OBSERVING THE MOON By PETER T. WLASUK
Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series

Observing the Moon is a definitive work, written as a reference book for anyone seriously interested in the Moon and its geology. It is of course a perfect companion for practical observers.

Detailed and extensively illustrated chapters all all the interesting lunar features visible in modern telescopes. They are preceded by a crash course in modern lunar geology – based on the vast amounts we have learned during and since the Apollo missions -and are followed by chapters on photographic and CDC imaging, drawing and lunar topography.

Professor Peter Wlasuk was an astronomer working in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Florida International University.

 

Author

Peter Wlasuk
 

Contents

1 Introduction to the Moon….1

Vital Statistics ….1

The Moon’s Motions in Space….4

Lunar Librations and Eclipses….8

2    The Basic Kinds of Lunar Formations….13

The Lunar Craters….13

The Lunar Maria and Bays….19

The Lunar Rilles….22

The Lunar Mountains….23

3 A Crash Course in Lunar Geology….27

Lunar Geology – What Have We Learned….27

A Lunar Geologist’s Lexicon….28

Our Changing Views of Lunar Geology….31

How the Moon Came to Be….32

The Lunar Geologic Timescale….33

Lunar Geology’s Unsolved Mysteries…36

4  Lunar Features – Northeast Quadrant….39

5  Lunar Features – Southeast Quadrant….55

6  Lunar Features – Northwest Quadrant…71

7  Lunar Features – Southwest Quadrant…87

8  Introduction to Observing the Moon….105

Why Observe the Moon?….105

Choosing a Telescope for Lunar Observing….107

Finding Your Way Around the Moon….110

Eyepieces and Filters….111

9 Drawing Lunar Features….115

Getting Started…115

Questions to Ask…118

Some Important Data….120

What to Do with Your Drawings….123

10 Lunar Topographic Studies…125

The Selected Areas Program…125

Lunar Transient Phenomena….133

11  Lunar Eclipses and Occultations….137

Lunar Eclipses….137

Lunar Occultations….141

12  Imaging the Moon…145

Photographing the Moon with Teleoto Lenses (Michael Oates)….146

Lunar Photography: An Apogee-Perigjee project (Bill Dembowski)…149

Vertical Studies (Bill Dembowski)….150

Imaging the Moon with an Astro-Video Camera (Joe LaVigne)…152

The CD-ROM Lunar Atlas….159

Lunar CCD Imaging (Maurizio Di Sciullo)….160

Glossary of Lunar Terminology….166

Further Reading….168

Lunar Observing Forms….170

Index….177           

Files and Lunar Atlas on the CD-ROM….180

Instructions for Using the CD-ROM….182