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Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) magic612 Post Laureate Reged: 09/30/08 Loc: S. of Chicago's light dome So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas?       #5368556 - 08/14/12 03:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Over in the Atlas of the Moon thread, there have been some excellent suggestions about what good lunar atlases are, though each seem to have have drawbacks (often it seems, lack of availability / price!). So that got me to thinking: If there were an "ideal" lunar atlas, what would it look like? I don't mean something presently existing - or if it is something presently in existence, how could it be improved? This can cross the line back and forth between "map" which has a lot of features and fairly good overall information to "atlas" which some have referred to as a more detailed and exhaustive features. One thing I am often frustrated by is that with most atlases, I find I am looking at a feature that seems to be right on the edge of another map. Then it is a matter of flipping back and forth between pages to see everything - often pages that are not anywhere near each other! Or in some cases, the view is for reflectors, but I'm at my refractor (or vice versa). I find that frustrating. Of course, a huge map wouldn't necessarily be easy to use at the eyepiece, as some have mentioned as well. I figured a web-based application could solve some of these issues more easily, but how do you feel about digital maps/atlases compared to the printed ones? Would you even want to use a laptop / tablet / smartphone at the eyepiece during lunar observations? How detailed would it need to be to be considered? Post Extras:       Tim2723 The Moon Guy Reged: 02/19/04 Loc: Northern New Jersey Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: magic612]       #5368633 - 08/14/12 03:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's a fantastic question. I have a collection of maps and atlases and frankly none of them are perfect for any number of reasons. I do suppose that having all the features one might want or need would best be done electronically. Printed materials have inherent limitations. Of course, to move from your library to your observing post you'd need to have electronics available, and that's an expense that could run into hundreds of dollars in itself. Just tossing around a few ideas in my head I think I'd like to be able to scale the level of detail appropriate to a particular aperture; from simple maps to highly detailed. I'd like to be able to choose from photographic (like Hatfield), artistic rendering (like Rukl), or line drawing (like the Quad charts). Each of those has its own appeal. Being able to switch orientations is a remarkable feature that can only best be done electronically, and having a toolbox of features such as rise and set times, transit, phase, libration, co-longitude calculations, etc, is the realm of the computer. Just some first, random thoughts. Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Tim2723]       #5368684 - 08/14/12 04:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'd like to have something on my 7" Samsung Galaxy Android tablet!! That offered orientation control- and good zoom capability. Post Extras:       Tim2723 The Moon Guy Reged: 02/19/04 Loc: Northern New Jersey Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5368752 - 08/14/12 05:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey Wes, you just made me imagine a low-res map that could zoom into a high-res atlas. As much or as little detail as you can see or need at a given time. Is that what you meant? that would be cool! I'd even invest in a dedicated tablet/pad/whatever to do that. Post Extras:       oldstargazer Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/03/11 Loc: Western Oklahoma Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Tim2723]       #5368989 - 08/14/12 08:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sounds like we need a google moon just like the google earth maps. Post Extras:       ed_turco Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/29/09 Loc: Lincoln, RI Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Tim2723]       #5368990 - 08/14/12 08:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know it wasn't written for portable use, but doesn't Google Earth do this already? I don;t think it takes much of a leap for someone, perhaps Google, to work this up for something used at the telescope. Perhaps they already have. Post Extras:       oldstargazer Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/03/11 Loc: Western Oklahoma Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: ed_turco]       #5369040 - 08/14/12 09:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I never even thought to look, I think I will go and do that right now. Post Extras:       oldstargazer Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/03/11 Loc: Western Oklahoma Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: oldstargazer]       #5369102 - 08/14/12 09:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Not impressed with google moon map. You can get much better pictures of it yourself. Guess I will stick with the virtual moon atlas. Post Extras:       Tim2723 The Moon Guy Reged: 02/19/04 Loc: Northern New Jersey Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: oldstargazer]       #5369238 - 08/14/12 10:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was thinking that between the VMA and Lunar Map Pro pretty much all the bases, at least the one's I normally need, are covered. Of course, to use those scope-side I either have to print out pages (leaving 99% of it behind) or take it with me in a device (an expense I'd rather avoid but would spend it if it was worth it). Post Extras:       desertstars Reged: 11/05/03 Loc: Tucson, AZ Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Tim2723]       #5369287 - 08/14/12 11:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I still have my first laptop, a dinosaur of limited capacity in most respects, on which I have scans of my Rukl atlas and an early version of the VMA. I don't mind setting it up on the observing table out of door, because it would be little more than an inconvenience if anything happened to it. When I haul it out with me, it makes a handy lunar observing tool. I happened to have the old laptop sitting around, and put it to use. Buying an old laptop used might be a way to duplicate this. