Reeves, a well-known and accomplished lunar observer and photographer, has just published two new books perfect for amateur astronomers ready to explore Earth's satellite.
Courtesy of Robert Reeves
Lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place, but in the world of lunar astronomy, that's exactly what just happened. I've had the privilege of knowing one of the foremost lunar observers and photographers since I was a teenager. He has frequently contributed his expertise to articles in Astronomy Magazine. I'm talking about Robert Reeveswho, like no one else in recent years, has popularized the observation and appreciation of our closest celestial neighbor.
Related: The Observer's Guide to Lunar Names
Exploring the Moon with Robert Reeves
Reeves is a prolific author and has given the amateur astronomy world two great gifts this year. The first is Exploring the Moon with Robert Reeves: Observing and understanding our natural satellite (2023, self-published and available in Amazon.com; 289 pages, hardcover: $49.95 hardcover, paperback: $39.95). This is an amazing and extremely useful book, packed with information that provides an excellent introduction to the Moon both physically and observationally.
The superb and enlightening text is accompanied by 421 images, all taken by the author, one of the most accomplished lunar photographers in the field. The sections offer a bible of sorts for lunar exploration, ranging from an introduction to the Moon and its physical nature, its origin and evolution, an overview of lunar observing, and sections on understanding basins, maria, and craters. Absorbing and useful details on all manner of lunar features follow, guiding the reader through various areas of the maria and the 10 largest craters on the near side, through the author's sentimental lunar favorites, and on a journey along other interesting craters and special features of the Moon.
Anyone interested in observing and understanding the Moon should purchase and read this book carefully. It is a masterpiece from an authority whose love of the Moon shines through on every page, and serves not only as an interesting narrative but also as a valuable reference.
Photographic Atlas of the Moon
And if that wasn't enough from Robert Reeves, as I mentioned, there's more. I also highly recommend a valuable companion volume, Photographic Atlas of the Moon: A Complete Guide for the Amateur Astronomer (2024, Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York; 288 pages, Hardcover: $49.95). This wonderful lunar atlas is a major contribution to the literature on the observation and understanding of the Moon, and should be required reading for anyone even remotely interested in our nearest cosmic satellite.
With 165 large-format photographs and diagrams (many taken by the author), Reeves here presents a systematic and comprehensive tour of the many important regions of the Moon that can be observed by amateur astronomers. Highlights are described in detail, and the author provides numerous facts about interesting regions and features that will be visited by lunar observers again and again.
It's rare to see two books released at nearly the same time that both advance an area of amateur astronomy and complement each other so well. This is a great time for lunar observers and imagers thanks to Reeves' expertise, and I encourage you to pick up a copy of each of these books, which will remain important on your shelves for many years to come.
