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)

"I wish I had an answer for you op, however, think it’s fair to point out that posters are being dicks on this thread and/or thick/deliberately obtuse. If posters are finding it so incredibly difficult to understand, that says more about them than it does you!"

^This...

We had this moon last week. Really eerie.

I've not heard of Rupes Recta before so this thread (well, parts of it) have been really interesting.

Possible mystery solved...?

A Russian rocket was launched a few days ago, has flown to the ISS and the module docked last night. It could have been the contrail from the rocket as it went up.

No suggestions other than maybe a distant electric wire or a con trail but understood the original drawing fine, if people still can't, despite updates and clarification that's not your fault OP.

@ahoyshipmates

Possible mystery solved...?

A Russian rocket was launched a few days ago, has flown to the ISS and the module docked last night. It could have been the contrail from the rocket as it went up.

No sorry it’s not that …rockets don’t leave trails that are visible several days after launch and thousands of miles from the launch site.

Without the OP coming back with a fuller description/more details we’ll never really know, and even then we might not track it down.

Honestly, I wouldn't blame the OP if they never returned to this, after all the nasty remarks! Also guessing that if the OP thought it was a wire, they wouldn't have bothered posting

'Nope. I don't drink for medical reasons.'

maybe you should :)

@Anordinarymum - not helpful or funny.

Also guessing that if the OP thought it was a wire, they wouldn't have bothered posting

Without knowing more don’t think it’s an unreasonable theory.

Since the OP mentioned new binoculars how much experience have they got at looking through them at night and would they recognize wires, in such circumstances?

It’s not all all unusual if you’re looking at something especially at low elevation through a telescope or binoculars to suddenly find you’ve got wires, cables, TV aerials, twigs etc in your field of view…..

Most pointless OP ever. You don't have a pic of what you saw so you post a bunch of pointless squiggles. Urgh.

Also guessing that if the OP thought it was a wire, they wouldn't have bothered posting

Just because she didn't think it might be a wire didn't mean it wasn't.

Read the post on this forum www.thescienceforum.com/general-discussion/31946-moon-line.html

@notimagain

Also guessing that if the OP thought it was a wire, they wouldn't have bothered posting

Without knowing more don’t think it’s an unreasonable theory.

Since the OP mentioned new binoculars how much experience have they got at looking through them at night and would they recognize wires, in such circumstances?

It’s not all all unusual if you’re looking at something especially at low elevation through a telescope or binoculars to suddenly find you’ve got wires, cables, TV aerials, twigs etc in your field of view…..

If I test drive a new car, does that mean I've never driven before? If I get new shoes, does that mean I've never worn shoes before? It's a bit of a facetious argument...

[quote iklboo]@Anordinarymum - not helpful or funny. [/quote]
I laughed

@clickychicky

A shadow in the shape of a line across the moon. Not sure what caused it.

Ah, thanks clicky.

I will look out the next time the moon is out @QuestionableMouse

[quote Dodie66]Read the post on this forum www.thescienceforum.com/general-discussion/31946-moon-line.html[/quote]
Sadly some replies there are a bit .

I totally get that the OP and relative saw something.

The Moon is visible from roughly half of the world at any moment been no reports of lines from elsewhere in the world.

Unless the laws of Physics/optics/geometry have been suspended nothing can can be sat on the left hand side of the Moon ‘s face with the Sun where it was last night and cast a shadow down sun maybe a thousand kilometers long..(probably can’t be done anyway, regardless of the Sun’s position because of the size of the Moon..)

Satellites don’t leave linear shadows or contrails.

So we’re back again to something closer to home, e.g. contrails, local atmospheric effects, or dare say it again, wires..fault in the binoculars?

Unless the OP comes back with more info we’re not being nasty but we’re stuck for an answer.

Despite some rudeness, this is an interesting thread.
Never heard of rupus recta or brinicles before.

I can't offer any explanation OP but I've certainly learned something new.

@Goingdriving

Maybe ask this question on an internet amateur agronomy forum

Not a bad idea - all those farmers out there probably have a good understanding of the workings of the moon

She said the red line is where the shadow was!!!!

But it was a red arrow, not a red line.

Most likely it is something on your equipment; a hair or whatever.

@me4real

Most likely it is something on your equipment; a hair or whatever.

That possibility could be ruled in/out if the line/smudge/whatever was seen shifted relative to the background as the binoculars were moved around….

It’s another Q for the OP,

It's in the news, nasa reckons the brittle crust is breaking as the interior cools down, ie the moon is shrinking.

notimagain

The Op has repeatedly said she moved the binoculars round to look at the street light etc and not line. So not a hair/crack or fault.

@Thewinterofdiscontent

notimagain

The Op has repeatedly said she moved the binoculars round to look at the street light etc and not line. So not a hair/crack or fault.

Dooh…silly me she did indeed…

So failing further details from the OP we’re stuck with stuff like contrails etc..

I don't think it was a contrail - it was very crisp and sharp and every pic of contrails I've seen looks more fluffy/blurred.

There are no cables or power lines in that direction and the moon was much higher than the trees.

Not my first time using binoculars, by a long shot. They're just a new pair I picked up for the kids so they don't use my good ones.