Mashable Lunar Surface & Phase Explorer

September 2026 Cycle Scrubber September 16, 2026

Interactive Surface Hotspots (Click to Inspect)

Observation Telemetry 21:00 UTC

Illumination

29.1%

Phase Classification

Waxing Crescent

Moon Age

5.4 days

Terminator Longitude

328.4° E

Observing Window

Visible post-sunset until 22:45 local (SW sky)

Feature Inspector Illuminated

Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis) Lunar Mare

Expansive basaltic plain spanning 873 km. Famous as the historic landing site of Apollo 11 (Eagle) in July 1969.

Terminator shadow creates maximum contrast along the western edge tonight!

Source Provenance: Calibrated against Mashable science dispatch & USNO astronomical lunar models for September 2026. Includes interactive presets for both September 16 (~29% Waxing Crescent, 5.4d age) and the 82.4% Waxing Gibbous illumination window.