Selenography

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Selenography is the study of Lunar geography. Selenography is deeper and more complex than the study of maps (cartography) and place names (toponymy). Currently, Selenography focuses on the visible Lunar surface features and the Lunar natural environment; where they are located and how they interact with each other (physical selenography). Selenography is closely linked to selenology, the study of the composition and processes of the solid material that makes up Luna, and often overlap each other.

Eventually, with permanent human habitation, selenography will encompass the full range of topics covered by geology: studying people, communities, cultures, economies and their interactions with their location and environment (human selenography). The third sub-discipline, environmental (or integrated) geography, is concerned with the interaction between the environment and humans. The four broad areas of geographical, and selenographical, research are: [1]

  • Spatial analyses of human and natural phenomena
  • Studies of human-land relationships
  • Studies of places and regions
  • Earth sciences (or Lunar sciences in this case)

A short history of selenography, along with historical Lunar maps, can be found at Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topography_of_the_Moon).

Details

Noun

Etymology

Σελήνη Selene (Greek goddess of the Moon) + γράφω graphō (Greek for "I write") [1]

Pronunciation

Selenography pages

  • Lunar Atlas
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Lunar Topography
  • Near side
  • Far side
  • North Pole
  • South Pole
  • Mare
  • Terra
  • Mountains
  • Craters
  • Domes
  • Lava tubes
  • Landing sites

Lunar environment has it's own category in Lunarpedia but technically falls under selenography.

Astronomy also has it's own Lunarpedia category but, again, really falls under selenography (if it pertains to Luna).

Lunar maps and atlases

Spatial interrelationships are at the core of selenography and maps are a key tool. The long-term plan is to have a fully interactive Lunar Atlas on Lunarpedia. However, we’re not there yet. For now, here are some links:

Contributors

Ben Smith at Lunar Homestead.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topography_of_the_Moon
  3. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selenography

Resources (not used but potentially relevant)