{"copyright":"When the Moon","date":"2025-12-19","explanation":"When the Moon is at its first quarter phase, the Sun rises along the Montes Caucasus as seen fro m the lunar surface. The lunar mountain range casts the magnificent, spire-like shadows in this telescopic view from planet Earth, looking along the lunar termi nator or the boundary between lunar night and day. Named for Earth's own Caucasu s Mountains, the rugged lunar Montes Caucasus peaks, up to 6 kilometers high, ar e located between the smooth Mare Imbrium to the west and Mare Serenitatis to th e east. Still mostly in shadow in this first quarter lunarscape, at the left (we st) impact craters reflect the light of the rising Sun along their outer, easter n crater walls.","hdurl":"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/image\/2512\/MontesCauc asusCopie.png","media_type":"image","service_version":"v1","title":"Long Shadows of the Montes Caucasus","url":"https:\/\/apod.nasa.gov\/apod\/image\/2512\/Mont esCaucasusCopie1024.png"}
