No matter what day it is, one is never more than two weeks from being able to observe some of the features of Copernicus, which is a large prominent lunar crater that is popular to observe. It is observable by low power binoculars or telescopes. If a person looks at the moon and finds the area just above and left of an imaginary center of the moon disc, Copernicus is prominent just after 1st quarter, when a little more than a half of the disc is in view. It is also prominent several days after full moon late at night or during the daytime morning hours. While it can be explored in full light, its many details are fascinating to explore when the terminator (boundary between day and night regions of the moon) is close. The sketches below were done at night, dusk, and daytime with telescopes. Many sketchers have produced more detailed drawings than mine, although it is less common to find either daytime sketches or sketches with false color (where gradients of color are substituted for grey tones).
God makes it clear from the Bible record that the moon has a several key purposes: a time piece, a source of night light, and a contributor to earth/sea characteristics. The scriptures clearly state that its creation was instantaneous on day four of creation but there is no explanation provided by God for specific features, namely, if there were any changes around the fall of man (the entrance of sin and death) or the Flood of Noah, when the earth’s surface was re-arranged. In any case, God made observation of its stark and lifeless beauty relatively easy. Earth’s atmosphere is nearly transparent; the moon’s orbit (about a quarter million miles) brings it close to us; the moon is relatively large and its phased/periodic changes help us see detail under a variety of light angles on the topography. Studying and sketching features tends to enhance appreciation of features because in replicating what is observed one realizes the complexity of lunar terrain.
Standing back from an observation is just as important as an observation itself. God gives credence to thinking about the wonder of what we see in the heavens (including the Copernicus crater) with this statement in Isaiah 51:12—“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth…?” The remainder of the chapter continues the same theme. In the case of my short observations of Copernicus (one crater on one planetary body among countless heavenly objects) it is appropriate to remember that God created the moon. His power and wisdom, which are apparent from what he has made, are a deliberate measuring stick to help place mens’ actions in perspective. Can he, who created the heavens, not comfort the oppressed and remember their situations? Is he not aware that men, who have forgotten God, oppress others and cause human suffering? But the fear and terror they produce is like grass that is easily burned up. In short, he beckons us to consider him, to draw close to him, because he regards the humble in heart that call on him. My recommendation is not a secret: turn to God.
