About the Book
Secrets of the Moon: Understanding and Analysing the Lunar Surface provides a unique account of the origin of key features on the lunar surface. Containing historical accounts and the latest observations from the field, in addition to exciting data from the Apollo manned missions, it describes the development of our current understanding of our Moon. It also explores the fracturing of the Moon, a topic not explored in other literature in the area, and contains a statistical treatment of the smaller craters of the Moon, as well as a geological treatment of the larger craters. This moderately technical account is designed to clarify and update the general thinking on the nature and origin of the most important lunar surface features for both undergraduate and research students. It may also be read by the professional scientist, especially the astronomer and the geologist who has found little time to study the Moon’s topography, in addition to the lunar amateur astronomer and even the dedicated layman with a keen interest in lunar science. The book excludes nearly all mathematical symbols in order to remain accessible to those without a formal education in the area.
Key Features:
Authored by an expert in the area
Presents a comprehensive account of the lunar surface, from historical observations to the NASA Apollo manned missions and the latest observations and data in the field
Includes a statistical and geological treatment of the craters
Table of Contents:
1. Preparatory Studies 2. Studies at Manchester and Pic-du-Midi 3. Wrinkle Ridges 4. The Straight Wall 5. Thoughts on Mare Imbrium 6. The Apparent Acceleration of the Moon 7. The Slowing Rotation of the Earth 8. The Receding Moon 9. Distorted Craters 10. The Lunar Grid System 11. Mapping the Grid around the Whole of the Moon 12. Faulting and the Rotation of the Moon 13. The Origin of the Lunar Grid System 14. Melting in the Moon 15. The Origin of the Moon 16. Fine Lineaments and their Significance 17. The Ages of the Lunar Surface Features 18. The Origins of Small Craters 19. The Proportion of Endocraters to Impact Craters 20. The Origin of Crater-chains in Grid Fractures 21. The Origins of Small Craters in a Lava Flow 22. Small Double Craters 23. Double Craters and the Depth of Compaction of the Regolith 24. Dating the Mare Flows 25. Studies of Large Craters 26. The Ray-Craters Tycho, Copernicus and Aristarchus 27. Unexpected Volcanic Flows 28. Volcanic Tumuli of the Floor of Tycho 29. The Unusual Rocks of Tycho, Copernicus and Aristarchus 30. Cracks in Tycho and Kilawea 31. Central Peaks and the Impact Process 32. The Crater Aristarchus 33. The Crater Copernicus 34. Dating the Lavas of Tycho and Aristarchus 35. The Origin of the Lavas in Impact Craters 36. Tensions in the Lunar Crust 37. Is there any current Volcanic Activity on the Moon? 38. Maria, Rilles and Wrinkle Ridges 39. Maria and Mascons 40. Ghost Craters and Elementary Rings 41. The Nature of the Lamont Complex 42. Terrestrial Ring Complexes and their Origin 43. Are there Ring Dykes on the Moon? 44. The Origins of Large Lunar Craters in General 45. Return to the Moon
About the Author :
Dr. Gilbert Fielder is Reader Emeritus at Lancaster University, UK. He performed extended teaching at Lancaster University on Planetary Science and introduced a new degree course on Remote Sensing. Prior to this, he was Principal Investigator in NASA’s Heat Capacity Mapping Programme, while continuing to head the Lunar and Planetary Unit at Lancaster until retirement. Dr. Fielder has authored several books, and presented many BBC and ITA television news programmes, as well as popular programmes with Sir Patrick Moore (on the BBC’s “The Sky at Night”) and, on the occasion of the first landing of astronauts on the Moon, with David Frost as Chairman in a special programme.
Review :
Prof. R.G. Strom: "You have really written a great book. I hope it sells a million copies. There is mounting evidence that the Moon is still active, so you were right all along".
Maurice Collins: " I am thoroughly enjoying Secrets of the Moon. It is one of the best lunar books that I have read in a long time. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities of there being more volcanic processes at work on the Moon than I was aware of before. I especially liked the section on the origins of small craters and was impressed by the close resemblance of the Elegante crater in Mexico to a lunar crater. Elegante looks more lunar than Meteor Crater. Secrets of the Moon will be an essential volume in my lunar book collection. Also, your book has gotten a lot of likes on Social Media: 27 so far on my Facebook page and 13 more on a Facebook lunar group called "
Maurice Collins: "I'll re-read Secrets of the Moon as (there is) a lot to absorb, but I found it a very good survey of the Moon and it shows that there is still research to be done and has given me things to think about. It was good to have a brand new book out on the subject".
