Many exquisite details can be seen on the lunar surface with nothing more than a pair of binoculars.

The line that separates the lit portion of the moon from the area in shadow is known as the terminator. Seasoned moon watchers know that the best time to observe the moon's features is when they are near the terminator. The interplay between light and shadow bring out a three-dimensional aspect to the craters and ridges that is lost once the area becomes fully lit.

Away from the terminator, features become more difficult to observe due to a loss of contrast. For this reason, a full moon, contrary to popular belief, is the worst time for lunar observation. And because the moon is so bright, it's usually not a great time for any other observational astronomy either.

But there's still something to be seen: Lunar rays become more pronounced at full moon. These rays are light-colored debris blasted out by the meteor impacts that formed the moon's craters. These rays can be seen around the craters Tycho, Copernicus, and Kepler.