Virtual Lunar Atlas

Virtual Lunar Atlas home
From VLA homepage

My personal studies of the Moon just got a giant leap forward when I found and downloaded Virtual Lunar Atlas. It is a wonderful software package offered for free (or support it by buying the DVD) and recommended by very serious players such as European Space Agency ESA and the French Ministry of National Education.

This software, realized by Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand can visualize the Moon aspect for every date and hour and pilot computerized telescopes on the Moon surface. It permits also to study lunar formations with unique database of more than 9000 entries and a more than 7000 pictures library compiled by Christian Legrand.

It's conceived to be easily usable “in the field” according to an observing session needs, but also to study “at home” the Moon and its surface. It's interfaced with "Sky charts" Patrick Chevalley's freeware. This set is certainly now one of the most complete astronomy softwares set released.

This software has been conceived according to the needs of Moon observers, but also as a powerful tool for people interested personally or professionally by selenography.
Virtual Lunar Atlas homepage

Thank you so much to the authors and all the contributors to this shining example of possibilities offered to Astronomy by modern software and Web developments. It certainly deserves to be more widely known.