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The Moon in Close-up

A Next Generation Astronomer's Guide

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Authors:
  1. John Wilkinson

    1. Castlemaine, Australia

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  • Explains the latest understanding of lunar features and geology, based on the most recent space missions and analysis
  • Highlights ‘what’s new’ in our knowledge at the start of each chapter
  • Offers detailed techniques and tips on how to observe interesting features of the Moon, with telescopes and binoculars
  • Organized into 17 study areas, with a photographic maps and rich descriptions of all the features in each area

Part of the book series: The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series (PATRICKMOORE)

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
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  2. Introducing the Moon

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 1-38

  3. Probing the Moon

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 39-68

  4. Geological History of the Moon

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 69-104

  5. Occultations and Eclipses

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 105-126

  6. Observing the Moon

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 127-164

  7. Studying the Moon

    • John Wilkinson
    Pages 165-295

  8. Back Matter

    Pages 297-310
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Keywords

About this book

Information collected by recent space probes sent to explore the Moon by the USA, the European Space Agency, Japan, China and India has changed our knowledge and understanding of the Moon, particularly its geology, since the Apollo missions. This book presents those findings in a way that will be welcomed by amateur astronomers, students, educators and anyone interested in the Moon. Enhanced by many colour photos, it combines newly acquired scientific understanding with detailed descriptions and labelled photographic maps of the lunar surface. Guided by observation methods explained in the book and 17 Study Areas presented and carefully explained in the last chapter, amateur astronomers can observe these features from Earth using telescopes and binoculars. Readers who consult the photographic maps will gain a better understanding about the Moon’s topography and geology. The book is rounded out by a helpful glossary.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“The book is in paperback and is very well presented with many illustration in colour as well as black and white. … contains six chapters but the last chapter is divided into 17 sections. … Overall I recommend this book as one of the most useful for amateur astronomers. … book is a practical guide to observing the moon. It is most useful for people wanting information on the latest findings.” (Jenny Ball, IceInSpace, May, 2011)

“Divided into six chapters, there’s something for everyone interested in our natural satellite here. Chapter one discusses the Moon’s orbit, libration, phases and topography. The following two chapters cover space missions and geological history. Occultations, eclipses and observing complete the first half of the book, which together make a great beginner’s introduction. Chapter six studies individual features in great detail … .” (Steve Richards, Sky at Night Magazine, September, 2011)

“Science instructor/writer Wilkinson does a good job of making the moon accessible to amateur astronomers and beginners … . The index and glossary are well done, and most of the figures are good … . Overall, this book might be useful for nonscience undergraduate students taking an introductory astronomy class. Summing Up … Lower-division undergraduates and general readers.”­­­ (J. R. Kraus, Choice, Vol. 49 (3), November, 2011)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Castlemaine, Australia

    John Wilkinson

About the author

John Wilkinson is a science educator with over 30 years experience in teaching science, physics and chemistry in secondary colleges and universities in Australia. He is author of over 100 science textbooks. He completed his Masters degree and PhD in science education at La Trobe University, Australia. Throughout his life he has been a keen amateur astronomer and operates his own observatory from his backyard.

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