JOURNAL ARTICLE

Long-Lost Terrae: Revisit lunar regions whose names have been abandoned.

  • Published In: Sky & Telescope, 2025, v. 149, n. 6. P. 52 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Wood, Charles A. 3 of 3

Abstract

The article in Sky & Telescope from June 2025 explores the long-lost lunar regions whose names were abandoned over 200 years ago. Early astronomers like Michel Florent van Langren, Johannes Hevelius, and Giovanni Battista Riccioli named bright lunar areas as terrae, believing them to be landforms. These names, in Latin, were inspired by Earth's landscapes and weather conditions, reflecting the limited knowledge of the Moon's physical nature at the time. The abandoned names provide a connection to the interpretations made by pioneering observers, offering insights into early selenography and the historical context of lunar mapping. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sky & Telescope. 2025/06, Vol. 149, Issue 6, p52
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0037-6604
  • Accession Number:183622827
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