{"id":54608,"date":"2024-02-03T08:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T08:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fbba69a8-8ddb-42ab-ba3d-0772a9beb40e"},"modified":"2024-02-06T13:32:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:32:37","slug":"see-tricky-crater-einstein-on-the-moon-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/see-tricky-crater-einstein-on-the-moon-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"See tricky Crater Einstein on the Moon this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you spot Crater Einstein, a lunar feature barely visible from Earth? <\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 03 February 2024 at 08:03 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Crater Einstein is a large feature near the Moon\u2019s western limb, but can only be seen from Earth during favourable conditions.<\/p>

Being 171km across you\u2019d think Crater Einstein would be easy to see, but it\u2019s not, mainly because it\u2019s so close to the Moon\u2019s western edge, in the libration zone.<\/p>

Over time, the Moon rocks and rolls slightly as seen from Earth, an effect caused by its elliptical and tilted orbit.<\/p>

This is known as lunar libration<\/a>, and perhaps the most famous example of a feature only visible during libration is Mare Orientale<\/a>.<\/p>

Discover the best features to see on the Moon<\/a> and the best lesser-known features to see on the Moon<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Libration crater Einstein, on the western limb of the Moon. Two images four hours apart show significant shadow changes. These are the first and last shots from a 12-frame capture with 20-minute intervals between exposures, making the illumination differences clear. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
To see libration zone features, the rock and roll has to favourably tilt them into view.<\/p>
Ideally, the terminator<\/a> should be nearby too, as this creates the shadow relief needed to pick out structure.\u00a0<\/p>
Between 3 and 8 February, libration favours a view of Crater Einstein, but the Moon\u2019s phase and altitude aren\u2019t ideal.<\/p>
That said, views of this huge crater are so fleeting that it\u2019s definitely worth having a go.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Aristarchus$
Aristarchus Crater on the Moon<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**How to find Crater Einstein on the Moon<\/strong><\/h2>**If it\u2019s clear on 3\u20136 February, first locate 40km crater Aristarchus<\/a>, the brightest feature on the Earth-facing side of the Moon, and easy to identify against the dark lava of Oceanus Procellarum.<\/p>
Head west from Aristarchus to locate 43km Seleucus.<\/p>
Keep going past the southern tip of lava-filled 134km Eddington, nudging slightly south as you approach the limb.<\/p>
This is Einstein territory, the crater best identified by the presence of 50km Einstein A located centrally inside Einstein.<\/p>
***Have you managed to see Crater Einstein on the Moon, or even capture an image of it? Let us know by emailing*** ***contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n***
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