In collaboration with Sky&Telescope Magazine, contributing editor and planetary scientist Charles Wood produced the "Lunar 100" list denoting perhaps the most interesting and instructive lunar features one may undertake in observing and/or imaging our closest celestial neighbour. The list is comprised of a wide variety of features and includes numerous craters (ex. L5 Copernicus, L6 Tycho), mountains (ex. L4 Appenines, L96 Leibnitz), rilles (ex. L29 Aridaeus, L66 Hadley), rays (L85 Langrenus, L93 Dyonisius), basins (ex. L59 Schiller-Zucchius, L73 Smythii) and domes (ex. L89 Valentine). Also, as one progresses sequentially through the list, features of increasing difficulty are encountered which, at times, may require favourable libration. In contrast to the Messier Catalog which may be pursued in its entirety in early spring during a single evening, the Lunar-100 will inevitably require a number of lunations for a complete enumeration from start to finish. Of course, the emphasis is not on how fast one may traverse the complete list but to gain a better understanding and appreciation of our moon and, thereby, our own planet's history.

Note: For further information on the Lunar-100, the interested lunatic is referred to S&T (Apr/2004: 113-120) and/or the analogue online reference available here.

Note: The photo below is available in inverted colour by moving your mouse over any portion of the same image.

Note: See S&T (Xxx/200x: 00-00) for further information in relation to the Bessel ray.