To wonder what the hell I just saw?

[QuestionableMouse]

Looking at the moon through some new binoculars and it had a line (shadow) across the bottom bit. I've never seen anything like it!

My sister is staying atm and she saw it too so I wasn't imaging things. Nothing wrong with the binoculars and the line doesn't show up when looking at other light things.

It was very clear and distinct, looked like something was casting a shadow over the surface. I've attached a very terrible diagram 😂

(black is just where the moon is in shadow, red line is where the line/shadow was)

@QuestionableMouse I understood your diagram too!

The fact that the shadow didn’t last means it has to be something that was passing doesn’t it? Space debris??

@Bex268

Nasty.

Was it a straight line all the way across? If it was a shadow on the moon and all the way across, it would be curved wouldn't it? It wouldn't just cut across it in a straight line?

For it to be straight it would have to be something between us and the moon. I think plane contrail is definitely the most likely explanation.

I'm loving this thread.

I've learned stuff about the moon that I didn't know; that no matter what the topic is - a MNr will know something helpful; that some people are very funny; and that there are amateur astronomy forums

Also immature.

I'm loving this thread too - I hope the OP comes back.

@Billlius

Have you been listening to Pink Floyd?

I think Cat Stevens has been pissing around up there again!

I know. It started off funny and I thought the OP was drunk but it's ended up being really informative and also with elements of humour ... although sadly some nastiness too.

It must have been a plane, op. If it was anything particularly unusual or sinister whatever there would be many more reports.

The posts where people have obviously C+P’d from NASA’s website and trying to pass this info as their ‘expert opinion’ are cracking me up. I’m sure that the OP is able to use Google too 😂

For it to be straight it would have to be something between us and the moon. I think plane contrail is definitely the most likely explanation

Agree, I live in the part of the country OP posted a map of and there is a lot of activity from the US airbase there. I hear them all the time. They wouldn't be on flightradar.

@LagneyandCasey

It must have been a plane, op. If it was anything particularly unusual or sinister whatever there would be many more reports.

Yes, there are constantly thousands of people looking at the moon through telescopes/binoculars all the time. If it were something on the moon, other people would have seen it as well!

I meant the US airbase further down the East Coast

@DarlingFell

The posts where people have obviously C+P’d from NASA’s website and trying to pass this info as their ‘expert opinion’ are cracking me up. I’m sure that the OP is able to use Google too 😂

I know what you mean.

I had a very misspent youth/bit of a nerd, (still have a telescope) and as I recall it the commonplace use of Latin names for Lunar features pretty much disappeared around the time of Apollo……

So I have to say “Rupes Recta” had me running for the internet….followed by “oh you mean the straight wall”…….

I think we’d be helped by a better description from the OP and if possible in daylight could she/he check out her local area from her observing point for telephone wires or cables….

This is an article published yesterday about the appearance of the moon at this time. Does this help, OP?

www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/astro-bob/7132278-Astro-Bob-The-Loneliness-of-the-Last-Quarter-Moon

@DarlingFell

Time of the month?

Really ? You use THAT insult ?

Sometimes I get a fine line or crack in my block of mature cheddar cheese, could this be the same phenomena?

Some people can’t resist being rude on this forum, best ignore.

I think it’s an interesting question and I’m surprised so many people have taken offence to it!

The OP has given no indication she believes it is anything other than a natural, explainable phenomenon.

My guess would be either a military jet contrail or, if there’s a chance the OP’s perspective is slightly out and the line was horizontal to the horizon, atmospheric conditions causing an unusual light refraction phenomenon.

I am also an amateur astronomer and those asking why she didn’t get a photo probably don’t realise how difficult it is to get a clear photo of the moon with just a home telescope/binoculars! Waving your iPhone up at the sky wouldn’t capture something like this.

Could it have been the ISS? Maybe from the angle you were stood and the angle of the space station it appeared to look like a line?