Lunar
A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter
9780226836515
Lunar
A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps, and Matter
The first book to combine exquisite cartographical charts of the Moon with a thorough exploration of the Moon’s role in popular culture, science, and myth.
President John F. Kennedy’s rousing “We will go to the Moon” speech in 1961 before the US Congress catalyzed the celebrated Apollo program, spurring the US Geological Survey’s scientists to map the Moon. Over the next eleven years a team of twenty-two, including a dozen illustrator-cartographers, created forty-four charts that forever changed the path of space exploration.
For the first time, each of those beautifully hand-drawn, colorful charts is presented together in one stunning book. In Lunar, National Air and Space Museum curator Matthew Shindell’s expert commentary accompanies each chart, along with the key geological characteristics and interpretations that were set out in the original Geologic Atlas of the Moon. Interwoven throughout the book are contributions from scholars devoted to studying the multifaceted significance of the Moon to humankind around the world. Traveling from the Stone Age to the present day, they explore a wide range of topics: the prehistoric lunar calendar; the role of the Moon in creation myths of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; the role of the Moon in astrology; the importance of the Moon in establishing an Earth-centered solar system; the association of the Moon with madness and the menstrual cycle; how the Moon governs the tides; and the use of the Moon in surrealist art.
Combining a thoughtful retelling of the Moon’s cultural associations throughout history with the beautifully illustrated and scientifically accurate charting of its surface, Lunar is a stunning celebration of the Moon in all its guises.
President John F. Kennedy’s rousing “We will go to the Moon” speech in 1961 before the US Congress catalyzed the celebrated Apollo program, spurring the US Geological Survey’s scientists to map the Moon. Over the next eleven years a team of twenty-two, including a dozen illustrator-cartographers, created forty-four charts that forever changed the path of space exploration.
For the first time, each of those beautifully hand-drawn, colorful charts is presented together in one stunning book. In Lunar, National Air and Space Museum curator Matthew Shindell’s expert commentary accompanies each chart, along with the key geological characteristics and interpretations that were set out in the original Geologic Atlas of the Moon. Interwoven throughout the book are contributions from scholars devoted to studying the multifaceted significance of the Moon to humankind around the world. Traveling from the Stone Age to the present day, they explore a wide range of topics: the prehistoric lunar calendar; the role of the Moon in creation myths of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; the role of the Moon in astrology; the importance of the Moon in establishing an Earth-centered solar system; the association of the Moon with madness and the menstrual cycle; how the Moon governs the tides; and the use of the Moon in surrealist art.
Combining a thoughtful retelling of the Moon’s cultural associations throughout history with the beautifully illustrated and scientifically accurate charting of its surface, Lunar is a stunning celebration of the Moon in all its guises.
