Lunar Libration Observed from Sicily, Italy

April 21, 2020

AMoonite copia

Photographer: Marcella Giulia Pace
Summary Author: Marcella Giulia Pace 

The image above is a result of the sum of 7 individual photos of the Moon as observed from the Modica countryside, near Ragusa (Sicily), Italy. Because of how the Earth and Moon move in space (one hemisphere of the Moon always faces Earth), during the course of the night, we’re actually able to see more than just ½ of the Moon’s surface. This is referred to as lunar libration. Starting at 8:15 p.m. on February 10, 2020, I captured the Moon every hour until 2:15 a.m. on February 11. The final image reminds me of an ammonite. Click here to see a little video showing this night’s libration.