This could well be the only Moon reference you'll ever need at your Newtonian reflector telescope. This large laminated Field Map of the Moon measures 12" x 12", but opens to 24" x 24". The unique four-part hinged design allows you to look at the entire Moon, or at an individual quadrant, or at any two neighboring quadrants at the same time. There is a certain amount of overlap coverage on the maps to keep from losing features in the hinged areas. Not counting the overlap area, the disk of the Moon measures 20" across. The durable clear plastic lamination on both sides of the map will protect it from dew, spills, and everyday wear and tear for years to come.
This Field Map has handsome new cartography from renowned lunar mapmaker Antonín Rükl that is detailed, accurate, and simply a pleasure to look at. It even includes the complete libration zones that are rarely shown on conventional lunar maps, with scales to show the amount of libration in degrees. Sky & Telescope magazine lists the libration conditions for the Moon each month so you can search out map features that are normally out of view around the limb of the Moon.
There are more than 1,000 individually labeled landmarks on the map. All 1000 are listed in alphabetical order on the back of the map, with their size, map quadrant, and map coordinates listed so you can easily locate any wanted feature.
The map is oriented with north up, as you would see it with your unaided eye or binoculars. Rotating it 180°, so that north is down, will give you the image orientation you see in a reflector, or in a refractor used without a star diagonal. If you have a telescope with an odd number of reflections (refractors and catadioptrics with star diagonals), you should use the mirror-image version of the Field Map (#AFIELDR).