256 pages | 500 color plates | 10-1/2 x 14-3/8 | © 2024
Physical Sciences: Astronomy and Astrophysics, History and Philosophy of Physical Sciences
Table of Contents
Foreword
Dava Sobel
Introduction: Myths, Maps, Matter / Matthew Shindell
Introduction: The Lunar Atlas / Matthew Shindell
Introduction: Lunar Nomenclature
Introduction: Maps 1–44
The Prehistoric Lunar Calendar / Matthew Shindell
The Moon in Ancient Egyptian Creation Myths / Jennifer Houser Wegner
Facsimiles 1–4
The Moon in Ancient Greek and Roman Myth / Karen ní Mheallaigh
J. Herschel Quadrangle [11]
‘The Moon is my Mother’ – Lakota Perspectives / Suzanne Kite
Plato Quadrangle [12]
The Moon and a Geocentric Universe / Samantha Thompson
Aritstoteles Quadrangle [13]
Rümker Quadrangle [23]
Understanding the Phases of the Moon / Giles Sparrow
Facsimiles 5–8
The Female Cycle and the Moon / Rhianna Elliot
Sinus Iridum Quadrangle [24]
Cassini Quadrangle [25]
Mayan Lunar Astrology / Gerardo Aldana
Eudoxus Quadrangle [26]
Geminus Quadrangle [27]
The Moon and Medieval Natural Philosophy / Matthew Shindell
Facsimiles 9–12
‘Moonstruck’ – Lunacy and the Full Moon / Kate Golembiewski
Seleucus Quadrangle [38]
Aristarchus Quadrangle [39]
The Symbolism of the Moon in Astrology / Nicholas Campion
Timocharis Quadrangle [40]
Montes Apenninus Quadrangle [41]
The Theory of Lunar Eclipses / Giles Sparrow
Facsimiles 13–16
The Moon and the Heliocentric Worldview / Matthew Shindell
Mare Serenitatus Quadrangle [42]
Macrobius Quadrangle [43]
Early Telescopic Studies of the Moon / Giles Sparrow
Cleomedes Quadrangle [44]
Hevelius Quadrangle [56]
The Moon in Literature and Fiction / Alexandra Loske
Facsimiles 17–20
Moonscapes – The Moon in 19th-Century Painting / Hélène Valance
Kepler Quadrangle [57]
Copernicus Quadrangle [58]
How the Moon Governs the Tides / Giles Sparrow
Mare Vaporum Quadrangle [59]
Julius Caesar Quadrangle [60]
Lunar Photography – Opportunity and Challenge / David H. DeVorkin
Facsimiles 21–24
A Paper Moon – Cartes de Visite / Ian Haydn Smith
Taruntius Quadrangle [61]
Mare Undarum Quadrangle [62]
The Feminine Symbolism of the Moon / Elisabetta Fabrizi
Grimaldi Quadrangle [74]
Letronne Quadrangle [75]
The Moon in Popular Science Books / Alexandra Loske
Facsimiles 25–28
Riphaeus Mountains Quadrangle [76]
Ptolemaeus Quadrangle [77]
The Moon in Silent Cinema / Ian Haydn Smith
Theophilus Quadrangle [78]
Colombo Quadrangle [79]
Surrealists and the Moon / Melanie Vandenbrouck
Facsimiles 29–32
Langrenus Quadrangle [80]
Byrgius Quadrangle [92]
‘Selling’ the Moon in the 1950s / Michael J. Neufeld
Mare Humorum Quadrangle [93]
Pitatus Quadrangle [94]
The First Moon Race – Luna versus Pioneer / Michael J. Neufeld
Facsimiles 33–36
Purbach Quadrangle [95]
Rupes Altai Quadrangle [96]
The Cinematic Moon / Ian Haydn Smith
Fracastorius Quadrangle [97]
Petavius Quadrangle [98]
Flybys, Landers and Orbiters / Matthew Shindell
Facsimiles 37–40
Schickard Quadrangle [110]
Wilhelm Quadrangle [111]
The Far Side of the Moon / Emily S. Martin
Tycho Quadrangle [112]
Maurolycus Quadrangle [113]
The Apollo Programme / Teasel Muir-Harmony
Facsimiles 41–44
Rheita Quadrangle [114]
Schiller Quadrangle [125]
Contemporary Artists and the Moon / Melanie Vandenbrouck
Clavius Quadrangle [126]
Hommel Quadrangle [127]
The Artemis Missions / Emily A. Margolis
Endnotes
Geological Characteristics – Lunar Atlas Maps / Matthew Shindell
