I have to agree with Brandon Keim, who reviewed this map for Wired Magazine (here): it most definitely is one of “the coolest planetary maps ever”.
This map is of the dark side of the moon, which here looks more like a Jackson Pollock action painting, its riotous colours corresponding to geological materials and phenomena. Many of the colour spots are circular in nature, reflecting the large number of meteorites that have impacted on the lunar surface, unprotected by an atmosphere, over many, many centuries.
The map is one of a series produced by NASA and the US Geological Survey between 1971 and 1998. “If you’re on a public or work computer that’s set to a generic desktop background, download some and spread the wonder,” Keim suggests. Hear, hear!
This map was suggested by Max Kahn. The original article (cf. sup.) also contains links to further maps of the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus and three moons of Jupiter (Io, Ganymede and Callisto).
“There is no dark side of the Moon really. As a matter of fact, it’s all dark”.
It’s actually the far side of the Moon, which is no more dark than any other side of the Moon. Do the colours correspond to anything in particular? Wait, the Wired article says “colors [correlate] to geological materials and phenomena”, and the NASA/USGS website does have a downloadable key next to each map.
Reminds me more of a Lemon Jelly CD cover than Jackson Pollock.
I don’t think it’d be terribly practical as a desktop background though: wouldn’t it make it difficult to see your icons against all that clutter?
Comment by Neil — November 2, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
[...] The dark side of the moon. A cool graphic depiction, not the Pink Floyd album. (strange maps) [...]
Pingback by Friday links: volatility variability « Abnormal Returns — November 2, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
I’m almost sure that this is neither the dark, nor the far side of the moon. This map has several large-scale features, which is a characteristic of the near side.
The large blue and brown blob in the top left quarter of the map is the large ocean, and the flesh-coloured somewhat circular features at the top are the two largest mares. The large crater Korolev (bottom left) is located just across the edge of the far side.
I cannot find a “geographical” map of the moon in a similar projection at the moment, but you can compare the map with the image at http://www.orbithangar.com/addonpics/MoonMap.jpg .
Comment by Eugene — November 2, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
My favorite recent planetary map is this: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2786
It shows rivers, lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons in a mosaic of radar images from the north polar region of Saturn’s giant moon Titan. The image still contains blank spaces (areas not yet seen by the Cassini probe’s radar), like some 16th-century explorer’s incomplete map of the New World.
Comment by Bill — November 2, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
In my work, I frequently have occasion to wander the halls of the local university’s geology department. Those people invariably have the most beautiful maps on their walls….
Comment by John Fleck — November 2, 2007 @ 11:27 pm
[...] 197 – The Colourful Side of the Moon [image] I have to agree with Brandon Keim, who reviewed this map for Wired Magazine (here): it most definitely is one […] [...]
Pingback by Top Posts « WordPress.com — November 2, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
[...] via [...]
Pingback by The dark side of the moon | alpha meets omega — November 3, 2007 @ 12:08 am
great pic
Comment by ayahshiva — November 3, 2007 @ 4:24 am
One of your best postings…thank you
Comment by cogidubnus — November 3, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
That map is wicked. I’d love to be able to order it.
Comment by cyclepromo — November 6, 2007 @ 1:03 am
wonderful! :-)
Comment by yzma — November 7, 2007 @ 11:16 am
[...] Maps has great stuff, most of which I’ve seen before. The classic Newyorkistan, pretty The Colourful Side of the Moon, The Blonde Map of Europe for those gentlemen who allege a preference, the disturbing Europe, If [...]
Pingback by Maps & tubes, tunnels & movies - glyphobet • глыфобет • γλυφοβετ — April 5, 2008 @ 1:17 am
[...] The Colorful Side of the Moon foi o nome que lhe deram e é descoberta do Strange Maps. Se já antes falava de mapas este blog fez disso especialidade, tendo vindo a documentar os mais diversos e surpreendentes mapas. Trata-se neste caso de uma representação, produzida pela NASA e pelo US Geological Survey, em que cada cor corresponde a um fenómeno ou matéria geológica, reflectindo primariamente o número de meteoritos que até então colidiram com a superfície lunar. Vale a pena a visita para outros mapas, mais ou menos delirantes, mais ou menos informativos. in: viagem web [...]
Pingback by Strange Maps — May 2, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
[...] in Art This map is of the dark side of the moon, which here looks more like a Jackson Pollock action painting, its [...]
Pingback by The moon, apparently « Take, Take, Take — December 19, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
thank you
Comment by Tony — May 4, 2009 @ 3:13 am
thanks for this map..
good
luck
Comment by Solomon — May 11, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Vielen Dank
Comment by moon — July 3, 2009 @ 4:56 am
Muchas gracias
Comment by sun — July 4, 2009 @ 7:20 am