Atlas of the Lunar Terminator [Hardcover]

John E. Westfall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0521590027 | ISBN-13: 978-0521590020

This extraordinary Atlas is based on high resolution CCD images of the terminator area of the Moon under 47 different illuminations. Each image is displayed across two or three pages, enabling readers to see features as small as 1-2 kilometers. For each illumination, accompanying text describes the major features shown in each view, along with larger-scale images of selected areas, indexed with their positions and dimensions. Two text chapters describe and illustrate the lunar observation techniques and the landform types. Observing data are presented through 2009. Experienced observers will find the Atlas an invaluable planning tool, while beginners will gain an understanding of lunar geography and geology. No other atlas shows the Moon under such a variety of observing conditions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The Westfall Atlas could not fail to impress any lunar enthusiast. Just from the amount of work that went into the recording of so many images, this collection of lunar pictures and maps and notes will please. The choice of material (the terminator) and its reproduction for publication is excellent ... a superb, and useful, example of enterprise and achievement.' Irish Astronomical Journal

'One thing that Westfall excelled at was imaging the lunar limbs at very favourable librations; thus his images of the Humboldtianum and Orietale impact basins are more revealing than many professional photographs.' Sky & Telescope

Book Description

This Atlas contains electronic images of the Moon obtained at 47 different phases covering the lunar month. This observing guide and atlas is suitable for beginners and serious observers. By focusing on the terminator region (where day and night meet) the observer takes advantage of long shadows cast by the craters and mountains on the Moon. Experieneced observers will find the Atlas an invaluable planning tool, while beginners will gain an understanding of lunar geography and geology. No other atlas shows the Moon under such a variety of observing conditions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521590027
• ISBN-13: 978-0521590020
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,700,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save Your Money!, October 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Atlas of the Lunar Terminator (Hardcover)

I had high hopes for this book was truly disappointed.

Mr. Westafall knows his technical moon stuff, and the text of the first few chapters or so is very informative, but he does not make it fun to learn at at all. The writing style is very dry, like a reading a manual on how to fix your washing machine. This is strictly a reference book, not a book to read for pleasure.

The CCD pictures are terrible. The resolution is very low, and many are annoyingly pixelated. They have very little value as a reference, and you should get Rukl's Atlas of the Moon instead.

The descriptive text about the various lunar features that accompanies each picture is likewise very weak, and doesn't really teach you about what tantalizing views are to be had as the sun rises upon them.

You will not be happy with this book. SAVE YOUR MONEY!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Atlas of the Lunar Terminator - A disappointment, September 17, 2000

By 

Nick Taylor (Pilot Hill, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlas of the Lunar Terminator (Hardcover)

A great concept, good text, but the photo reproductions are of very poor quality. If Cambridge University Press were to re-issue this book with good, sharp copies of Professor Westfall's photos, then this would be a five plus star book! At the present Rükl's "Atlas of the Moon" or Cherrington's "Exploring the Moon" better fill the needs of the Selenic observer.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Atlas Falls Short of Expectations, February 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Atlas of the Lunar Terminator (Hardcover)

Observing the lunar terminator is a delight. A low sun angle magnifies the major geographic features and accents subtle geologic structures unseen a few hours later. Scanning the terminator through a small or moderate size telescope opens the world of exploration and sightseeing even to the most novice of novices.

The concept of developing an atlas of the lunar terminator is excellent. The readership market is there. Regretfully, Westfall's book falls far short of expectations. Most disappointing is the quality of his lunar images. Simply put---many are terrible. At first, I wondered if I had an out-of-focus, pre-repair Hubble version. Surely Cambridge University Press would not print such low quality. This is especially true for the waning moon. Such images do not represent the outstanding work many amateur astronomers have produced in recent years that are routinely published in popular astronomy magazines. The best image is found on the book's jacket.

Picture details (dates, telescope, etc) are best placed in an appendix rather than competing for limited space adjacent to each image. I do like the fact that distance scales and directions are superimposed on most images. That's likely the geographer side of Westfall coming through.

The text is sometimes informative but written very dry. This could be overlooked because each author has his/her writing style and intended audience. However, those images are the weakest link---goodbye.

I do not recommend the book.