Popular Clair-Obscur Effects: Times for 2026
Lunar X & V, the Face in Albategnius, the Eyes of Clavius, the Jewelled
Handle,
Cassini’s Moon Maiden and Reiner Gamma
by Mary McIntyre
IMPORTANT ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: Due to limitations in table formatting, I've had to share images of the data tables in this blog which means screen readers will not be able to access the text. However, there is a PDF download available which was created using text tables so that version will be fully accessible. You can download it here:
Clair Obscur Times 2026 PDF
Watch my accompanying YouTube video here:
Clair Obscur 2026 Video
The Lunar X and V are
one of the most talked about lunar Clair-Obscur effects and for the past few
years I have produced tables showing the times that they are visible for the
coming year. However, they are just two of a huge list so I now include the
times for a few more; the Face in Albategnius, the Eyes of Clavius, the Jewelled
Handle (sunrise over Sinus Iridum) and Cassini’s Moon Maiden AKA Promontorium
Heraclides. Last year I also included an additional feature to look for, the lunar
swirl Reiner Gamma. Although Reiner Gamma is not actually a Clair-Obscur effect,
observing its appearance compared to its surroundings is related to the way the
light plays over the lunar surface. More about this later.
Detailed information about each of these effects is in the PDF download so if you’re new to observing Clair-Obscur effects it's worth a read. This year I'm just uploading the data tables on this page.
For the time-dependant ones I’ve included the
moonrise/moonset times for Oxford, UK, but these times will vary slightly
across the UK. The times are listed in UT so if you’re outside of the UK you
can convert this to your own local time then and check your own moonrise and
set times. I’ve included the time in UT and BST when the UK is on daylight
savings (29th March – 25th Oct).
For UK observers,
this first table is where I’ve put everything together in one quick reference layout
showing if and when each of the Clair-Obscur effects are visible from the UK for
each month. Visibility is based on moonrise and set times for Oxford, UK. The
Jewelled Handle, Moon Maiden and Reiner Gamma are not as time critical and will
be nice to observe anytime on the dates shown here. Detailed times are in the specific
data tables that follow after this.
2026 Quick Check Visibility Table for UK Observers
Image credit: Mary McIntyre
Image collage above features close up images of the Lunar X (left) and Lunar V (right)
Image credit: Mary McIntyre
Lunar X and V
Visibility Table 2026
The Face in Albategnius
Visibility Table 2026
The Eyes of Clavius
The Eyes of Clavius
Visibility Table 2026
The Jewelled Handle
Photo above shows the Jewelled Handle, AKA sunrise over Sinus Iridum
Image credit: Mary McIntyre
This clair-obscur
effect is best viewed at the start time below but remains visible after the
lunar terminator has passed over the region so it should therefore be visible
for a large part the dates listed below.
The Jewelled Handle
Visibility Table 2026
Cassini’s Moon Maiden
Cassini’s Moon Maiden
Visibility Table 2026
Image above shows Reiner Gamma. Image credit: Mary McIntyre
You can check sunrise and set times for your location here:
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/uk/london
To ascertain the
times these effect appear each month, I used the NASA Scientific Visualisation
Studio Moon Phase and Libration tool for 2026: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5187/ You
can set the time/date in the calendar and it will show how the Moon looks at
that time. Please note that due the issues in the US not all functions are currently
available on this website.
If you want more information and more photos about each of the Clair-Obscur effects I've listed, you can access that in the PDF file linked at the top.
I spend ages putting
these tables and pictures together to help people to see something new, so
please feel free to share the link to this PDF. You are also welcome to
share the images and captions (with credit please).
Clear skies and
please let me know if you do photograph one of these features.
Mary McIntyre FRAS
Astrophotographer, space artist, astronomy communicator, and outreach
astronomer
Regular contributor to Sky at Night Magazine, co-author of the Collins
Stargazer’s Bible, contributor to Who’s Who on the Moon by Brian Jones and
Katrin Raynor
Member of the Council of the Society for Popular Astronomy
Mary’s social media links:
Website: www.marymcintyreastronomy.co.uk
Email: enquiries@marymcintyreastronomy.co.uk
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