Customer Reviews

Lunar Sourcebook: A User's Guide to the Moon

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A definite must-have for anyone interested in selenology (the geology of the Moon)- it is the (if not the, then close to) definitive book. Possibly a little dated, with respect to the information gathered from the Lunar Prospector and Clementine missions, but without a doubt, a superb text to have. Be warned, though - chunky and _very_ technical - not for the faint of heart.

I use this book frequently as a reference when working on the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal and it's companion website, Working on the Moon - Lessons from Apollo. Although the book is out-of-print, it is available on CD from the Lunar and Planetary Institute's online store at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/store/products.cfm

Contains the most comprehensive summary of lunar science in a single volume. It is essential for anyone interested in studying the Moon. I use it as a reference for basic lunar soil and rock properties, radiation flux, crater scaling relationships, and many other topics.

However, I would not recommend this book for someone interested in basic lunar knowledge, lunar observing, or amateur interest in human/robotic exploration of the Moon. It is usually too technical for these purposes, and it is probably not worth the cost and trouble of obtaining a copy. You might be happier with the cheaper and easier to read Lunar Base Handbook, which is still quite informative (you will find it references the Sourcebook just about every other page).

For an excellent and equally technical companion to the Sourcebook, I suggest the epic Geologic History of the Moon (USGS Professional Paper 1348).