Lunar I Program

The Astronomical League’s Lunar Program introduces observers to Earth’s closest celestial neighbor and provides excellent observing opportunities when the Moon is up. This program is ideal for light-polluted areas and can be completed with modest equipment (7×35 binoculars and a 60mm refractor have been successfully used).

Official AL Program: Lunar Observing Program

Program Requirements

• Observe 100 designated lunar features (18 naked-eye, 46 binocular, 36 telescopic)
• Record date, time, seeing, transparency, and equipment used
• Equipment flexibility: may use higher-level equipment if needed (binoculars for naked-eye targets, telescope for binocular targets)
• Optional: 10 alternative activities available, each counting as two standard observations
• Alternative certifications: Eyes Only (18 features), Binocular (64 features), or Imaging certification

Complete Lunar I Target List

Below are all 100 lunar features from the Lunar I program:

Naked-Eye Objects (8)

• Old Moon in New Moon's Arms - Earthshine on waxing crescent ✓ Observed
• New Moon in Old Moon's Arms - Earthshine on waning crescent ✓ Observed
• Crescent Moon, Waxing - Evening crescent phase ✓ Observed
• Crescent Moon, Waning - Morning crescent phase ✓ Observed
• Man in the Moon - Pareidolia face pattern ✓ Observed
• Woman in the Moon - Alternative pareidolia pattern ✓ Observed
• Rabbit in the Moon - East Asian cultural pattern ✓ Observed
• Cow Jumping Over the Moon - Cultural folklore observation ✓ Observed

Maria (Seas) - 10

• Mare Crisium - Sea of Crises ✓ Observed
• Mare Fecunditatis - Sea of Fertility ✓ Observed
• Mare Frigoris - Sea of Cold ✓ Observed
• Mare Humorum - Sea of Moisture ✓ Observed
• Mare Imbrium - Sea of Rains ✓ Observed
• Mare Nectaris - Sea of Nectar ✓ Observed
• Mare Nubium - Sea of Clouds ✓ Observed
• Mare Serenitatis - Sea of Serenity ✓ Observed
• Mare Tranquillitatis - Sea of Tranquility ✓ Observed
• Oceanus Procellarum - Ocean of Storms ✓ Observed

Smaller Maria & Bays - 7

• Mare Vaporum - Sea of Vapors ✓ Observed
• Sinus Iridum - Bay of Rainbows ✓ Observed
• Sinus Medii - Central Bay ✓ Observed
• Sinus Roris - Bay of Dew ✓ Observed
• Sinus Aestuum - Bay of Billows ✓ Observed
• Palus Somnii - Marsh of Sleep ✓ Observed
• Palus Epidemiarum - Marsh of Epidemics ✓ Observed

Lakes & Marshes - 2

• Lacus Mortis - Lake of Death ✓ Observed
• Palus Putredinis - Marsh of Decay ✓ Observed

Major Craters - Southern Highlands (15)

• Albategnius - 136 km, central highlands ✓ Observed
• Alphonsus - 119 km, dark-halo craters ✓ Observed
• Arzachel - 97 km, youngest of Ptolemaeus chain ✓ Observed
• Bullialdus - 61 km, twin peaks on Mare Nubium ✓ Observed
• Catharina - 100 km, oldest of triple-crater chain ✓ Observed
• Clavius - 231 km, one of the largest craters ✓ Observed
• Cyrillus - 98 km, middle of triple-crater chain ✓ Observed
• Longomontanus - 145 km, near Clavius ✓ Observed
• Maginus - 194 km, heavily degraded ✓ Observed
• Maurolycus - 114 km, southern highlands ✓ Observed
• Piccolomini - 88 km, well-preserved ✓ Observed
• Ptolemaeus - 153 km, largest of the chain ✓ Observed
• Theophilus - 100 km, spectacular terracing ✓ Observed
• Tycho Crater - 85 km, brightest ray system ✓ Observed
• Walther - 140 km, ancient and modified ✓ Observed

Major Craters - Central & Western Region (9)

