Popular Clair-Obscur Effects Time for 2026: The Lunar X & V, Face in Albategius, Eyes of Clavius, Jewelled Handle, Moon Maiden

 

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 (29^th March – 25^th 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

The Lunar X and V

Image above shows the Lunar X and V on a first quarter Moon.
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

Image shows the Face in Albategnius. Image credit: Mary McIntyre

The Face in Albategnius Visibility Table 2026

The Eyes of Clavius

Photo above shows the Eyes of Clavius. Image credit: Mary McIntyre

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

Reiner Gamma

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

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