Mapping and Naming the Moon: A History of Lunar Cartography and Nomenclature

by Ewen A. Whitaker

Almost thirty years after the Apollo missions, "Tranquillity Base", "Hadley Rille", or "Taurus-Littrow" are names still resonant with the enormous achievements represented by the lunar landings. But how did these places get their names? Who named Copernicus crater? Where did all those names on lunar maps come from, and what stimulated their selection? Ewen Whitaker traces the origins and evolution of the present-day systems for naming lunar features such as craters, mountains, valleys and dark spots. The connections between the prehistoric and historic names, and today's gazetteer are clearly described. Beautiful lunar maps spanning four centuries of progress wonderfully illustrate the unfolding of our ability to map the Moon. Rare, early photographs add to the sense of history. Comprehensive appendices and the bibliography make this delightful book a work of lasting reference and scholarship.

Genres: History, Geology, Astronomy

264 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 1999

Reviews

[Robert Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a nerd-book.
Enjoyed the history of mapping and nomenclature; skimmed over the specific naming conventions as they evolved. It amazes me that folks could look at the moon and draw it later using either memory, or directly under candle light. And then, to convert these hand-drawn images into engraved printer's plates.

The effort they made to record what they saw - even the effort necessary to convert space photographs into published maps - was amazing.