Copernicus is one of the largest craters on the Moon, about 60 miles in diameter. It was caused by an impact some 800 million years ago. The crater has a prominent set of "rays" extending from it in all directions for several hundred miles. These light-colored features are easiest to see when Moon is near its full phase, as it was when this picture was taken. The rays were formed by material that was ejected during the impact.

Image details: Stack of 300 exposures taken with a Canon T6i camera and a 14-inch Meade LX850 telescope at f/16.

July 2020