Moon In First Quarter Through A Telescope

A first-quarter moon is seen through a telescope from L'Aquila, Italy, on February 16th, 2024. The first quarter moon occurs when half of the moon is illuminated, and it's visible from Earth as a half-moon shape. During this phase, the right half is lit, and the left half is in shadow. It's a transitional phase between the new moon and the full moon, and it's visible in the western sky after sunset. The first quarter moon is a good time for observing lunar features with telescopes, as the changing sunlight angle enhances the visibility of craters and landscapes.