Telescope Reviews: Your Favorite Lunar Book that I should buy.

Here are my choices for the astronomers 'Lunar Library'. All are reasonably new publications and contain the most recent info and ideas. If you can only afford one book and DON'T need an atlas, get the Charles Wood. If you can only afford one book but DO need an atlas, get the S.M. Chong. If you can afford two books, get those two first. Pick up the others as they interest you.

"The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas", Jeremy Cook (Ed.), Springer-Verlag, London, 1999.

An updated revision of the pre-Apollo classic, with outline maps and photographic plates by Colonel Hatfield. Sometimes criticized for its dated photographic quality, it remains a staple on my bookshelf.

"Photographic Atlas of the Moon", S.M. Chong, et. al. , Cambridge University Press, 2002

A very new offering in the Lunar atlas arena, I have yet to see this book reviewed at any length elswhere. Using clear but rather small lunar images, the reader is given a guided tour through the lunar month. While of an inconveniently large size for use at scope side, its clear labeling and pleasant prose style make it one of my favorites. As much a guidebook as an atlas, I recommend this as the beginners first choice.

"Observing the Moon, Peter, T. Wlasuk", Springer-Verlag, London, 2000

Destined to be a classic. Another guided tour of Luna, this time using the quadrant scheme rather than the nigh-by-night description more commonly employed.

"Observing the Moon, The Modern Astronomer's Guide", Gerald North, Cambridge University Press, 2000

A rather ponderous tome, and in places quite dreary, nevertheless another authoritative guide. This time a series of regional tours instructs the reader.

"Epic Moon, a History of Lunar Exploration in the Age of the Telescope", W.P. Sheehan, T.A. Dobbins; Willman-Bell, Inc. , 2001

Not a guide book at all, but an engaging romp through the history of selonography and telescopic observation. Replete with all the wonderful eccentricity of the 18th and 19th centuries: Cities on the Moon, bat-winged lunar inhabitants, the whole works!

"The Big Splat, or How our Moon Came to Be", Dana Mackenzie, John Wiley and Sons, 2003
A very concise and encompassing epistle concerning the current theory of our Moon's formation and evolution, with in depth analysis of older lunar theories.

"The Modern Moon, a Personal View", C. A. Wood, Sky Publishing Corporation, 2003,

Possibly the best candidate for the neo-classic award! An accompaniment to the Lunar 100 list, similar to the Messier Catalog known to all DSO observers, this single book endeavors to teach the casual but experienced observer much of the history of Luna by letting the face of the Moon tell its own story. An absolute must read for any Lunie!

"Moon Phase Maps", various, Astrovisuals, Inc, Australia, 2002

Neither book nor atlas, this series of 18 photographic maps shows the Moon clearly depicted with all major features neatly labeled. Printed on heavy paper and lightly laminated for outdoor use, these have replace all other scope-side maps for Yours Truly. Produced in Australia, these maps show a southern hemisphere (inverted) orientation. This may take a little practice for new observers unused to mentally flipping lunar images.

"Moon Observer's Guide", P. Grego, Firefly Books, 2004

The newest offering on the shelf. A small pocket book reminiscent of the old "Golden Guide" series of years past. Very readable and complete, given its small size. Some may find the gray image maps and accompanying text a but small for reading in red light.

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The crwth will set you free!