The Lunar Atlas was commissioned by the United States Air Force "to provide the most complete and best available photographic coverage of the moon as a contribution of the United States Government in the national space effort." The photographs were an invaluable tool that assisted in planning spacecraft missions to the moon, and in particular helped determine operational sites for the 1969 moon landing. The atlas was accompanied by two supplements: Orthographic Atlas of the Moon and Rectified Lunar Atlas. This lot consists of the second supplement, which focuses on the limb regions of the moon and includes 141 full-page photographic plates and two pages of text explaining the construction of the atlas. The plates are on a scale of 1:3.5 million and include an initial "field index" plate. The work was compiled by E. A. Whitaker, G. P. Kuiper, W. K. Hartmann, and L. H. Spradley and published by the University of Arizona Press. Oblong folio. Hardbound in navy blue-cloth covered boards with gilt title on front cover and spine and US Air Force seal on front cover.

References: Rumsey #14059.

Condition: A

The contents and plates are clean and bright. There is some soiling on the inside front pastedown. The covers show light wear.