It also shows up when the Moon is lit by earthshine<\/a>, and many astronomers have mistaken it for a volcano in eruption; even Sir William Herschel<\/a> fell into this trap.<\/span><\/p>\n It lies in the Oceanus Procellarum but is not isolated by any means; Aristarchus lies close to Herodotus, a crater of much the same size but without Aristarchus\u2019s brightness.<\/span><\/p>\n For more on lunar observing, read our guide on how to observe the Moon<\/a> or how to photograph the Moon<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Aristarchus is the brightest crater on the Moon, but why is it so bright? Simply because it is very young, formed at a late stage in the Moon\u2019s evolution.<\/span><\/p>\n Aristarchus is thus one of the very youngest craters on the entire lunar surface. It is well formed, with high terraced walls and a central peak.<\/span><\/p>\n Its age is believed to be about 450 million years, which is very young by lunar standards.<\/span><\/p>\n Its position on the disc means that it can be seen for a good part of every lunation, and it is fascinating to draw or photograph it from night to night and note the apparent alterations due to changes in solar illumination.<\/span><\/p>\n The adjacent crater Herodotus is also well formed, but there is no marked central peak.<\/span><\/p>\n Also in this area is the longest sinuous valley on the Moon, named in honour of the German astronomer Johann Schr\u00f6ter.<\/span><\/p>\n In a way this is misleading because the crater named after Schr\u00f6ter is a long way away in an entirely different part of the Moon.<\/span><\/p>\n Aristarchus (c310-230 BC) himself, the Greek astronomer from Samos, was the first to maintain that Earth revolved around the Sun and rotates on its axis, while Herodotus (c485-425 BC) was a Greek historian.<\/span><\/p>\n Schr\u00f6ter\u2019s Valley begins 25km north of Herodotus and gives the impression of a dry river bed.<\/span><\/p>\n Starting at a crater 6km in diameter, the valley widens to almost 10km, forming a shape some observers have nicknamed \u2018The Cobra\u2019s Head\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n From this it gradually narrows to a width of 55m, finally terminating in a 1km-high bank on the edge of an uplifted area.<\/span><\/p>\n![\""Aristarchus\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2021\/08\/Screenshot-2021-08-02-at-14.55.41-4da3bfc.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C553"\" "\\"\"Aristarchus\\"")
<\/div>Facts about Aristarchus Crater<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
Brightest crater on the Moon<\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""Aristarchus\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/aristarchus-8f781f5.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C473"\" "\\"\"Moon_Aristarchus_001\"\\"")
<\/div>![\""An\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/08\/Aristarchus_Plateau-084a164-e1567072516288.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C494"\" "\\"\"An\\"")
<\/div>![\""Aristarchus\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/aristarchus1-994c448.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C423"\" "\\"\"Moon_Aristarchus_003\"\\"")
<\/div>Schr\u00f6ter\u2019s Valley<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""Schroter's\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/Morning-9th-Oct-6eecadb.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C452"\" "\\"\"Moon_Aristarchus_002\"\\"")
<\/div>![\""Schroter's\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/1512166895712-daf3434.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C735"\" "\\"\"Moon_Aristarchus_004\"\\"")
<\/div>![\""Plateau\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/QUINTA-2018-03-12T04_20_21_terceira_lapl4_ap1805PNG-fbd4816.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C492"\" "\\"\"Moon_Aristarchus_005\"\\"")
<\/div>