CURRENT MOON
BAA Lunar Section
Dedicated to amateur research and observation of the Moon
The Moon: Notes and Records of the BAA Lunar Section
The New Moon journal (1983-2010)
About
the BAA Lunar Section
In
existence since 1890, the BAA Lunar Section is as old as the British
Astronomical Association itself. Its roots actually go back further
in time to the short-lived but highly energetic Selenographical
Society (1878-82), many of whose members were leading lights in lunar
research during the late Victorian and Edwardian era.
The BAA Lunar Section aims to increase our knowledge of the Moon through visual observation, sketching and imaging. Regular, careful observation familiarises the observer with the intricacies of the lunar landscape, enhancing the observer's skills of perception and possibly bringing to light previously unknown albedo and topographic features. Short-lived events — coloured glows, flashes and obscurations known as transient lunar phenomena (TLP) — remain poorly understood, providing ample opportunity for specialised observing and imaging. CCD imaging provides accurate high resolution views and opens up further lines of observing and imaging research. Occultation studies form another branch of the section's many activities.
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Interested in joining the BAA Lunar Section? Click here to view a short video clip of Director Bill Leatherbarrow interviewed at the 2009 BAA Exhibition Meeting on the BAA's YouTube Channel. |
The Moon: Notes and Records of the BAA Lunar Section. Vol. 1, No. 1, July 2011 — now available
Membership
Membership
of the BAA Lunar Section is open to members of the British
Astronomical Association. Observational material, written
contributions and correspondence is however welcome from anyone with
an interest in the Moon and its observation.
Our
signature tune
As
far as we're aware, no other astronomical society or group has its
own signature tune. Bob Marriott (Director, BAA Instruments and
Imaging Section) has suggested one for the Lunar Section... a
rendition of 'Get Under the Moon' by the late, great Frank Muir that
featured on My Music, Radio 4, January 1994. Click
here to hear it! (MP3 file)
BAA Lunar Section observational activity
Occultations — timing the disappearance and reappearance of celestial objects at the lunar limb.
Transient Lunar Phenomena (TLP) — observing temporary phenomena such as glows, flashes and obscurations at or near the lunar surface.
Visual observations — Observing the Moon's surface visually and recording it by means of notes and observational drawings.
Imaging — Using CCD cameras to image the Moon and associated phenomena, plus image enhancement work.
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BAA
Lunar Section Observing Programme |
In addition to the observational work, BAA Lunar Section research incorporates:
Computing — Calculating a wide range of lunar phenomena.
Geology — Understanding the forces that have sculpted the Moon.
Historical — Researching Moon-related material of the past.
Section archives — A respository for Lunar Section publications.
Lunar
Section publications
In
adition to occasional papers in the Journal of the BAA, the section
produces two publications:
The Lunar Section Circular is published at approximately monthly intervals. It contains general news and the results of the work of the Lunar Section. It is available as a PDF download from here or in photocopied form direct from the Lunar Section Director (a supply of suitably-sized SAEs, mailed to the Director, is required to receive them).
The Moon: Notes and Records of the BAA Lunar Section replaced The New Moon in 2011. It is an annual publication containing more in-depth and diverse papers, and reflects on the Section’s work over the preceding twelve months or so.
The New Moon was a magazine of lunar topographical studies, published from 1983 until 2010.
These publications are available as PDF document downloads from this website.
Observer's map of the Moon by Peter Grego. The lunar near-side, covered in 16 sections.
Please note: The publications of the BAA Lunar Section and the images contained within them are copyrighted, and permission must be sought from the BAA Lunar Section before using any of this material in any published work (including print, web and other media).