Here is a nice demonstration of
libration. The right-hand picture
here was taken only half a day earlier in the lunar cycle than the
one on the left. However, the libration in longitude was very
different. When the left-hand picture was taken, the libration
was -7° 7', which is almost as unfavourable as it gets for this
part of the Moon. When the right-hand picture was taken the
libration was +5° 41' which is about 2° less than the most
favourable it can get. The difference in presentation is
therefore 12° 48' which is about 75% of the maximum possible.
Look at the different presentation of Mare Crisium in
particular.
And here is a higher-resolution
picture of this phase with a libration very similar to the
left-hand picture below.
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Date and Time: 6th May 2003 20:26 UT (day 4.8) |
Date and Time: 3rd March 2006 18:57 UT (day 4.3) |
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