Special Collections item

With the summer season upon us, hopefully it will bring some clear skies. For those of you interested in some alternative summer night activities, our Mappa selenographica (Berlin : Simon Schropp et Soc., 1834) may be of interest to you. Measuring almost 1m in diameter, it is a detailed map of the surface of the moon by the German astronomers Beer and Mädler, and is generally accepted to be the first exact map of the moon.

The detail is extraordinary.

If you would like to view/ consult this item, please submit an online request or contact the staff of the Special Collections Reading Room in the Hardiman Research Building at specialcollections@nuigalway.ie and prepare to while away a couple of hours in its contemplation.