4 replies to this topic

[3C286]

Hi everyone

 

I've been dabbling in lunar observing and I'd like to dabble a little deeper.

 

I already have a lunar atlas and I'm now looking for a book that I can use at the eyepiece that will give me more details and insights about the lunar features I'm looking at. I have a side interest in geology (Earth-bound) so I'd also be interested in is to understand how the features might have formed. I'm a casual lunar observer so, at this point, I'm looking for something I can use at the eyepiece rather than huge reference books with tiny text.

 

 

Here are the lunar books I already have:

 

I'd been using "Moongazing" (Collins) by Tom Kerss for a while. It's been a great, affordable (£8.99) introduction for me and comes complete with some basic atlases. I recently got the "Duplex Moon Atlas" by Stoyan. I've only been out with it once and I already love it. It may not be as pretty to look at in daylight but I find it incredibly practical to use at the eyepiece and it was much easier to match features than the drawings and photograph-based atlas in "Moongazing". I especially appreciate the left-right reversed view for refractors.

 

 

From digging around, I see the following books come recommended. Which (or any others) would you recommend for me?

• Luna Cognita (3 volumes) [€74] - No doubt the definitive reference but is it practical to use these at the eyepiece?
• The Modern Moon: A Personal View (Charles Wood) - £50+ used - I read some posts that this was something of a lunar geography/geology primer?
• The Moon and how to observe it (Springer) - Peter Grego [€41] - I read that the books by Grego are good introductions. Does it go beyond "Moongazing"?
• Moon observer's guide (Firefly) - Peter Grego [€32] - The out-of-print first edition published by Philip's is only €3. Is the much-more-expensive second edition any different?

 

Thanks

Tak

[William Lewis]

Not a book but I use this app - https://play.google....uri.LunarMap.HD

Along with this website - https://quickmap.lro...dC0yioA&proj=10

Both work very well and have a good level of detail. One thing I do find useful is the lunar globe 3d feature on the lroc quick map. This is especially useful for understanding features on the edge of the lunar limb against the backdrop of space.

Last night I was trying to understand a feature that looked like a set of prominent cliffs meeting at a point that was facing towards me. I found it a fascinating feature as it was being viewed looking straight towards the cliffs as if you were heading towards Dover (England) on a ship, it turned out to be a formation at the northern edge of the crater mouchez which I could decode thanks to the 3d globe on the lroc site.

Night vision isn't such an issue with lunar observing anyway so I don't mind using a screen. I also use a baader contrast booster in my diagonal so I can view from high to low magnification without getting blinded at lower magnifications.

Edited by William Lewis, 04 June 2025 - 04:37 AM.

[3C286]

Not a book but I use this app - https://play.google....uri.LunarMap.HD

Along with this website - https://quickmap.lro...dC0yioA&proj=10

Thanks William.

 

I've followed your suggestion and downloaded the LunarMap HD app. It's actually quite nice to be able to zoom in or out to view things at multiple scales. I think I need to play around with the settings because the overlaid text a bit too busy. 

 

Thanks!
Tak

[Flaming Star]

If you do'nt have it already ...please see the book of Charles A Wood "The modern moon" :

https://www.amazon.c...w/dp/0933346999

 

Charles A Wood is also the author of the lunar 100 list of objects of intresting objects.

https://skyandtelesc.../the-lunar-100/

 

Clear skies

[3C286]

If you do'nt have it already ...please see the book of Charles A Wood "The modern moon" :

https://www.amazon.c...w/dp/0933346999

 

Charles A Wood is also the author of the lunar 100 list of objects of intresting objects.

https://skyandtelesc.../the-lunar-100/

Thanks for your recommendation for "The Modern Moon" by Wood. I've looked into it and it sound perfect for me. From what I've read, Charles Wood is a planetary geologist and "The Modern Moon" explains how the features were formed. I found this thread helpful:

 

https://www.cloudyni...moon/?p=2542603

> 'A Modern Moon' turned my interest in lunar Observing into a passion. Modern Moon puts it all into a scientific/geological context so that you begin to really get an understanding for the processes that gave rise to the features one is observing.

 

It's such a shame that it's out of print and all the copies for sale seem to be in the US. I've just placed an order and I should get it in 2 weeks. Very excited. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

Thanks also for your note about the Lunar 100. I saw that Wikipedia has a list of the Lunar 100 and many of the features have links to more detailed information. I might also give that a go. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Lunar_100

 

 

Thank you for your help

Tak