![]() ![]() Constantly shadowed areas near the poles are hard to photograph but easier to measure with altimetry, while several of the Apollo landing sites, all relatively near the equator, have been imaged at resolutions as high as 25 centimeters (10 inches) per pixel. Some are large and old (Orientale, South Pole-Aitken), others are smaller and younger (Tycho, Aristarchus). FULL MOON ATLAS PROFESSIONALSome are on the near side and are familiar to both professional and amateur observers on Earth, while others can only be seen clearly from space. The brightest areas, such as the ray system of Aristarchus are about 20 per. FULL MOON ATLAS FULLThe tour visits a number of interesting sites chosen to illustrate a variety of lunar terrain features. At Full Moon, the average albedo of the surface amounts to only 7 per cent. Six years later, the tour has been recreated in eye-popping 4K resolution, using the same camera path and drawing from the vastly expanded data trove collected by LRO in the intervening years. May the moon brightly "light up" your observing.In the fall of 2011, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ( LRO) mission released its original Tour of the Moon, a five-minute animation that takes the viewer on a virtual tour of our nearest neighbor in space. This is a superb book to use with either a small or a large telescope and the rich artwork will add to your enjoyment of one of our most beautiful astronomical companions. ![]() So did I, until I decided to join in and enjoy what I couldn't change (the moon is also less subject to the many vagarities of astronomical seeing). Observational astronomers often complain about the moon as a source of light pollution. Well, there are other sources, but it would have been nice to have the artist's perspective. He also says little about some of the pre-scientific ideas and musings about this object which has captivated and enriched the imaginations, as well as the mind, of so many people for so much of our history. Surprisingly, and disappointingly, he gives very little description about his work in drawing the lunar features or general astronomical sketching, which in my opinion is a missed opportunity to add some charm and value to an already aesthetic book. The author has complemented his research with a good bibliography, comprehensive charts, and a brief description of the art and science of observing the moon. Users of both small and large telescopes can enjoy using this book. The atlas is also divided up into small sections which makes it more enjoyable to plan a "visit," with plenty of description about the people for whom the craters are named (of course, one can never be satisfied that enough features are named). The book obviously shows considerable love for the science and patience, which are terrific qualities for any observer to take to the eyepiece. ![]() I was surprised to find how this graphically drawn atlas seems easier to use than a photographic one, even if the accuracy cannot be quite as good - photos do not always look like the view in the telescope, they are far harsher, and the shading often affects your perception enough to confuse some features (the author did include photos of some of the more prominent features). This book is a beautiful complement to a photographic atlas or description. ![]()
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