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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Long Shadows of the Montes Caucasus
NASA ^ | 19 Dec, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Guy Bardon

Posted on 12/19/2025 1:15:58 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: When the Moon is at its first quarter phase, the Sun rises along the Montes Caucasus as seen from the lunar surface. The lunar mountain range casts the magnificent, spire-like shadows in this telescopic view from planet Earth, looking along the lunar terminator or the boundary between lunar night and day. Named for Earth's own Caucasus Mountains, the rugged lunar Montes Caucasus peaks, up to 6 kilometers high, are located between the smooth Mare Imbrium to the west and Mare Serenitatis to the east. Still mostly in shadow in this first quarter lunarscape, at the left (west) impact craters reflect the light of the rising Sun along their outer, eastern crater walls.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 12/19/2025 1:15:58 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 12/19/2025 1:16:16 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 12/19/2025 1:16:54 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

There is a LOT of uninhabitable, scary, desolate SPACE out there...

Thank you God, for giving us this Big Beautiful Blue Marble to live on. Amen! :)


4 posted on 12/19/2025 3:06:32 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like baby Robins when mom comes back to the nest with a worm.


5 posted on 12/19/2025 3:41:36 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: MtnClimber

I absolutely love those close-ups of the lunar surface.


6 posted on 12/19/2025 4:43:01 PM PST by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: MtnClimber

A couple of the left craters - with only some of the walls lit and rest in shadows - look like my mouthguards...


7 posted on 12/19/2025 6:46:47 PM PST by Deaf and Discerning
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