Section: Selenology

Ken Murphy / 11:44 pm June 19th, 2009

Astronomy Magazine
Special Report: “Countdown to 2020 - Return to the Moon”
08/2009
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 3:48 am June 9th, 2009

National Geographic
“Direct from the Moon”
NGHT Inc.
2009
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: This is the best documentary I’ve seen on the Moon in a long time, and I’ve seen all of the films in the Lunar Library. The science is strong, the facts are solid. I’m so happy to see a documentary this good and up to date that I’ll give it a Full Moon at perigee.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 9:45 pm May 21st, 2009

SpaceRip
“Icy Moon Shadows”
YouTube.com
21/05/2009
Author’s Page

Librarian’s Note: A nice introduction to the hydrogen deposits at the South Lunar Pole, and why they are there.

Ken Murphy / 1:54 am May 1st, 2009

Robertson, Donald F.
“Getting ready for lunar science”
Spaceflight: The Magazine of Astronautics and Outer Space
British Interplanetary Society
05/2009
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 2:03 am March 26th, 2009

Shipp, Stephanie & Christine Shupla
-How Our Moon Formed
-Our Moon in a New Light
-To the Moon and Beyond
Lunar & Planetary Institute
2008
ISSN: 0161-5297
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: One of the many cool handouts available at the LPSC.

Ken Murphy / 5:35 pm November 28th, 2008

Selenology Today #11
Geological Lunar Researches Group
10/2008
On-Line Text (pdf)
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 2:05 am October 9th, 2008

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) /
International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) Conference on Exploration and Utilization of the Moon (ICEUM) /
Space Resources Roundtable (SRR)
Joint Annual Meeting
Cape Canaveral, FL
Oct 28-31, 2008
First Announcement
Second Announcement
Final Announcement

Best of the Moon 2008 - Selenology

Librarian’s Note: Gee, guess where I’m going to be for Halloween. The meeting is supposed to coincide with the launch of LCROSS, though I’m not holding my breath and won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t happen [Update: it won’t]. I’d rather they launched safe than launched under pressure from media and special interest groups. If it does happen, it will be my first live launch. Looking through the list of organizers I recognize a lot of names. Maybe I can get the Chinese delegates to sign my Chinese Moon globe.

Ken Murphy / 1:16 am July 20th, 2008

NASA Ames Research Center/NASA Lunar Science Insitute/Lunar & Planetary Institute
NLSI Lunar Science Conference
Ames Research Center
July 20-23, 2008
Conference Website
Registration (Deadline: July 11)

The conference will review the state of knowledge of, and opportunities for science:

Of the Moon: Study the nature and history of the Moon (including research on lunar samples) to learn about this specific object and thereby provide insights into the evolution of our solar system;

On the Moon: Investigate the effects of the lunar environment on terrestrial life and the equipment that supports lunar inhabitants, and the effects on the lunar environment of robotic and human presence;

From the Moon: Use the Moon as a platform for performing scientific investigations, including observations of the Earth and other celestial phenomena that are uniquely enabled by being on the lunar surface.

Sessions are structured to report on recent results and anticipate future opportunities for lunar science.
Presentations on elements of education and public outreach are included to better understand how lunar exploration can be used to stimulate public interest in space exploration and improve science literacy.

Librarian’s Note: In other words, you’d better read The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon before you go.

Babe in the Universe:
Lunar Science Pt. 1
Lunar Science Pt. 2

NasaWatch
Lunar Science Conference Notes, Jul 21
Lunar Science Conference Update
Lunar Science Conference Notes, Jul 22

Ken Murphy / 1:16 am July 18th, 2008

Mackenzie, Dana
“The Moonbots Have Landed”
NewScientist
12/07/2008
On-Line Text

Ken Murphy / 1:05 am July 3rd, 2008

NASA Ames Research Center/NASA Office of Education
American Student Moon Orbiter (ASMO)
ASMO Homepage
ASMO Request for Information

ASMO is currently conceived to be a 180kg satellite in a highly elliptic Frozen Lunar Orbit (FLO), carrying scientific instruments by which the students will perform lunar exploration activities of their choosing. As such, there are numerous opportunities for ASMO to serve as a valuable data gathering mission and technology demonstration that could enhance understanding of the lunar environment and advance the small satellite field.

