Carved into the lunar surface near Mare Nectaris, the Theophilus Crater spans nearly 100 kilometers in diameter and rises over 3,200 meters from its floor to rim. This young impact structure is among the Moon’s most striking features, displaying a terraced wall and a central mountain complex formed when the lunar surface rebounded after the colossal impact.

Captured from Mazan, France, this high-resolution image reveals fine details illuminated by the low angle of lunar sunrise, accentuating the rugged relief of the crater’s rim and peaks. The image was obtained on October 11, 2025, using a 625 mm Newtonian telescope with a Barlow 4×, IR685 filter, and QHY5-III 678M camera. From 3,000 frames, 360 were stacked to achieve this sharp result, offering a close look at one of the Moon’s most dramatic geological landmarks.