Selenopgraphy

Selenography; some early patrons

Moon has always been the centre of study for many years. Being our nearest neighbor, we have a special bonding with it. Be it from the historical aspect, the philosophical perspective or the scientific temper, moon has been an oft-repeated topic. Times roll by, poems about the same are repeated, historical fables repeated but the theme surprising is so un-boring.?

“Selenography” is the study of the surface and physical features of the Moon. Some consider it as a branch of astronomy. In simple terms, it is the scientific mapping of the moon; lunar geography. Not much is left unknown to humankind now about the moon. Lets us appreciate the scientific advancement that we have with us along with the latest scientific apparatus today. This however was not the case earlier.

There are many unconfirmed reports of initial curators of the moon. Some of the most famous ones are as follows:

? William Gilbert (b. May 1544, d. Nov 1603) made the first attempt to map the surface markings on the Moon in the 1590s. His chart, made without the use of a telescope, showed outlines of dark and light patches on the Moon's face. Contrary to most of his contemporaries, Gilbert believed that the light spots on the Moon were water, and the dark spots land.

? Thomas Harriot (b. 1560, d.?1621) was the first person to make a drawing of the Moon through a telescope, on 26 July 1609.

? The study of craters received significance when in 1609, Galileo Galilei (b. Feb. 1564, d. Jan 1642) pointed his modest telescope toward the Moon. He quickly recognized that the circular areas he called "spots" were actually depressions.?

? The first serious denominations of the surface features of the Moon, based on telescopic observation, were made by Michel Florent van Langren (b. Apr. 1598, d. May 16) in 1645. His work is considered the first true cartograph (map) of the Moon because it demarcated the various lunar maria, craters, and mountains and ranges.?

? In 1647, Johannes Hevelius (b. Jan. 1611. Jan 1687) produced his epic k, “Selenographia”, which was the first lunar atlas.??

? We had Robert Hooke (b. Jul 1635, d. Mar 1703) mentioning craters in his book, “Micrographia”. That was the first representation of a limited area on the Moon's surface: the crater known as Hipparchus, which Hooke portrayed in an admirably realistic manner, pointing up the limits of earlier cartography.

? In 1750, Johann Tobias Mayer (b. Feb. 1723, d. Feb. 1762) produced the first reliable set of lunar coordinates that permitted astronomers to locate lunar features. He developed lunar tables that greatly assisted navigators in determining longitude at sea. Mayer also discovered the libration (or apparent wobbling) of the Moon.

? John Russell (b. Mar 1745, d. Apr 1806) with the assistance of his daughter, made a lunar map, which he engraved on two plates which formed a globe showing the visible surface of the Moon – it took twenty years to finish. He also invented an apparatus for exhibiting the phenomena of the Moon, which he called "Selenographia”.

? In 1779, Johann Schr?ter (Aug 1745, d. Aug. 1816) began meticulous observation and measurement of lunar topography.

Salutations to each one of the early patrons, many of whom are not mentioned by the author.

It is befitting that we know more about our celestial neighbor. Hope Chandrayaan 3 will lead India into the league of nations who know more about the Moon.