Reeves, a well known and achieved lunar observer and photographer, has simply launched two new books excellent for novice astronomers able to discover Earth’s satellite.
Courtesy of Robert Reeves
Lightning hardly ever strikes twice, however on the earth of lunar astronomy, that’s precisely what has simply occurred. I’ve had the privilege of understanding one of the achieved lunar observers and photographers since I used to be a youngster. He has continuously contributed his experience in articles in Astronomy Journal. I’m talking of Robert Reeves, who as a lot as anybody in recent times has popularized observing and appreciating our nearest celestial neighbor.
Associated: An observer’s guide to lunar names
Exploring the Moon with Robert Reeves
Reeves is a prolific writer and he has given the world of astro hobbyists two nice presents this 12 months. The primary is Exploring the Moon with Robert Reeves: Observing and Understanding Our Pure Satellite tv for pc (2023, self-published and obtainable on Amazon.com; 289 pages, hardcover: $49.95 hardcover, paperback: $39.95). That is fairly a tremendous and extremely helpful ebook, full of info that gives a fantastic introduction to the Moon each bodily and observationally.
The very good and illuminating textual content is accompanied by 421 photographs, all taken by the writer, one of the achieved lunar photographers within the discipline. The sections present a bible of kinds for lunar exploration, starting from an introduction to the Moon and its bodily nature, its origin and evolution, an summary of lunar observing, and sections on understanding the basins and maria and craters. Absorbing and useful particulars comply with on all method of lunar options, strolling the reader via numerous areas of the maria and the ten largest craters on the nearside, throughout the writer’s sentimental lunar favorites, and on a journey alongside different attention-grabbing craters and particular options of the Moon.
Anybody considering observing and understanding the Moon ought to purchase and thoroughly learn this ebook. It’s a masterpiece by an authority whose love for the Moon shines via on each web page, and it serves not solely as an attention-grabbing narrative, but additionally as a precious reference.
Photographic Atlas of the Moon
And if that wasn’t sufficient from Robert Reeves, as I discussed, there’s extra. I additionally heartily advocate a precious companion quantity, Photographic Atlas of the Moon: A Complete Information for the Newbie Astronomer (2024, Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York; 288 pages, hardcover: $49.95). This excellent lunar atlas makes an enormous contribution to the literature on observing and understanding the Moon, and ought to be required studying for anybody who fancies him- or herself as even remotely considering our nearest cosmic satellite.
That includes 165 large-format pictures and diagrams — lots of the pictures once more taken by the writer — Reeves presents right here a scientific and complete tour of the numerous essential areas of the Moon that may be noticed by novice astronomers. Highlights are described intimately, and the writer supplies quite a few info about attention-grabbing areas and options that will probably be visited by lunar observers repeatedly.
Hardly ever will we see two books emerge at practically the identical time that every make an advance in an space of novice astronomy, and in addition so properly complement one another. This can be a huge time for lunar observers and imagers due to the experience of Reeves, and I extremely encourage you to select up a replica of every of those books, which can stay essential on the bookshelf for a few years to return.
