Lunar coronagraph

A lunar coronagraph, comprising:

• a primary mirror and a secondary mirror positioned on an optical axis and facing each other, wherein the primary mirror is positioned to receive moonlight in an on-axis configuration and to direct the received moonlight to the secondary mirror, the primary mirror including an opening in a center thereof to allow light that is reflected from the secondary mirror to exit therethrough, wherein a focal plane of the primary mirror is positioned at a location within the lunar coronagraph between the primary mirror and the secondary mirror;
• an occulting disk positioned at the focal plane of the primary mirror to block a portion of the moonlight corresponding to at least a portion of moon that is within a field of view of the lunar coronagraph;
• a mask positioned in an optical path after the occulting disk, the mask configured to block or reduce a diffraction artifact associated with the occulting disk;
• and
• a baffle positioned on the optical axis between the mask and the primary mirror to reduce or eliminate stray light associated with the moonlight that enters the lunar coronagraph.