![]() May the moon brightly "light up" your observing. 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. Larson is a collection of the best photographic images of the moon. 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. Part II, full-moon photography List of plates, tabular List of plates, positional Thumbnails of entire collection Original CLA Booklet The Consolidated Lunar Atlas by Gerald P. 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). The brightest areas, such as the ray system of Aristarchus are about 20 per. The outer ring shows what we see on the Earth during each corresponding part of the Moon's orbit.-This book is a beautiful complement to a photographic atlas or description. At Full Moon, the average albedo of the surface amounts to only 7 per cent. But as the Moon orbits around the Earth, at some points in its orbit the sunlit part of the Moon can be seen from the Earth, and at other points, we can only see the parts of the Moon that are in shadow. Sunlight illuminates half the Earth and half the Moon at all times. The center ring shows the Moon as it revolves around the Earth, as seen from above the north pole. As the bright parts of the Moon appear to change shape during the month, each stage of the change is called a phase, and each phase carries its own name. Other times the Moon seems to disappear entirely. ![]() Sometimes we can only see a thin crescent. Sometimes the entire face glows brightly. ![]() But the Moon still looks a little different every night. We always see the same side of the Moon, because as the Moon revolves around the Earth, the Moon rotates so that the same side is always facing the Earth.
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