The week of November 3 to Nov. 9 takes us from Day 13 to Day 19. This week we will highlight the moon crater Pythagoras, visible on Tuesday night close to the terminator.
Pythagoras: [NW/C3; L=63°W] There is only a brief period during each lunation when Pathagoras is visible. It is a complex moon crater with two central mountain peaks, terraced walls, and internal features. It is an impressive 80 miles in diameter (compare to Copernicus at 58 miles.) Its spectacular rim mountains rise to an imposing three miles above its floor! The central mountain peaks alone attain a height of one mile. Although it is close to the northwest limb and is substantially foreshortened, it is worth a visit. Try to catch it when the libration is favorable.
OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN SPACE
The South Taurid meteor shower peaks after midnight on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Pleiades are 1° south of the Moon.
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It is highly recommended that you get a copy of Sky and Telescope’s Field Map of the Moon, the very finest Moon map available for use at the telescope. It is available for $10.95 at www.skyandtelescope.com and on Amazon. All features mentioned in this blog will be keyed to the grid on the Field Map and will look like this: Plato: [NW/D9]
Credits:
Courtesy of Gray Photography of Corpus Christi, Texas
Lunar photos: NASA / USGS / BMDO / LROC / ASU / DLR / LOLA / Moon Globe. Used by permission
- Moon Crater Aristoteles, Close to the Terminator - November 10, 2025
- Complex Moon Crater Pythagoras - November 3, 2025
- Theophilus, Cyrillus, Catharina Moon Craters West of Mare Nectaris - October 27, 2025