Geologic Map of the Letronne Region of the Moon by C. H. Marshall.

1963 USGS Geologic Map of the Moon: Letronne Region

Publication Date: 1963

About this Item

Very Good. Small stain on fold Size 32 x 42 Inches. A stunning full color 1963 Geologic Map of the Letronne Region of the Moon by the U.S. Geological Survey. Letronne is a lava-flooded remnant of a lunar crater which forms a bay along the southwestern shore of the Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms, as the northern part of its rim is completely missing. The map shows the large crater Gassendi, the flooded crater Billy, and the smaller crater Flamsteed. A wrinkle ridge traverses the floor from north to south, and further wrinkles outline a portion of the missing rim. This region is named after the French archaeologist, Jean Antoine Letronne (1787-1848 A.D.) who translated important works from ancient egypt. It is believed that most of the moon's craters were formed approximately 3.9 billion years ago, during a period of intense bombardment in the Inner Solar System. The cratering rate fluctuates as collisions in the asteroid belt send fragment clusters into the Inner Solar System. This map might show hypervelocity impact craters caused by the same cluster of asteroids that, 65 million years ago, caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. As humans wouldn't land on the moon until 1969, how were we able to map its geology? The map's extraordinarily detailed metadata explains that the cartographers used photos, and observations from optical and radio telescopes, with relief created by measuring shadows, combined with an assumed sun angle and an assumed base elevation. The geology was arrived at from observing differences in, and layering of, topographical forms, and in varying albedo (amount of reflected sunlight), both of which indicate different underlying materials formed under different processes. Goals of this work included the identification of suitable moon landing locations, and sources of oxygen for possible in establishing a more permanent lunar base. The map also includes two sectional views (from the side) of the area, detailed metadata' explaining the mapmaking methodologies and symbols employed, and an index map showing the area's location on the Moon. This map series represents a breath-taking leap forward not only in selenography (the study of the moon), begun in the late 1400s, but also in the record of humankind's fearless exploration of the world(s) around and beyond us. This map would be a great companion piece to the other maps in the Geologic Atlas of the Moon, . It would also wonderfully complement early explorers' maps, or any of the plates from Burritt's famous 1856 Atlas to Illustrate the Geography of the Heavens , one of writer H.P. Lovecraft's most prized possessions. Created in 1963 by C.H. Marshall and published as plate I-385 in the United States Geological Survey's Geological Atlas of the Moon .

Seller Inventory # MoonLetronne-usgs-1963

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Geologic Map of the Letronne Region of the Moon by C. H. Marshall.
• Publication Date: 1963
• Seller catalogs:
  • CELESTIAL-LUNAR