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: desertstars]       #5369375 - 08/15/12 12:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The fold-up Rukl/S&T map is the closest thing I've found to the perfect Moon map. Post Extras:       ed_turco Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/29/09 Loc: Lincoln, RI Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: oldstargazer]       #5370485 - 08/15/12 05:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Not impressed with google moon map. You can get much better pictures of it yourself. Guess I will stick with the virtual moon atlas. Gee, I can take better pictures too, but the pics don't come out with the names of craters and other interesting stuff. Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Tim2723]       #5372885 - 08/17/12 10:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hey Wes, you just made me imagine a low-res map that could zoom into a high-res atlas. As much or as little detail as you can see or need at a given time. Is that what you meant? that would be cool! I'd even invest in a dedicated tablet/pad/whatever to do that. Yes, Tim- there's one APP out there for the iPad that is perfect... I tried to locate it just now to reference- but couldn't find it- but besides high-resolution maps- with all the features named- you could reverse or invert the image to match the view you see in a refractor or cat. I sure would be willing to pay for an app like that for my Android tablet! Wes Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5372896 - 08/17/12 10:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The name of the iPad app is Moon Globe HD... Wes Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5372916 - 08/17/12 10:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just found 2 apps for Android tablets that I purchased: Moon Globe HD and EphemDroid Pro. Will have to check them out! Wes Edited by Wes James (08/17/12 10:47 AM) Post Extras:       Tim2723 The Moon Guy Reged: 02/19/04 Loc: Northern New Jersey Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5372987 - 08/17/12 11:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That sounds ideal. Thanks Wes. Give us a review when you have the time. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: ed_turco]       #5373722 - 08/17/12 07:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Not impressed with google moon map. You can get much better pictures of it yourself. Guess I will stick with the virtual moon atlas. Gee, I can take better pictures too, but the pics don't come out with the names of craters and other interesting stuff. I think you need a special filter for that. Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Rick Woods]       #5379519 - 08/21/12 02:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sorry, I misnamed one of the 2 APP's I downloaded- it's LunarMap HD. So far, it's a lunar map with features identified... you can zoom in/zoom out. If you tap on a feature, it gives you a basic Wiki description of the feature. Supposedly you're supposed to be able to see the far side of the moon as well, but I have yet to find a menu to enable that. Also, as you zoom in beyond a certain point- the image displayed gets very fuzzy. Also, the view is always a full moon... not current. All in all, I can't really recommend it unless I learn of some hidden menu that unlocks additional features, which I have emailed the developer to inquire about. If all you want is to ID features, it will do that, but not much more. Wes Post Extras:       Wes James Postmaster Reged: 04/12/06 Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5379618 - 08/21/12 03:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   O.K., my fault... I found the menu- it is accessable through the tablet's menu key, not an on-screen function. *DOH* With it, you have access to all the functions I was looking for and more- you can select a normal/inverted/reversed view, you can select various (downloadable) maps, colors for legends, label sizes, everything... Chalk it up to my unfamilarity with my tablet!! NOW I can say- for only 99 cents- it's a must-have!! Has greatly increased the use of my tablet for a scope-side aide for viewing the moon. Wes Post Extras:       magic612 Post Laureate Reged: 09/30/08 Loc: S. of Chicago's light dome Re: So what WOULD be the perfect Moon map/atlas? [Re: Wes James]       #5383463 - 08/23/12 08:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That $0.99 app just cost me $250... because I downloaded it to my smartphone and thought, "Dang... I really need a tablet!" So I bought a Google Nexus 7 too. (Okay, so I'm not complaining - and I'd been wanting a tablet for some time now anyway.) Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

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