1963 USGS Geologic Map of the Moon: Letronne Region

Description

1963 USGS Geologic Map of the Moon: Letronne Region
WE SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MAPS - NOT REPRODUCTIONS
Title:
Geologic Map of the Letronne Region of the Moon by C. H. Marshall.
Description:
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
.
Size:
Printed area measures 32 inches high by 42 inches wide.
Condition:
Very Good. Small stain on fold
Shipping:
Shipping rates are not negotiable. Items are shipped within three business days of receiving payment. We are happy to consolidate shipping where possible. The following shipping options are available:
1. FedEx Overnight (45 USD). USA Only. Signature Required.
2. FedEx Ground or Home Delivery (15 USD). USA Only. 1 - 10 days. If your address is a P.O. Box and cannot ship FedEx we will ship USPS Priority and, while we ship promptly, recent postal personnel cutbacks mean that delivery may take time. Signature Required.
3. FedEx International or DHL International EXPRESS (45 USD).
4. We can use your FedEx Account.
Customs:
International buyers are responsible for paying duty and taxes on delivery. DHL or FedEx will contact the buyer by telephone to arrange tax payment if it is levied. Duty varies by country and we cannot predict the amount you will be charged. Some countries are duty free, others are not. Typically, a customs duty and/or VAT tax will be assessed on all parcels to continental Europe. Sometimes duty or tax is due in China, but is seems very random. Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Taiwan have never assessed duty on a map we shipped. Maps shipped to the UK should be duty free as educational materials, but from time to time duty of 5% is assessed incorrectly by the UK customs agents.
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