The moon

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About this book

For a telescope observer, the Moon becomes a landscape of plains, ridges, craters and mountain walls. Thomas Gwyn Elger's 1895 guide describes these physical features and accompanies them with a map designed for convenient reference in the dim light of an observatory. Its introduction traces the development of lunar observation, while the catalogue arranges named formations by quadrant and longitude.

The entries turn broad outlines into particular places. Around Sinus Iridum, Elger describes the Laplace and Heraclides promontories, terraced crater walls, winding valleys and ridges that become clearer near sunrise. He pays close attention to shadows and changing illumination, helping readers understand when a feature can be examined. Drawing on repeated observations, sketches and photographs, the book offers both a detailed reference for lunar enthusiasts and a view of how nineteenth-century astronomers studied the Moon.