Glossary / Matthew Shindell
Sources of Illustrations
Further Reading
Index
Acknowledgments
Dava Sobel
Introduction: Myths, Maps, Matter / Matthew Shindell
Introduction: The Lunar Atlas / Matthew Shindell
Introduction: Lunar Nomenclature
Introduction: Maps 1–44
The Prehistoric Lunar Calendar / Matthew Shindell
The Moon in Ancient Egyptian Creation Myths / Jennifer Houser Wegner
Facsimiles 1–4
The Moon in Ancient Greek and Roman Myth / Karen ní Mheallaigh
J. Herschel Quadrangle [11]
‘The Moon is my Mother’ – Lakota Perspectives / Suzanne Kite
Plato Quadrangle [12]
The Moon and a Geocentric Universe / Samantha Thompson
Aritstoteles Quadrangle [13]
Rümker Quadrangle [23]
Understanding the Phases of the Moon / Giles Sparrow
Facsimiles 5–8
The Female Cycle and the Moon / Rhianna Elliot
Sinus Iridum Quadrangle [24]
Cassini Quadrangle [25]
Mayan Lunar Astrology / Gerardo Aldana
Eudoxus Quadrangle [26]
Geminus Quadrangle [27]
The Moon and Medieval Natural Philosophy / Matthew Shindell
Facsimiles 9–12
‘Moonstruck’ – Lunacy and the Full Moon / Kate Golembiewski
Seleucus Quadrangle [38]
Aristarchus Quadrangle [39]
The Symbolism of the Moon in Astrology / Nicholas Campion
Timocharis Quadrangle [40]
Montes Apenninus Quadrangle [41]
The Theory of Lunar Eclipses / Giles Sparrow
Facsimiles 13–16
The Moon and the Heliocentric Worldview / Matthew Shindell
Mare Serenitatus Quadrangle [42]
Macrobius Quadrangle [43]
Early Telescopic Studies of the Moon / Giles Sparrow
Cleomedes Quadrangle [44]
Hevelius Quadrangle [56]
The Moon in Literature and Fiction / Alexandra Loske
Facsimiles 17–20
Moonscapes – The Moon in 19th-Century Painting / Hélène Valance
Kepler Quadrangle [57]
Copernicus Quadrangle [58]
How the Moon Governs the Tides / Giles Sparrow
Mare Vaporum Quadrangle [59]
Julius Caesar Quadrangle [60]
Lunar Photography – Opportunity and Challenge / David H. DeVorkin
Facsimiles 21–24
A Paper Moon – Cartes de Visite / Ian Haydn Smith
Taruntius Quadrangle [61]
Mare Undarum Quadrangle [62]
The Feminine Symbolism of the Moon / Elisabetta Fabrizi
Grimaldi Quadrangle [74]
Letronne Quadrangle [75]
The Moon in Popular Science Books / Alexandra Loske
Facsimiles 25–28
Riphaeus Mountains Quadrangle [76]
Ptolemaeus Quadrangle [77]
The Moon in Silent Cinema / Ian Haydn Smith
Theophilus Quadrangle [78]
Colombo Quadrangle [79]
Surrealists and the Moon / Melanie Vandenbrouck
Facsimiles 29–32
Langrenus Quadrangle [80]
Byrgius Quadrangle [92]
‘Selling’ the Moon in the 1950s / Michael J. Neufeld
Mare Humorum Quadrangle [93]
Pitatus Quadrangle [94]
The First Moon Race – Luna versus Pioneer / Michael J. Neufeld
Facsimiles 33–36
Purbach Quadrangle [95]
Rupes Altai Quadrangle [96]
The Cinematic Moon / Ian Haydn Smith
Fracastorius Quadrangle [97]
Petavius Quadrangle [98]
Flybys, Landers and Orbiters / Matthew Shindell
Facsimiles 37–40
Schickard Quadrangle [110]
Wilhelm Quadrangle [111]
The Far Side of the Moon / Emily S. Martin
Tycho Quadrangle [112]
Maurolycus Quadrangle [113]
The Apollo Programme / Teasel Muir-Harmony
Facsimiles 41–44
Rheita Quadrangle [114]
Schiller Quadrangle [125]
Contemporary Artists and the Moon / Melanie Vandenbrouck
Clavius Quadrangle [126]
Hommel Quadrangle [127]
The Artemis Missions / Emily A. Margolis
Endnotes
Geological Characteristics – Lunar Atlas Maps / Matthew Shindell
Glossary / Matthew Shindell
Sources of Illustrations
Further Reading
Index
Acknowledgments
