Lunar sunrise and sunset rays are a rare phenomenon which occurs when shafts of sunlight shine through gaps in crater walls and mountains to cast a spike of light across a dark crater floor. They happen infrequently and only during sunrise and sunset when there is a very low angle of sunlight. The rays can range from thin slivers of light to triangular patches of illumination. They differ from lunar rays where debris from impact craters is strewn across the face of the Moon.
A true lunar light ray has been defined as one which crosses 3 degrees of longitude while being less, on average, than ¼ degree in latitude width. They can occur at either sunrise or sunset. Because of the geometry involved they are usually short-lived and occur within only a 2 to 3 hour window of opportunity.
Although lunar light rays were first observed over 150 years ago, they have gained in popularity only recently after a report of them was published in an astronomy journal. Since then amateur astronomers have discovered several craters where sunrise or sunset rays have shone through a crumpled or broken crater wall and created these light shows which lasted only a few hours.
Lunar light rays can be detected by scanning along the lunar terminator, and if you’re lucky, you just might spot one. For those who prefer not to leave it to chance, the website “CalSKY” can calculate sunrise and sunset times along with the sun angle to determine which lunar craters will display light rays and when. After inputting your geographical coordinates, you need to enter the date, time and duration you wish to observe. CalSKY will then generate a list of craters exhibiting rays, including date and time of visibility together with a map showing the crater and observer r...
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...nning out, and extending to the western wall.
Vogel Ray
A sunrise ray crosses the floor of Vogel, starting as a thin triangle of light that progressively thickens.
Walter Ray
The Walter ray is a fairly dramatic shaft of light that crosses the floor of Walter at sunset. A spreading wedge of light is cast across the floor by a gap in the wall. A small crater near the gap looking like a tiny crown cast three pointed shadows across the floor towards the central peak.
A complete list of craters with lunar sunset and sunrise rays can be obtained from the website of the Robinson Lunar Observatory at http://www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
Although not of any scientific value, the rarity of these events, coupled with the short time frame they are visible, make these real challenges for the avid lunar observer. So if the sky is clear, go catch some rays!
You will need to use both high and low tides, dates, and the percentage of moon visibility
This is symbolic to the sunrise in the east and sunset in the west because light means life and
alternating 6 month periods of light and dark. This is also the reason why the
of light being the main focus in this work. Shadow also plays a large part in the
from black to the night sky, panning with a shooting star. Three shadows in the
When the sun shoots in through the east window- I always watch for that first long, straight ray-it changes so quickly that I never quite believe it. That is why I watch it always. By moonlight- the moon shines in all night when there is a moon- I wouldn’t know it as the same paper. At night any kind of light, in twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars! The outside pattern I mean…” (Gilman 653).
Sullivan, Walter. "Scientists Wonder if Shot Nears Moon." New York Times, November 5, 1957. [URL] Accessed May 22, 2003.
The moon is probably the most noticeable object outside of earth atmosphere besides the sun. There are a great number of facts about the moon. Most of these facts include size and distance of the moon compared to the Earth. Our moon's proper name is "Luna". Luna is 238,900 miles away from earth, and 27% smaller than earth. The moon is the most studied object outside of earths atmosphere. Luna is the only naturally made object that humans have set foot on besides earth.
The moon is a wondrous thing. Every night it's outside, up high in the sky, giving light to the world. Most people take advantage of the moon's light, because they don't know why or how the moon shines. Scientists today are busy proving theories and studying the moon, which will hopefully help society to understand the moon more. They know a lot about the moon, but there is still much more to learn.
3 In Book VIII of Paradise Lost, Raphael discusses the source of the moon’s light (140-58).
There is a fire burning behind us and it makes shadows on the wall in front of us. These
Columbus and crew also spotted a meteor hitting the water….[I]t was not that uncommon to see shooting stars and the like. The meteor was noted in Columbus' log mainly because of the size….Columbus also logged a report of seeing ligh...
A swing to the right, with a mass following close, the white, light, the light flashes. The outline brings a sense
His most famous is the Church of the Light at Ibaraki in which light creates a spiritual calm and sense of impressions. Visitors approach through a narrow pathway between two concrete masses, making a 180 degree turn to enter the sanctuary itself. The sanctuary is dramatically lit by slits in the dense concrete walls. In the apse, the wall is perforated in the shape of a cross, admitting a brilliant stream of light into the chapel that moves across the opposite dark sanctuary with the motion of the sun.