Phenomenal two-sheet orthographic projection map of the moon published by the United States Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Informational Service.




At the very beginnings of the space race, and following the first public discussions about space exploration in 1957 and 1958, the U. S. Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) and U. S. Army began to compile photographs and telescopic data of the moon from observatories such as Lick, McDonald, Mt. Wilson (U. S.) and Pic du Midi (France), as well as employing talented professional terrestrial cartographers.



It was an ambitious project, but in order to plan a successful route to the moon, they required a highly detailed map. The NGA (now the Defense Mapping Agency) reported that 281 of the best lunar photographs and over 1,200 telescope observations were collected and carefully stitched together to create this magnificent map - the very first of its kind.



Annotations on the map state that it was compiled in November 1962 and published for use July 1966. This map was instrumental in the success of NASA's Apollo program and landing men on the moon.



Printed colour. Laid down on archival linen. [CELEST1299]