One issue stems from Virtual Moon's use of images for named features. Of course, you also have to load "Sky Charts" on your PC if you haven't already done so.Īs is always the case, nothing is perfect. (He happens to also be one of the authors of Virtual Moon.) Thus if you click on the Sky Chart button, up pops a sky chart showing the current position of the moon in the sky. Another nice aspect is that it's interfaced with "Cartes du Ciel" (Sky Charts), Patrick Chevalley's planetarium freeware program. ![]() Thus when you click on Picture, up pops a menu from which to select the picture source, including your own "My Images" folder. The "basic" Virtual Moon image, however, shows the feature as it appears from Earth, with the typical foreshortening of features that lie closer to the limb.Ī nice option is that in addition to images from various spacecraft, you can include images that you have taken. The Lunar Orbiter images are shown as they appear from the vantage point above the lunar surface (the same as the Clementine images). This image can also be zoomed so as to better inspect certain parts of the feature. Notice that the image is somewhat fuzzy, so if you want a sharp, highly-detailed image of the feature, clicking on the Picture tab brings up a box with the Lunar Orbiter image, as shown below. The above image is a portion of the Gassendi area at full zoom. You can then zoom in to get a larger view. In the example here, I've clicked on the crater Gassendi. Clicking on a feature brings up its name, along with some useful information about the feature and observing suggestions. In other words, it shows the current phase and libration of the moon, so you will know which features are on the limb and terminator. Another advantage is that the moon is positioned as you see it from your observing point on the Earth. I found Virtual Moon easier to use than Clementine Skimmer owing to the distortion-free, more legible basic lunar globe. (But definitely get the Lunar Orbiter images!) The process of downloading the basic Virtual Moon software is fairly quick, unless you also want more images from spacecraft - then it takes awhile. Overall, the Lunar Orbiter image quality is somewhat better than the images in the Clementine Skimmer program. This allows you to home in on a high-resolution image of a particular feature. It also makes use of images taken by various spacecraft, mainly the Lunar Orbiter, but you can download pictures from Clementine, Apollo, and others, plus the Consolidated Lunar Atlas. ![]() The basic Virtual Atlas uses a high quality textured drawing of the moon. You'll be amazed at what you can get for nothing! Like Clementine Skimmer, Virtual Moon is freeware. Another program called "Virtual Moon Atlas" has become available for downloading from: 11 El Capitan & allĬompatible with both 32 bit and 64 bit operating systems.In the October 2000 NightTimes, I reviewed the "Clementine Skimmer" computer program which provides a lunar atlas based on images from the Clementine spacecraft. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard / Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard / Mac OS Xġ0.7 Lion / Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion / Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 * Suited as a powerful tool for professional moon observers or anįully compatible with the following operating systems: * Visualise the moon in its current position as seen from earth.īrowse lunar formations with a unique database of more than 8000Įntries and a library of more than 6000 pictures ✓ * Study an extensive detailed map of the moon's surface, even theįar side which can never be seen from Earth ✓ * Explore our moon in stunning detail with Moon Atlas ✓ Imported from UK (Sizes & Specifications are based on the UK Market).ģD Moon Observation/Survey Astronomy Software (PC & Mac).Brand new, sealed and boxed as shown ✓. ![]()
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