by
Andrew Fraknoi(Foothill College & A.S.P.)
Version 3.0; July 2002
© Copyright 2002 by Andrew Fraknoi. All rights reserved.
Family ASTRO Presents:
by
Andrew Fraknoi
(Foothill
College & A.S.P.)
Version 3.0; July 2002
© Copyright 2002 by Andrew Fraknoi. All rights reserved.
1.
About Our Scientific Understanding of the Moon
2. About Observing the Moon
3. About the Moon and Popular Culture
4. Miscellaneous Lunar Topics
5. Children’s Books about the Moon
1.
About Our Scientific Understanding of the Moon
2. About Observing the Moon
3. About the Future Exploration of the Moon
4. About the Moon in Popular Culture
5. About the Moon’s Role in Historical Events
1.
General Moon Sites
2. Sites about Specific Moon Missions
3. Sites About Observing the Moon
4. Sites for Keeping Track of the Moon’s Phases
5. Sites about the Moon for Teachers
1. Books about Our Scientific Understanding of the Moon
Chaikin, Andrew A Man on the Moon. 1994, Viking Press. A well-reviewed history of manned lunar exploration.
Harland, David Exploring the Moon: The Apollo Expeditions. 1999, Praxis/Springer-Verlag. Reviews the work of the astronauts on the Moon in the context of what we now know about lunar geology.
Hockey, Thomas The Book of the Moon. 1986, Prentice Hall. A basic primer on many aspects of the Moon.
Moore, Patrick Patrick Moore on the Moon. 2001, Cassell/Stirling. An updated edition of a classic book on the history of our understanding of the Moon, with observing hints and maps.
Spudis, Paul The Once and Future Moon. 1998, Smithsonian Inst. Press. A geologist discusses what our exploration of the Moon has taught us, and what we might do in the future to know and use the Moon better.
Many NASA books about Moon exploration are now available free on line. See the web site listings below.
2. Books about Observing the Moon
Kitt, Michael The Moon: An Observing Guide for Backyard Telescopes. 1992, Kalmbach. Eighty-page illustrated primer for beginners.
North, Gerald Observing the Moon: The Modern Astronomer’s Guide. 2000, Cambridge U. Press. Very detailed observing guide for serious moon watchers.
Rukl, Antonin Atlas of the Moon. 1993, Kalmbach. Reference book which includes 76 carefully drawn maps of the Moon, plus an overview of what we know about our satellite and its motions.
Wlasuk, Peter Observing the Moon. 2000, Springer-Verlag. Guide to observing and the geology you can see.
3. Books about the Moon and Popular Culture (including Mythology)
Jablow, A. & Withers, C. The Man in the Moon: Sky Tales from Many Lands. 1969, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
Krupp, E.C. Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets. 1991, HarperCollins. Superb collection of astronomical tales from many cultures. Best book to start with.
Montgomery, Scott The Moon and the Western Imagination. 1999, U. of Arizona Press. A history of how we came to know the Moon, and the responses in literature, art, and philosophy.
Phillips, R., ed. Moonstruck: An Anthology of Lunar Poetry. 1974, Vanguard.
4. Miscellaneous Books about the Moon
Cocks, Elijah & Josiah Who’s Who on the Moon: A Biographical Dictionary of Lunar Nomenclature. 1995, Tudor.
Sheehan, William & Dobbins, Thomas Epic Moon: A History of Lunar Exploration in the Age of the Telescope. 2001, Willmann-Bell. How observers mapped the Moon over time.
Wright, Hamilton, et al. To the Moon: A Distillation of Great Writings from Ancient Legend to Space Exploration. 1968, Meredith Press.
5. Children’s Books about the Moon
Asimov, Isaac & Walz-Chojnacki, Greg The Moon. 1994, Gareth Stevens. Part of the Asimov library of astronomy for children.
Bourgeois, Paulette The Moon. 1995, Kids Can Press, Toronto. Includes both cultural and scientific view of the Moon.
Bredeson, Carmen The Moon. 1998, Franklin Watt/Grolier. For younger kids.
Cole, Michael The Moon: Earth’s Companion in Space. 2001, Enslow.
Davis, Don & Hughes, David The Moon. 1989, Facts on File. Part of the Planetary Exploration series for middle-school students.
Hitt, Robert The Moon. 1998, Grolier/Michael Friedman. 64-page introduction to moon motions and exploration.
Krupp, E. C. The Moon and You. 1993, Macmillan. Beautifully illustrated primer for younger children by a noted astronomy educator.
Rosen, Sidney Where Does the Moon Go? 1992, Carolrhoda Books. Primer for younger kids by an astronomer.
Stott, Carol Moon Landing: The Race for the Moon. 1999, DK Books. Lavishly illustrated kids’ encyclopedia.
Vogt, Gregory Apollo Moonwalks: The Amazing Lunar Missions. 2000, Enslow. Nice review by a NASA educator.
