What do scientists know about the Moon? What are some of the mysteries that remain to be solved? Written by an experienced and well-known lunar expert, this is a "hands-on" primer for the aspiring observer of the Moon. Whether you are a novice or already experienced in practical astronomy, you will find plenty in this book to help "raise your game" to the next level and beyond. Gerald North shares extensive practical advice and his sophisticated background knowledge of the Moon and of lunar observation. He covers the selection and construction of equipment and optimizing of existing equipment for such projects as drawing, photographing and CCD imaging of the Moon, together with analysis and computer processing images, and many other practical topics. Observing the Moon will allow both amateur and seasoned astronomers alike to immerse themselves in contemporary efforts to solve the lunar mysteries, as well as to enjoy more fully our Moon in all its magnificence.
Author(s): Gerald North
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 395
front cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 11
Magnificent desolation......Page 13
1.1 An Orbiting rock-ball......Page 14
1.2 Phases and Eclipses......Page 16
1.3 Gravity and the Tides......Page 26
1.4 More about the motions of the Moon - Libration......Page 27
1.5 Co-ordinates on the surface of the Moon......Page 32
1.6 Occultations......Page 34
1.7 Timing and recording occultations......Page 38
The Moon through the looking glass......Page 41
2.1 The Moon in focus......Page 42
2.2 The pioneering selenographers......Page 53
Telescopes and drawing boards......Page 59
3.1 What type of telescope do you need?......Page 60
3.2 How big a telescope do you need?......Page 67
3.3 Eyepieces and magnification......Page 69
3.4 Making the best of what you have......Page 71
3.5 Drawing the Moon......Page 73
The Moon in camera......Page 81
4.1 Films for lunar photography......Page 83
4.2 Tripods and telephoto lenses, focal ratios and exposures......Page 86
4.3 Lunar photography through the telescope - at the principal focus......Page 92
4.4 High-resolution photography......Page 96
4.5 Slow films and large effective focal ratios......Page 104
4.6 Processing the film and techniques to bring out detail in printing......Page 105
4.7 Photography through coloured filters......Page 107
4.8 Further reading......Page 109
Moonshine and chips......Page 111
5.1 Some basic principles of CCD astrocameras......Page 112
5.2 CCD astrocameras in practice......Page 114
5.3 Videoing the Moon......Page 118
5.4 Image processing......Page 129
5.5 Getting hard copy......Page 130
5.6 Some CCD equipment suppliers......Page 136
6.1 The first lunar scouts......Page 137
6.2 Men on the Moon......Page 140
6.3 The post-apollo Moon......Page 144
6.4 Not green cheese but.........Page 145
6.5 Genesis of the Moon......Page 146
6.6 The Moon's structure......Page 147
6.7 The evolution of the Moon - a brief overview......Page 149
6.8 Lunar Chronology......Page 151
6.9 Filling in the details......Page 152
7.1 The lunar sourcebook......Page 157
7.3 The internet......Page 158
7.5 Measuring lunar surface heights......Page 159
7.6 Maps, globes, posters and charts......Page 162
7.7 Key map for chapter 8......Page 163
A to Z of selected lunar landscapes......Page 167
8.1 Agarum, promontorium......Page 168
8.3 Alpes, Vallis......Page 171
8.4 Alphonsus......Page 173
8.5 Apenninus, Montes......Page 176
8.6 Ariadaeus, Rima......Page 180
8.7 Aristarchus......Page 183
8.8 Aristoteles......Page 189
8.9 Bailly......Page 191
8.10 Bullialdus......Page 193
8.11 Cassini......Page 196
8.12 Clavius......Page 199
8.13 Copernicus......Page 202
8.14 Crisium, mare......Page 210
8.15 Endymion......Page 216
8.16 Fra Mauro......Page 220
8.17 Furnerius......Page 225
8.18 Gruithuisen's lunar city......Page 231
8.19 Harbinger, Montes......Page 234
8.20 Hevelius......Page 237
8.21 Hortensius......Page 244
8.22 Humorum, Mare......Page 247
8.23 Hyginus, Rima......Page 255
8.24 Imbrium, Mare......Page 258
8.25 Janssen......Page 268
8.26 Langrenus......Page 272
8.27 Maestlin R......Page 277
8.28 Messier......Page 279
8.29 Moretus......Page 281
8.30 Nectaris, Mare......Page 283
8.31 Neper......Page 288
8.32 Pitatus......Page 291
8.33 Plato......Page 295
8.34 Plinius......Page 302
8.35 Posidonius......Page 308
8.36 Pythagoras......Page 311
8.37 Ramsden......Page 314
8.38 Regiomontanus......Page 318
8.39 Russell......Page 323
8.40 Schickard......Page 328
8.41 Schiller......Page 332
8.42 Sirsalis, Rimae......Page 336
8.43 Straight wall......Page 341
8.44 Theophilus......Page 344
8.45 Torricelli......Page 349
8.46 Tycho......Page 351
8.47 Wargentin......Page 358
8.48 Wichmann......Page 361
9.1 The mystery unfolds......Page 365
9.2 Categories of TLP......Page 370
9.3 The mystery continues......Page 371
9.4 What might be the cause(s) of TLP?......Page 380
9.5 Possible causes of bogus TLP......Page 382
9.6 TLP observing programme......Page 385
Index......Page 387
back cover......Page 395
