Moon's Largest Craters and Basins

Thismost recentbook from lunar expert Charles J. Byrne combines the latest comprehensive imagery, topography and gravity data from all three recentMoon missions, Kaguya, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and GRAIL. Thesemajor polar-orbit surveys are presented herein compact form for the convenience of amateur andpractical astronomers concerned with the Moon.Chosen from the Near and Far Side's large craters and basins over 200 km in diameter, eachof the 71 highlighted features is depictedwith a two-page presentation of the data that includes false color topographic maps next to the mission images. Additionally, the featuresare presented in the estimated chronological sequence of their creation, based on a consideration of stratigraphy (overlapping layers from neighboring features) andthe relative degradation of surface features. Using this sequence as a way to conveythe relative ages of lunar features, the author presents various theories concerning the Moon's impact and thermal history e.g. the available evidence allows for constraints to be placed on the duration of the Late Heavy Bombardment period. The relationships between impact dynamics and variations in the gravity field of the Moonare also discussed. The new mission data makes possible this renewed conjecture about the history and evolution of the Moon, which is presented here withmuch worthwhile information for amateurs and professionals alike.