1. Articles about Our Scientific Understanding of the Moon
Foust, J. "NASA’s New Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Sep. 1998, p. 48. On results from the Lunar Prospector mission.
Hurt, H. "I’m at the Foot of the Ladder" in Astronomy, July 1989, p. 22. A review of the Apollo missions to the Moon.
Jayawardhana, R. "Deconstructing the Moon" in Astronomy, Sep. 1998, p. 40. An update on the giant impact hypothesis for forming the Moon.
Morrison, D. and Owen, T. "Our Ancient Neighbor the Moon" in Mercury, May/June 1988, p. 66; July/Aug. 1988, p. 98. An overview.
Register, B. "The Fate of the Moon Rocks" in Astronomy, Dec. 1985, p. 15.
Runcorn, S. "The Moon’s Ancient Magnetism" in Scientific American, Dec. 1987, p. 60.
Ryder, G. "Apollo’s Gift: The Moon" in Astronomy, July 1994, p. 40. Good evolutionary history of the Moon.
Schmitt, H. "Exploring Taurus—Littrow: Apollo 17" in National Geographic, Sep. 1973. First-person account by the only scientist to walk on the Moon.
Spudis, P. "The Giant Holes of the Moon" in Astronomy, May 1996, p. 50. On the results of the Clementine mission. (See also reports in Sky & Telescope, July 1995, p. 32; Feb. 1997, p. 24.)
Taylor, G. "The Scientific Legacy of Apollo" in Scientific American, July 1994, p. 40.
2. Articles about Observing the Moon for Yourself
Burnham, R. & Therin, G. "The Joys of Moongazing" in Astronomy, Mar. 1991, p. 84. Observing and photography with modest telescopes.
Chaikin, A. "A Guided Tour of the Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Sep. 1984, p. 211. An observing guide for beginners.
Comins, N. "What If: The Earth Without a Moon" in Astronomy, Feb. 1991, p. 49. Good scientific speculation of how the absence of the Moon would have affected the Earth.
Coco, M. "Staging a Moon Shot" in Astronomy, Aug. 1992, p. 62. How to photograph the Moon.
DiCicco, D. "Breaking the New Moon Record" in Sky & Telescope, Sep. 1989, p. 322. On trying to see the smallest possible crescent moon.
Fortier, E. "Explore the Lunar Rays" in Astronomy, Apr. 1992, p. 80. Observing instructions and photos of the light streaks on the moon’s surface.
Kitt, M. "Eight Lunar Wonders" in Astronomy, Mar. 1989, p. 66.
MacRobert, A. "Close-up of an Alien World" in Sky & Telescope, July 1984, p. 29. An observing guide.
McConnell, D. "Basic Lunar Astrophotography" in Astronomy, Dec. 1985, p. 69.
Sky & Telescope magazine now carries a column each month called "Lunar Notebook" with observing suggestions for serious moon gazers.
3. Articles about the Future Exploration of the Moon
Burns, J., et al. "Observatories on the Moon" in Scientific American, March 1990, p. 42.
Lowman, P. "Regards from the Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Sep. 1992, p. 259. Good article in the form of a letter from a base on the Moon.
Nichols, R. "From Footprints to Foothold" in Astronomy, July 1989, p. 48. On possible future missions.
Robertson, D "To Boldly Go" in Astronomy, Dec. 1994, p. 34. Speculations about future lunar rovers.
Washburn, M. "The Moon — A Second Time Around" in Sky & Telescope, Mar. 1985, p. 209. Report on a conference on 21st century lunar bases.
4. Articles about the Moon in Popular Culture (including Mythology)
Ahmad, I. & Khalid Shaukat, S. "Muslim Moon Sightings" in Mercury, May/June 1995, p. 38. The Muslim calendar and sighting the first crescent moon.
Restle, F. "The Moon Illusion Explained on the Basis of Relative Size" in Science, Vol. 167, p. 1092 (Feb. 20, 1970).
Rotton, J. & Kelly, I. "The Lunacy of It All: Lunar Phases and Human Behavior" in Mercury, May/June 1986, p. 1988.
Saunders, F. "The Moon Illusion" in Mercury, Mar/Apr 1976, p. 20.
Sheehan, W. "The Moon Illusion" in Mercury, Jan/Feb. 2001, p. 12.
Welther, B. "Leonardo da Vinci and the Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Oct. 1999, p. 40.
5. Articles about the Role of the Moon in Historical Events
Cowen, R. "The Tides of War: D-Day's Lunar Connection" in Science News, June 4, 1994, vol. 145, p. 360.
Olson, D. "Columbus and An Eclipse of the Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Oct. 1992, p. 437.
Olson, D. "Pearl Harbor and the Waning Moon" in Sky & Telescope, Dec. 1991, p. 651.
Olson, D. & Doescher, R. "Paul Revere's Midnight Ride" in Sky & Telescope, Mar. 1990, p. 437.