Prof. H. Pinkerton: "Congratulations on completing your splendid book. It has come at the right time, given the interest in developing manned stations there, and your insights will, I am sure, be welcomed by those in charge of such exciting projects"
Dr. Thorsteinn Saemundsson: " Secrets of the Moon is a new and ambitious piece of work with a catching title and I am impressed. We must hope that this book gets the attention it deserves and that the currently accepted view of the Moon's features will be revised".
Prof. James Head: "Secrets of the Moon (includes) lots of good ideas..."
Dr. R.J. Fryer: "I feel that your latest book, Secrets of the Moon, is a useful, comprehensive and good summary of a lifetime's work. Hopefully, it will have the effect that it deserves whilst the new lunar interest, due to the multinational landings and future plans, persists. I enjoyed reading it."
Owen Edwards: "I think that Secrets of the Moon is a very impressive feat!"
The carefully sequenced chapters take you through the early career of the author, and then on to puzzles about the Moon. Career paths are often lacking in scientific books, so this was welcome to see, especially given the experience gained by Fielder from interdisciplinary research, and from working with famous people such as Urey, Kuiper and Lovell. A read through this work should be hopefully inspire any wannabe early-career scientists.
Pioneering work on modelling crater formation is covered extensively. Lots of specific lunar formations are discussed too, such as Aristarchus, Aristillus, Copernicus, Rupes Recta, Mare Imbrium, Tychom and many more.
Perhaps a controversial topic, for some, is the book’s discussion about the Lunar Grid System which, although not discovered by Fielder, was extensively researched by him. This system has fallen out of favour since, as there are other explanations for the orientation of lineaments on the Moon, such as concentric rings from overlapping impact basins. However, this book shows that it may not be such a clear-cut case. Carefully laid arguments are presented, applied to old and new data. The book is good at making you stop and think whether currently accepted theories are correct.
Some readers may find the format a little unusual in that it has very short chapters, but this is made up for by there being 45 of them over 228 pages, plus an excellent glossary of terms at the end.
Secrets of the Moon teaches us to occasionally question current thinking about lunar geology, especially when statistical analysis shows us something that differs from what prevailing theories suggest. It also warns us not to assume that all craters are impact in origin, as a few circular structures – heavily eroded ghost craters, or some very small formations – could have endogenic origins, and this could affect age estimates of the lunar surface that rely upon counting small craterlets of impact origin. So, with the crewed return to the Moon in the near-term future, this book is very timely and packed with interesting ideas.
- Dr. Anthony Cook, Director of the Lunar Section of the BAA and Research Lecturer, Aberystwyth University, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, August 2023.
Prof. R.G. Strom: "You have really written a great book. I hope it sells a million copies. There is mounting evidence that the Moon is still active, so you were right all along".
Maurice Collins: " I am thoroughly enjoying Secrets of the Moon. It is one of the best lunar books that I have read in a long time. It has opened my eyes to the possibilities of there being more volcanic processes at work on the Moon than I was aware of before. I especially liked the section on the origins of small craters and was impressed by the close resemblance of the Elegante crater in Mexico to a lunar crater. Elegante looks more lunar than Meteor Crater. Secrets of the Moon will be an essential volume in my lunar book collection. Also, your book has gotten a lot of likes on Social Media: 27 so far on my Facebook page and 13 more on a Facebook lunar group called "
Maurice Collins: "I'll re-read Secrets of the Moon as (there is) a lot to absorb, but I found it a very good survey of the Moon and it shows that there is still research to be done and has given me things to think about. It was good to have a brand new book out on the subject".
Prof. H. Pinkerton: "Congratulations on completing your splendid book. It has come at the right time, given the interest in developing manned stations there, and your insights will, I am sure, be welcomed by those in charge of such exciting projects"
Dr. Thorsteinn Saemundsson: " Secrets of the Moon is a new and ambitious piece of work with a catching title and I am impressed. We must hope that this book gets the attention it deserves and that the currently accepted view of the Moon's features will be revised".
Prof. James Head: "Secrets of the Moon (includes) lots of good ideas..."
Dr. R.J. Fryer: "I feel that your latest book, Secrets of the Moon, is a useful, comprehensive and good summary of a lifetime's work. Hopefully, it will have the effect that it deserves whilst the new lunar interest, due to the multinational landings and future plans, persists. I enjoyed reading it."
Owen Edwards: "I think that Secrets of the Moon is a very impressive feat!"