Librarian’s Note: Now this sounds like a great opportunity to be part of a university team that puts hardware not just in orbit, but Lunar orbit.

Ken Murphy / 12:54 am July 3rd, 2008

The NASA Lunar Science Institute is having a competition to help motivate and encourage bright young minds pursuing a future in Moon science.

There are a few requirements:
-You’ve got to be enrolled in a college program
-Graduate level is the target, undergrad considered (no postdocs)
-Global eligibility
-One abstract per student
-Senior author of major amount of new material not previously presented

Judging Criteria:
-Originality of research
-Quality of execution
-Impact on Lunar Science
-Clarity of presentation

1st Place: $1,500
2nd Place: $1,000
3rd Place: $500

Winners will present at the NLSI Lunar Science Conference, July 20-23.

Details
Registration

Librarian’s Note: I wish I could make this one but I’ve got most all of my vacation days allocated for other events, and if I’m saving up for a house I can’t be splurging on trips to Cali. Oh well, maybe next year.

Ken Murphy / 2:17 am June 20th, 2008

adAstra: The Magazine of the National Space Society
Special Report: “Back to the Moon”
MM Publishing
Summer 2008
On-Line Text (pdf)

Librarian’s Note: Special congrats to the winners of the ISU Scholarships! Lots of great Moon coverage in this issue.

For NSS members only.

Ken Murphy / 1:09 am June 10th, 2008

NLSI Cooperative Agreement Notice
NASA Lunar Science Institute
Cooperative Agreement Notice NNH08ZDA008C (pdf)
Notices of Intent Due: June 27, 2008
Proposals Due: August 29, 2008

Librarian’s Note: NASA is looking for Lunar science:

Proposals should clearly articulate the innovative lunar research program to be pursued; its relevance to NASA goals and objectives; the associated costs and institutional commitment offered; the relevance of the Team’s research program and associated approach to the nature of the NLSI consortium; and the specific areas in which the Team’s activities will contribute to supporting and developing the field of lunar science.
-Proposals should include broadly based investigations of the highest quality that address lunar science objectives.
-Proposals must put forth specific plans of how the proposed team will integrate with the overall Institute – its members, programs, and objectives – to further expand the scope and impact of the lunar science community.
-The research, training, E/PO, and other activities described in each proposal must demonstrate how they relate strategically to NASA’s lunar science and exploration goals.

Unlike the ESMD Broad Agency Announcement, this one is for the professionals and academes.

[Full Disclosure: NLSI is looking for a Director. Your friendly Lunar Librarian submitted his resume for consideration. Don’t worry, my chances have been placed somewhere between exceedingly slim and none.]

Ken Murphy / 12:40 am June 1st, 2008

Selenology Today #10
June 2008
On-Line Text (pdf)
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 1:39 am May 30th, 2008

Liveblogging
ISDC 2008: Day 1
29/05/2008

Morning
Session 1: Virgin Galactic Hobbyspace / Personal Spaceflight I / Personal Spaceflight II
Session 2: Elon Musk Hobbyspace
Session 3: Private Spaceflight Panel Hobbyspace

Afternoon
Part 1: Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP)/Lunar Regolith Issues Hobbyspace / CNN SBSP story
Part 2: How Lunar Rocks Could Save the Earth Hobbyspace
Part 3: Space Media Panel Hobbyspace / Instapundit
Part 4: Spaceports Panel Hobbyspace
Part 5: Chinese Space Program: Glenn Reynolds/Popular Mechanics
Part 6: Interstellar Colonization Overcoming Bias

Space Elevator Blog
Part I / Part II / Part III

Glenn Reynolds notes the gender ratio at the conference (here’s Cassie at my conference, flirting with Pixel), and the winners of the Space Settlements competition.

and my favorite Babe…in the Universe had the good sense to entitle her post on the Space Investment Summit as “Fly Me to the Moon” (and I couldn’t agree more with her sentiment).

Librarian’s Note: Unfortunately I can’t make this year’s ISDC, but if it’s as good as the one I co-chaired last year, it should be a great success!

Ken Murphy / 11:46 pm May 29th, 2008

Baldwin, Emily and Kulvinder Singh Chadha
“The magic of the Moon”
Astronomy Now
May 2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: I especially liked the piece on the orbital mechanics of the Moon.