Olson, D. & Doescher, R. "D-Day: June 6, 1944" in Sky & Telescope, June 1994, p. 84. On the tides at Omaha beach.
Olson, D., et al. "Ill Met by Moonlight: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis" in Sky & Telescope, July 2002, p. 30.
Rubincam, D. & Rowlands, D. "The Night the Titanic Went Down" in Sky & Telescope, Oct. 1993, p. 79.
Schaefer, B. "Lunar Eclipses That Changed the World" in Sky & Telescope, Dec. 1992, p. 639.
Vialle, J. & Hoff, D. "The Astronomy of Paul Revere's Ride" in Astronomy, Apr. 1992, p. 13.
The Nine Planets
Site (Amateur astronomer Bill Arnett has compiled good introductory information
and links for armchair explorers):
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/luna.html
Views of the
Solar System Site (Engineer Calvin Hamilton has a treasure trove of images,
animations, information, and links):
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/moon.htm
Planetary Sciences
Site (from NASA’s National Space Science Data Center, includes lots
of information, mission guides, a timeline, images, and links):
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planets/moonpage.html
Exploring the
Moon (from the Lunar and Planetary Institute, focuses on the science and
past and future missions; rich with maps and images)
http://cass.jsc.nasa.gov/pub/expmoon/lunar_missions.html
PBS "To
the Moon" Site (this site accompanies a NOVA TV program and has a good
section on theories of the Moon’s origin, as well as interviews with lunar
astronauts):
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tothemoon/
2. Web Sites about Specific Moon Missions
Apollo Lunar
Surface Journal (Space Historian Eric Jones has complied interviews, maps,
photos, video and audio clips, and much more on each of the Apollo landing missions.
Even has edited transcripts of the original conversations between the astronauts
and mission control.)
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/
Clementine Mission
Site (includes the report on the discovery of ice deep in polar craters):
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/clementine/
For a longer discussion of how there can be ice on the Moon, see:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/ice/ice_moon.html
Lunar Prospector
Home Page (includes not just the results from the recent mission to the
Moon, but also a history of lunar exploration, science background, and more):
http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov
NASA Books Online
(a nice link to a wide range of books about lunar and planetary exploration,
including all the early Moon missions, available at the click of a mouse):
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/online_books.html
3. Web Sites about Observing the Moon
Sky &
Telescope Magazine Moon Site (includes articles, observing hints,
and a discussion of what "blue moon" means; some of the articles recommended
in section B2 above are on-line here):
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/
Inconstant Moon
(Kevin Clarke’s rich site full of moon information, observing guides, an
atlas, phase calendar, moon music, and much more):
http://www.inconstantmoon.com
Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Moon (Akanna Peck’s site shows what’s visible on
the Moon tonight and lets you search by feature names; for serious observers):
http://www.shallowsky.com/moon/hitchhiker.html
The American
Lunar Society Site (an organization of serious amateur astronomers dedicated
to observing the Moon):
http://www.otterdad.dynip.com/als/
Names on the
Moon (a guide from the US Geological Survey on how features on the Moon
are named):
http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/moon/moonTOC.html
The Digital
Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon (photographs of the Moon from
orbit, which can be explored in a variety of ways on line):
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/research/lunar_orbiter/index.html
4. Web Sites for Keeping Track on the Moon’s Phases
Googol Moon
Phase Calendar (lets you print out a month-long pictorial calendar of what
the Moon looks like for any month — past, present or future):
www.googol.com/moon/moonctrl.pl.cgi
Moon Calendar
(Paul Carlisle’s site, written for school students, displays the phase
of the Moon for any date from 3999BC to 3999 AD):
http://www.ameritech.net/users/paulcarlisle/MoonCalendar.html
Phase of the
Moon (Akkana Peck’s applet just shows the appearance of the Moon on
any given date):
http://www.shallowsky.com/moon.html
U.S. Naval Observatory
Phase Calculator (another applet for showing the phase of the Moon on any
selected date:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
Earth and Moon
Viewer (has a sophisticated program for seeing what the Moon looks like
from several vantage points):
http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
Astronomy Activities
on the Web (a subject guide from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
includes a number of good activities related to the Moon):
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/activities/astroacts.html
SpaceLink Guide
to Moon Resources for Teachers (a compilation of what materials NASA has
on the Web for teachers relating to the Moon):
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Curriculum.Support/Space.Science/Our.Solar.System/
The Moon: It’s
Just a Phase It’s Going Through (an issue of the "Universe in
the Classroom" newsletter for teachers from the Astronomical Society of
the Pacific):
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/12/12.html
Phases of the
Moon Video Demo (Project ASTRO Tucson has an on-line demonstration of how
moon phases work):
http://www.noao.edu/education/phases/phases_demo.html
The Origin of
the Moon (A site with paintings by astronomer/artist William Hartmann, explaining
the giant impact hypothesis for how the Moon formed):
http://www.psi.edu/projects/moon/moon.html