Whatever Weds. Waxing Gibbous Moon

Posted in Moon, Night Sky Imaging, Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , ,

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Waxing Gibbous Moon, June 23, 2026. 72% illuminated.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com

I like this phase of the Moon because you can really see the crusty craters along the edges.

Seas in view are from top left moving diagonally across the Moon are-

Sea of Rains, Sea of Serenity, Sea of Tranquility, Sea of Fertility, Sea of Nectar, and Sea of Crises.

Update: I thought it would be a good idea to share with you that I’ve learned something new about the Moon while putting this post together. I’ve learned there are 23 seas and 1 ocean! Early astronomers thought they were bodies of water, but we know now they’re flat plains of solidified basaltic lava.

In my image you can see 10 possibly 11 of the seas.

There’s an International Observe the Moon Night this year. On September 19th one maybe able to observe and identify 15 of the Lunar Seas, and some landing sites on the near side of the Moon. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/observe-the-moon-night/moon-map/

I’m adding that to my calendar.

The full Moon this month is on the 29th and it’s called the Strawberry Moon. It’s called the Strawberry Moon because it’s peak season for harvesting Strawberries in parts of the USA and Canada.

Happy mid week!

more to come…

36 thoughts on “Whatever Weds. Waxing Gibbous Moon”

  1. Deborah, that “body count” of seas and ocean were new to me as well. Great image here. Our strawberry moon turned out to be spectacular. I always try to get outside and take in a full moon, but that one was truly spectacular. Didn’t even think (duh) to take a shot of it, just took it all in. A moon swoon, if you will!

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    1. Me either!! I’ve been photographing the Moon for nearly 20 years and every time I photograph it I learn something new! I imagine most long time astronomers feel the same way. Our planet and universe are still so full of mystery. We’re eons from really understanding it. So eons of new and exciting finds ahead!!! 😀 I only wish I could live so long to see all the new findings evolve.

      I’m having such fun here living my life, learning, seeing, growing. I’m a very late bloomer by the way.
      I never want to leave!!! 😀

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  4. When I rotated your image a quarter-turn to the left in the my mind, the moon looked for all the world like bread rising. I suppose that’s appropriate, since we say the moon ‘rises’ as well. Some of those seas were new to me, as well, but they’re also possible to see as the ‘stretch marks’ of rising bread! In any case, it’s a wonderful, evocative photo.

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    1. Oh, you’re bad! Now I’m drooling and thinking of fresh out of the oven sourdough loaves! 😂 I’ve never made sourdough loaves. Just regular bread with normal rise times. I have a friend who has offered many times to give me some of her Mother, but then I’d have babysit it, feed it, and buy all the things to make the round loaves I really like. So I pass every time. 😊 Have you made sourdough bread from scratch?

      Thank you for this yummy and funny comment!

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      1. No, I haven’t. I have an excellent whole wheat recipe, and I used to make bread regularly in Liberia, but sourdough’s more work than I’m inclined toward. I do have a friend who is beginning that journey, and I hope to be one of her tasters.

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          1. I spent four years in Liberia in the mid-’70s with the Lutheran Church, doing public health work, teaching, and an assortment of other things. I loved it, and went back for an extended six week visit in the 80s. It was fun to discover another blogger here who was in country at about the same time; he lived right up the road from me in a town where I taught. You never know!

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      1. I have used them but not for a long time now. You are right, the anti-shake mode doesn’t always compensate for your hand movement. Maybe I should pick up a nice tripod again…

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  12. I’ve never known the moon was so poetic! Sea of Rains, Sea of Serenity, Sea of Tranquility, Sea of Fertility, Sea of Nectar, and Sea of… Crises. Last one perhaps did raise some eyebrows. 🙂 Beautiful picture Deborah!

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    1. Thank you so much, Dan. Right! The two I grew up hearing the most called out are the Sea of Tranquility, and the Sea of Serenity. I’ve learned something new as well. There are 23 seas and 1 ocean! I think you can see 10 possibly 11 in my image.

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