• Archimedes - 83 km, lava-flooded on Mare Imbrium ✓ Observed
• Aristarchus - 40 km, brightest spot on Moon ✓ Observed
• Copernicus - 93 km, "Monarch of the Moon" ✓ Observed
• Eratosthenes - 58 km, at Montes Apenninus ✓ Observed
• Gassendi - 110 km, floor-fractured with rilles ✓ Observed
• Grimaldi - 222 km, darkest floor ✓ Observed
• Hipparchus - 150 km, ancient and degraded ✓ Observed
• Kepler - 32 km, young with ray system ✓ Observed
• Plato - 101 km, dark flat floor ✓ Observed

Major Craters - Northern Region (9)

• Aristoteles - 87 km, northern highlands ✓ Observed
• Atlas - 87 km, dark complex floor ✓ Observed
• Autolycus - 39 km, on Mare Imbrium ✓ Observed
• Aristillus - 55 km, young crater with rays ✓ Observed
• Cassini - 57 km, contains Cassini A ✓ Observed
• Cleomedes - 126 km, north of Mare Crisium ✓ Observed
• Endymion - 125 km, exceptionally dark floor ✓ Observed
• Eudoxus - 67 km, south of Aristoteles ✓ Observed
• Hercules - 69 km, south of Atlas ✓ Observed

Major Craters - Eastern Region (6)

• Fracastorius - 124 km, flooded bay on Mare Nectaris ✓ Observed
• Langrenus - 132 km, near eastern limb ✓ Observed
• Macrobius - 64 km, between maria ✓ Observed
• Petavius - 177 km, spectacular with rille ✓ Observed
• Posidonius - 95 km, floor-fractured crater ✓ Observed
• Vendelinus - 147 km, heavily eroded ✓ Observed

Smaller Craters & Crater Features (20)

• Cassini A - 15 km, crater within Cassini ✓ Observed
• Clavius Craterlets - Crater chain on Clavius floor ✓ Observed
• Davy - 35 km, with prominent catena ✓ Observed
• Fabricius - 78 km, with crater Metius ✓ Observed
• Furnerius - 125 km, near southeastern limb ✓ Observed
• Gemma Frisius - 88 km, contains Goodacre ✓ Observed
• Manilius - 39 km, on Mare Vaporum edge ✓ Observed
• Mitchell - 30 km, northern highlands ✓ Observed
• Plinius - 43 km, between maria ✓ Observed
• Picard - 23 km, bright on Mare Crisium ✓ Observed
• Proclus - 28 km, asymmetric rays ✓ Observed
• Pitatus - 97 km, lava-flooded floor ✓ Observed
• Petavius Wall - Spectacular terraced walls ✓ Observed
• Messier and Messier A - Double crater with rays ✓ Observed
• Billy - 46 km, dark floor ✓ Observed
• Fra Mauro - 95 km, Apollo 14 region ✓ Observed
• Hippalus - 58 km, with Rimae Hippalus ✓ Observed
• J. Herschel - 165 km, northern highlands ✓ Observed
• Schickard - 227 km, patchy floor ✓ Observed
• Reiner Gamma - Bright swirl, magnetic anomaly ✓ Observed

Mountain Ranges & Peaks (8)

• Montes Alpes - Lunar Alps, 281 km long ✓ Observed
• Montes Apenninus - Most prominent range, 600 km ✓ Observed
• Mons Hadley - Apollo 15 landmark, 4.5 km high ✓ Observed
• Mons Pico - Isolated peak, 2.4 km high ✓ Observed
• Mons Piton - Isolated peak, 2.3 km high ✓ Observed
• Promontorium Laplace - Northern cape of Sinus Iridum ✓ Observed
• Promontorium Heraclides - "Moon Maiden" promontory ✓ Observed
• Promontorium Agarum - Eastern cape of Mare Crisium ✓ Observed

Valleys, Rilles & Scarps (6)

• Vallis Alpes - Alpine Valley, 166 km long ✓ Observed
• Vallis Schroteri - Schröter's Valley, largest sinuous rille ✓ Observed
• Rupes Recta - The Straight Wall, famous fault scarp ✓ Observed
• Rupes Altai - Altai Scarp, 427 km long ✓ Observed
• Rima Hyginus - Linear rille through Hyginus crater ✓ Observed
• Lunar Rays - Ray systems from Tycho and Copernicus ✓ Observed