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Now downloaded more than 500 000 times all over the world. Used in several books, magazines, observatories, universities and Web sites. Used in Chandrayaan 1 lunar mission preparation. Recommanded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the french Ministry of National Education
For Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP/Vista/Windows Mobile/MacOS/Linux ©
VMA Pro 5 with double window showing new Kaguya altitude overlay on left and grid coordinates at lunar pole on right
French AVL Pro 5 Mac/Os version shows the same interface than Windows version. Here on display, the new dynamic shadows on terminator
The 2 new textures : Up is Aerograph without albedo and down is very high resolution LOPAM
Some of the 14 new scientific overlays : Up is “Kaguya altitude 2”, center is “Maximal surface temperature” and down is “Radon Kaguya”
August 2010 : New version 5.1
- Correction for the bugs reported on version 5.0
- Dynamique relief using the LOLA data.
- New native Linux 64bit version.
December 2009 : New "PRO version 5.0"
After more than one year work, for International Year of Astronomy now ending, we are happy to present you the new VMA version “Pro” 5.0, new important evolution of the Virtual Moon Atlas.
NEW MODULES :
NEW MODULE "ATLUN" :
Exclusive : Patrick Chevalley has re-written the nucleus of VMA software allowing a more efficient display. This software becomes now the “ATLUN” module of the Virtual Moon Atlas.. This permits now :
- Use of very high resolution textures provided by Christian Legrand.
- Use of different textures according to the applied zoom level
- Complete Moon globe rotation, even above poles
- Terminator dynamic shadows display according to the applied phase
- Real bi-windowed display
- Maps display in “full screen” mode even on large LCD monitors and TV and videoprojectors (Great for lectures !)
NEW APPLE / MAC (c) and LINUX (c) versions :
Exclusive : The new programming language used by Patrick Chevalley alows now production of Mac OS © and Linux © versions completely similar to the Windows © version without a Windows © emulator.
NEW VERY HIGH RESOLUTION TEXTURES :
The "Aerograph without albedo" texture :
USGS has updated its topographic aerograph map in adding numerous small details not included in the first version. But, this new lunar surface map doesn't present albedo hues. That's why we have kept available the first version with albedo of this map.
The "VHR Lunar Orbiter" texture :
USGS has recently released a new Lunar Orbiter Moon surface map. This new VHR texture realized shows the highest resolution with shaded relief available in computerized lunar atlases with details about 200 m on the best parts, that's to say upper than the amateurs telescopes possibilities.
NEW SCIENTIFIC OVERLAY :
14 new overlays for studying the lunar surface :
- Clementine Real colors (Natural couleurs extracted from Clementine probe coloured maps)
- Clementine Rock types (Rocks types determined from Clementine probe datas)
- Clementine FeO (Iron oxydes de fer determined from Clementine probe datas)
- Kaguya Altimetric (Altitude levels determined from japanese Kaguya probe datas / JAXA copyright)
- Kaguya Altimetric 2 (Altitude levels determined from japanese Kaguya probe datas / JAXA copyright)
- Kaguya Uranium (Uranium concentrations determined from japanese Kaguya probe datas / JAXA copyright)
- Kaguya Gamma rays (Emitted gamma rays levels determined from japanese Kaguya probe datas / JAXA copyright)
- Lunar Prospector Radon (Radon concentrations determined from Lunar Prospector probe)
- Lunar Prospector Polonium (Polonium concentrations determined from Lunar Prospector probe)
- Lunar Prospector Gadolinium (Gadolinium concentrations determined from Lunar Prospector probe)
- Lunar Prospector Thorium (Thorium concentrations determined from Lunar Prospector probe)
- Lunar Prospector Titane (Titane concentrations determined from Lunar Prospector probe)
- Surface temperature (Surface Temperature de surface at Noon (Lunar time) according to the latitude)
- ULCN 2005 Altimetric (Altitude levels recomputed from various sources / cf Web site Web http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1367/)
NEW SCIENTIFIC DATABASE :
The third scientific database "Volcanic domes " :
Coming after the “Historical sites” and the “Pyroclastic deposits”, Christian legrand has adapted for VMA the volcanic domes database produced by the “Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers” (ALPO) in 1976. Sure, the locations of these domes (not verified) can be displayed on the map and sorted with DATLUN © (ALPO Site : http://alpo-astronomy.org).
