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[starbux]

My interest in lunar observing has increased this year (might be
partly due to prolonged urban dwelling). Everyone says that Rukl's is
the best, but it's still out of print and used copies cost a small
fortune. Given this, are there any other moon atlas books worth
considering? For the sake of this discussion let's not consider
software (I already have Virtual Moon Atlas), useful as they are.

There are 3 books that I've seen currently in print for sale on
Amazon, they are:

Photographic Atlas of the Moon
by S. M. Chong, Albert Lim, P. S. Ang
tinyurl.com/349vx

Atlas of the Lunar Terminator
by John Westfall
tinyurl.com/24fn3

The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas
by Jeremy Cook
tinyurl.com/2ktaz

I lean a little towards Hatfield simply because I used to have a copy
of the original book "Amateur Astronomer's Photographic Lunar Atlas"
by Hatfield back when I was a teenager in the mid-seventies. To be
quite honest I can't remember how useful it was to me at the time. My
main motive for buying it back then was that I liked his astrophotos
(I remember a nice Orion Nebula pic that Hatfield took) that appeared
in some of Patrick Moore's books like "Atlas of the Universe" (1969 ed.).

Can anyone tell me their opinions on the above mentioned atlases, or
any that I've overlooked (they need not be currently in print, just
affordable if bought used, which is often how I like to purchase books)?

Thank you.
Malcolm

[stargazer]

Starbux,

You have listed some nice books. I have seen some of them. I have a couple here I personally use. I will post the names and Authers later this morning. Plus I have some very nice detailed Moon maps for the wall that I am going to have lamanited one of these days. I also have a complete chart to stay with my star charts.

B

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Do you guys remember in the old Mary Tyler Moore show of the '70's, and Lou Grant's office? I have the very same National Geographic Lunar map that he had mounted on the office wall behind him and his desk. I always intended to frame and mount it myself, but never got around to it.

One day.

I have perused the Hatfield book, and like it a lot. I am not familar with the other two...as of yet!

Thanks for the reviews starbux.

[stargazer]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to add another book to the list. I have this book and I love it.

Moon observers guide By Peter Grego.

It explains alot about the Moon. I got it at Triton but you can get it from any good bookstore. Its a good intro to the Moon and observing along with photographing the moon

B

[starbux]

stargazer said:

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to add another book to the list. I have this book and I love it.

Moon observers guide By Peter Grego.

It explains alot about the Moon. I got it at Triton but you can get it from any good bookstore. Its a good intro to the Moon and observing along with photographing the moon

B

I have it and have been disappointed with it. The text is interesting enough, but the maps are barely usable if at all.
I posted a brief review on Amazon here:
Feel free to post a rebuttal there .

Since first starting this thread I have ordered several moon guides via Amazon (or similar). One that I've already had and am quite delighted with is the new book
"Discover the Moon"
a wonderful book with labeled photos printed for both newtonians and refractors/cassegrains with star diagonals. It's great and I hope the beginning of a trend. A recent arrival is
"Exploring the Moon in Binoculars and Small Telescopes"
with great text and photos. already learned about new (for me) features such as Mons Rumker and the "Horseshoe" in Mare Vaporum. I will post more as more books arrive.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You are making me feel guilty for not accomplishing the Sky and Telescope's Lunar 100.

[starbux]

Chicago said:

You are making me feel guilty for not accomplishing the Sky and Telescope's Lunar 100.

Ha! Well, I haven't actually seen Rumker yet. It's nice that buying a bunch of books makes me look like an expert/accomplished lunar observer but I wouldn't yet make that claim. I'm not sure how many of the Lunar 100 I've seen, probably not all, haven't tried it yet.

Do get "Discover the Moon". I swear you will fall in love with the book, even eef eet ees translated from ze French. As a footnote, one of the authors, Christian Legrand wrote the freeware Virtual Moon Atlas, and moderates the Virtual Moon Yahoo discussion group. I will probably post a review on Amazon soon.

[stargazer]

Joe,

You know I am only picking on you about the Lunar 100. I was bored over a two night span when i did it. I also love looking at the Moon. That Chart you mentioned from The Mary Tyler Show. I have the same one hanging above Cj's Bed but I got it lamanited to protect it. I also have a couple good Lunar Charts I am going to do the same thing with.

Now for Rumker- I spoted it in my daughters scope. I was trying to see something else and having my charts with me I was able to find it. Even though her scope is little you can see quite a bit through it. I am in the works of getting her a bigger one as a friend of mine is selling off everything due to the fact he cant use them any more and he wants Cj to have it. I will get everything that goes with it. All the filters solar included along with a case. He said it is like a $600 scope set up he would sell it to me for about $350.00. I want to give it to her as a birthday gift. I aslo want it for when my husband is out of town and we have clear skies I have a scope I can take out. ( the cannon weighs about 135 pounds and I can not move it by myself.) I think its a 120mm Orion with all the bells and whistles on it.

B

[Al Degutis]

Hmmm, Lunar 100... new to me (no surprise). I just printed it. The moon's glare used to be an annoyance, but recently I've decided to start studying its detail. I haven't trained my new 8" on it yet as it didn't clear my perimeter trees before 3am on Saturday when I started packing it up for the night.

Al

[stargazer]

Al,

I hope you will do the lunar 100. It is a fun challange. I did it in two days and had challanged Joe to see how many days he could do it in. If you do it- take your time and look closely at each crater. There are some web sites that will help you. I think they are under the board for Astronomical Softtware and Links. the one I liked was the Inconstant moon. It breaks the Moon down into sections. Worth looking in to.


Please let us know how you do.

B