Ken Murphy / 8:37 pm May 21st, 2008

Phillips, Dr. Tony
“100 Explosions Recorded on the Moon”
Science@NASA
05/21/2008
On-Line Text
Lunar Impact Monitoring News

Ken Murphy / 9:37 pm May 18th, 2008

Mohit, P. Surdas
“The Two-Faced Moon”
American Scientist
May/June 2008
On-Line Text

Librarian’s Note: An interesting article exploring why the far side of the Moon looks so different from the mare-covered near side. The real question is how long the Moon has been tidally locked with the near side facing Earth. If it has been so for a fair proportion of the time the Moon has been in orbit, then my conjecture would be that the Earth exerts a preferential pull on the magma deep in the Moon that attracts it through the crevices of the near side. The lunar geological map on the cover is by Desiree E. Stuart Alexander, and can be found here

Ken Murphy / 9:47 pm May 1st, 2008

Beattie, Donald A.
“New Lunar Exploration”
Spaceflight - The Magazine of Astronautics and Outer Space
Vol. 50, # 3
March 2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: A critical look at the current and near-future missions to the Moon and what information they will contribute in light of what we already know. He’s not terribly favorable, and appears to feel that Mars is really what we should be focusing our attention on.

Ken Murphy / 2:36 am April 11th, 2008

David, Leonard
“Lunar Science Community Needs Rebuilding, Researchers Say”
Space.com
04/11/2008
On-line Text

Librarian’s Note: I was at both the LPSC and LEAG conferences referenced in the article, and I will note that there have been more younger folks at these sorts of things than there used to be a few years ago. The article suggests remobilizing existing planetary scientists to focus on our Moon. A while back I suggested the formation of a Lunar Academy program at the university, perhaps post-grad level, using the NASA Academy and ISU model, to provide young minds with a well-rounded understanding of our Moon and the role that she plays in the life of Earth from scientific, commercial, and security perspectives. (watching for asteroids and other space threats type security, not nukes on the Moon type security - the Moon is for everyone, and to protect everyone)

Ken Murphy / 1:29 am April 3rd, 2008

Stooke, Philip J.
“The International Atlas of Lunar Exploration”
Cambridge University Press
2007
ISBN13: 978-0-521-81930-5
Publisher’s Web Site
Author’s Web Site
Out of the Cradle Review

Librarian’s Note: Great googly moogly! What a book! I’m just sitting here paging through it and I’ve never seen so much Moon data presented so well. I’m not sure whether to treat it as an encyclopedic almanac of Moon missions or an amply-illustrated historical walk through each of the missions that went to the Moon, why they went and what they were looking for, and some that didn’t make it. It’s a field map for future Lunar Indiana Joneses, racing to recover the historical artifacts for museums before private and corporate interests pillage them for themselves. This one is a must for any self respecting Moon reference library, and the author did a comprehensive job on the material. My ‘Aspergers’ is tweaking hard on this one, though I honestly won’t be able to do a review for a while (especially since I had to invest a fair bit of moolah even with the LPSC discount). What’s great is how easy it will be to cross reference to other resources, like some of the Lunar & Planetary Institute (LPI) stuff over in the Selenography section. This is a terrific historical document.

Ken Murphy / 9:13 pm April 1st, 2008

Gater, Will
“Britain’s Moon shot”
BBC Sky at Night #35
04/2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 3:15 am March 3rd, 2008

39th Lunar (and Planetary) Science Conference
Lunar & Planetary Institute
South Shore Resort & Conference Center
League City, TX
March 10-14, 2008
Conference Announcement
Education/Public Outreach Workshop: “Reaching the Moon”

Librarian’s Note: I’m seriously considering this one, not only for the E/PO workshop, but also a “Combined Publishers’ Exhibit” featuring new publications, plus exhibits of works by independent authors. While nothing will be for sale at the conference, details will be available, and hopefully I can find a bunch of new items for the Lunar Library. Oh, and Mike Griffin is going to be there that Monday.

Ken Murphy / 4:24 pm March 1st, 2008

Selenology Today #9a - Special Eclipse Issue
March 2008
On-Line Text (pdf)
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 5:12 am February 1st, 2008

Selenology Today #9
February 2008
On-Line Text (pdf)
Publisher’s Web Site