NEW PICTURES LIBRARIES :
The new "Kaguya" library :
Christian Legrand has extracted from wide-field pictures taken by japanese probe Kaguya, individual pictures of the most known Nearside formations taken with an oblical view.
The new "Consolidated Lunar Atlas" library :
Christian Legrand continues extracting new pictures of Nearside named formations from Consolidated Lunar Atlas frames taken with various lightings. The new version includes more than 3000 pictures.
These two new pictures libraries provide more than 7000 pictures available for VMA users.
NEW DOCUMENTATIONS :
ATLUN and other versions documentations :
Christian Legrand has realized new specific and illustrated documentations for “ATLUN”, “EXPERT” and “LIGHT” versions with screens captures showing the new possibilities offered by these versions.
The first mean to support our action is to prefer the CD version than the Web download.
But we had also generous offers from some VMA users that asked us how they could help us for the software improvement. This one is sure a free action of ourselves and we don't ask any financial help for this product which is only the reflect of our astronomical passions : Moon survey for Christian Legrand and astronomical programming for Patrick Chevalley.
We were a little embarassed by these proposals, but we estimated that we can't refuse voluntary donations and finally decided to accept them. If you want to help us, go to the page "How to support our action ?" for more details. So that the benefits of your support come back to you, these funds will be affected, as far as we can do it, to the purchase of astronomical equipment or books usable for the improvement of VMA or for other astronomical new products or actions.
We thank you very much in advance for the voluntary help that you would decide to bring us.
Christian Legrand et Patrick Chevalley
This software, realized by Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand can visualize the Moon aspect for every date and hour and pilot computerized telescopes on the Moon surface. It permits also to study lunar formations with unique database of more than 9000 entries and a more than 7000 pictures library compiled by Christian Legrand.
It's conceived to be easily usable “in the field” according to an observing session needs, but also to study “at home” the Moon and its surface. It's interfaced with "Sky charts" Patrick Chevalley's freeware. This set is certainly now one of the most complete astronomy softwares set released.
Rather than a long description, we invite you to read the complete manual or the quick user's guide or to look at the screens copies to see what are the possibilities.
This software has been conceived according to the needs of Moon observers, but also as a powerful tool for people interested personally or professionally by selenography.
The authors are decided to upgrade periodically the software, databases and pictures library in the following monthes and years. If you think that a function would be useful for all Moon observers, don't hesitate to indicate it us. It could be possible to include it.
It's possible to choose the language used by the software and database. Presently we manage directly only English and French version which are available with the basic package. From this Web site, you can download more translations here .
The authors wish that others passioned amateur astronomers will propose their own translation in their language to make this software available to world wide Moon observers.
This software is the result of a collaboration between Christian Legrand, a passioned lunar observer, and co-author of the guide "Discover the Moon" published in English by Cambridge University Press and also published in French, German and Spanish, with Patrick Chevalley, author of the worlwide known freeware "Cartes du Ciel / Sky Charts".
The authors make him free for amateur astronomers, lunar observers and students who wish to practice selenography. They hope to promote Moon observation and knowledge because our satellite will become one of the next human spatial exploration step.
The “Virtual Moon Atlas” is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Database information and pictures are copyrighted and can only be used with Virtual Moon Atlas.
This program is entirely written with Lazarus.
Source code is available from SVN at http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon
Calculations of the ephemerides of the Moon are based on the JPL Ephemeris. DE421 ephemeris is include with the program.
Many calculations are based on the essential ”Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus”.
OpenGL display use GLScene .
The database is managed with SQLite and Libsql.
Marks :
“Microsoft”, “Windows” and “Vista” are registered marks of Microsoft Corporation.
“Mac” and “Mac/Os” are registered marks of Apple Corporation
“Linux” is a registered mark by Linus Torvalds
Names of “Virtual Moon Atlas”, “Atlun”, “PhotLun”, “DatLun” and “PocketLun” are properties of Ch. Legrand
For all question about Virtual Moon Atlas usage please use the user forum.
To report a problem with the software please use the bug tracker page, then check if a similar problem is already described
If you have any questions, suggestions or remarks about the software, you can contact Patrick Chevalley.
If they are about the overlays, the databases or the pictures libraries, please contact Christian Legrand.
visitor since June 2002.
