MOON TOUR
ALBATEGNIUS
Gaze down into an ancient walled plain that puts some of the Moon’s better known features to shame
T here are many features on the Moon that have acquired ‘celebrity’ status because they are genuinely impressive. But other features aren’t given the same credit or attention because they are overshadowed by their more impressive neighbours. One such feature is a walled plain called Albategnius, which can be found almost in the centre of the Moon’s face as we see it from Earth.
If you’re not familiar with this feature, that’s no huge surprise. Albategnius is overshadowed by three huge and very famous features directly to its west: Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzachel. Linked together and forming a striking sight in both small binoculars and large telescopes, these three craters are very popular observing targets, which is why poor Albategnius, just to their east, is usually overlooked. It’s a shame, because it’s a fascinating and rewarding feature.