This includes specifications of the CCD camera, the characteristics of the probe’s orbit and the actual data processing. Nicely located in the preamble is a description of the data processing. This book is a re-issue in English of their initial production of 2012. I bet you’re wondering about where the data came from? The title says it all. It’s just like an atlas should be straightforward, simple and to the point. With this appendix, one can quickly and easily find the common lunar geographic features. It includes a list of 3,698 features placed on the maps with each feature having its name, its latitude, its longitude, its size in kilometres and its page. And they include the complete Moon surface, with a space resolution of 500m, a horizontal accuracy of 192m and vertical of 120m. There are 188 maps each on their own page all of them presenting an equal and fine finishing. How do I know of these descriptions? Simple. This book includes eleven of such nomenclatures.įor instance, there are the very dry Oceani, the Maria that hint at water courses, circular craters with astoundingly sharp edges and the knife edge rimae that slice along. But there are many other features that are at least interesting enough to warrant a particular nomenclature according to the International Astronomical Union. On the Moon we certainly don’t have to worry about water features. When I hike, I use maps to find interesting outlooks, amazing drop-offs or dry land between swamps. “Who’s going to sit down and read an atlas?” Good question, as I didn’t think I would either, but I definitely will use this book.įor me, a good atlas allows me to understand the shape of the land almost to feel the topology without actually being there. Legrand, a retired engineer, formely of the French Ministry for Industry, says, “It is a lot of work for us, but it’s so exciting!” VMA Pro 6 main screen showing new UHR LRO texture and new “Anonymous craters” database.įor more details, contact Christian Legrand.“An atlas?” I hear you asking. The VPA will include the dwarf planet, Ceres, and planet Saturn, its rings and major satellites Mimas, Thetys, Dione, Rhea, Titan and Iapetus. The VMA will include better textures and updated and increased databases, including more than 80 000 craters. The next versions of the atlases are planned for 2018. Currently, VPA 2.0 is available for Windows, Linux and Mac 0S, and is available in English and French. An update in December 2016 expanded the project to include Jupiter and its four Galilean Moons. In 2014, Legrand and Chevalley launched the Virtual Planets Atlas (VPA), initially providing atlases on Mercury, Venus and Mars using data from International Astronomical Union (IAU) nomenclatures, NASA and ESA planetary missions, United States Geological Survey (USGS) & JPL mapping works and from amateur astronomers. Textures include maps from space missions, historical textures permitting easy comparison of work by astronomy pioneers with present data, and a range of scientific overlays, including gravity, temperature, geology, altimetric data, and various chemical elements. Over the past 15 years, the project has had more than 1.7 million downloads from users all over the world and has evolved to include a database with nearly 60 000 entries of features and formations on the Moon’s near and far side. In 2002, keen amateur astronomer, Christian Legrand, and software specialist, Patrick Chevalley, started work on developing the Virtual Moon Atlas (VMA) – a freeware to support observations of the Moon and as a tool for public engagement with Earth’s satellite.
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