be amazed at how sharp and detailed lunar features can appear during a night of good seeing.

Tip #3:
Telescope Cooldown

Telescope Cooldown

Cool your telescope down! Ensure you bring your telescope outside about an hour before observing to cool it to ambient temperature. To avoid distorted views, the telescope must reach thermal equilibrium with the outside air temperature. Telescopes with large mirrors and lenses may take longer to cool down for the best views.

Tip #4:
Collimation

Collimation

Collimate, collimate, collimate! If you own a Newtonian or Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, ensure your telescope's optics are collimated. It can make a difference when it comes to discerning fine lunar detail. If the optics are slightly out of alignment, you cheat yourself out of seeing clear, sharp images. 

 

  

Final Thoughts

We are fortunate to share our skies with a magnificent companion, the Moon. Like an old friend, it's always there, quietly inspiring wonder and reflection. It's hard to imagine life without its calming, silvery glow casting shadows and lighting our way across the night.

Today, in 2025, we know more about the Moon than ever. Since the 1950s, countless missions have studied its surface, and twelve brave Apollo astronauts walked its dusty plains, returning with hundreds of pounds of lunar rock and soil. These samples reveal secrets about the Moon's origin and our solar system's history. Yet, the Moon still holds mysteries that are yet to be uncovered. 

Its stark, desolate landscapes beckon a new generation of backyard astronomers with telescopes in hand, and future explorers preparing to walk where few have walked before. The next time you gaze at the Moon, imagine what Galileo must have felt when he first viewed its rugged terrain through his modest telescope. Undoubtedly, he'd be astonished by the clarity and detail visible through your modern telescope; that thought alone is something to smile about.

To browse Celestron telescopes, binoculars, and accessories that will make your lunar viewing experience more enjoyable, please click here.

Clear skies and happy Moon viewing! 

Other articles you might be interested in: Ultimate Guide to Observing the Universe

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