Version updated to 4.0b and 3.5c to correct a problem on some installation.

New web site design

New pictures manager “PHOTLUN” ©

New “POCKETLUN” © version for Pocket PC

New “Lunar Orbiter high resolution (1000 m)” texture

New “Pyroclastic deposits” scientific database.

New “Clementine Color Ratio” scientific overlay

New “LOPAM Destripped” pictures library

New “Best of amateurs 2” pictures library

New “Best of Higgins” pictures library

New “Best of Lazzarotti” pictures library

New release CD with POCKETLUN bonus

The Virtual Moon Atlas is being used by researchers at Birkbeck College / University College London (UCL) to provide context for geochemical data collected by the D-CIXS ( http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/SMART-1/index.htm) instrument aboard European SMART-1 probe and for the future C1XS ( http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/c1xs/).instrument, which will fly to the Moon in 2008 aboard the Indian Chandrayaan-1 mission.

French Ministry of National Education registered the Virtual Moon Atlas as “educational software” and propose it for download on its Web server SIALLE

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan uses VMA its educational curses. (http://www.astro-hs.net/ )

VMA Web site is visited for the 800 000 th times, and download page is more than 430 000 connections.

VMA is presented to the “Combined Exhibit” of the 38 th “Lunar and Planetary Science Conference” with more than 1000 participants near Houston (Texas).

Christian Legrand now writes two monthes the “Lunar Tourism” chronicle in french magazine “ESPACE MAGAZINE”

New 3.5 version will be presented by Christian Legrand and Patrick Chevalley during the “Rencontres du Ciel et de l'Espace” in La Cité des Sciences de la Villette“ in Paris (France).

New “Pro” version with :

New buttons on the interface

“DATLUN” © Database manager allowing the user to select on several criterias interesting formations.

New picture library “Apollo Mapping Cameras” with about 700 images

New pictures library “Best of Amateurs” with about 350 images

New CD-Rom presentation

The European Space Agency (ESA) uses VMA to illustrate its Web site about the impact of its lunar probe SMART 1 and recommands it. (See http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM3W8Z7QQE_index_1.html ).

The french magazine “Espace Magazine” recommands download and use of Virtual Moon Atlas.

The french magazine “Ciel & Espace” recommands download and use of Virtual Moon Atlas.

VMA is presented in the professional Bulletin of the “Lunar and Planetary Institute”

VMA is presented to the “Combined Exhibit” of the 37 th “Lunar and Planetary Science Conference” with more than 1000 participants near Houston (Texas).

VMA is used by Sir Patrick Moore's team for preparing the famous BBC television program “The Sky at Night” dedicated to the Moon.

The VMA Web site is visited for the 500 000 th times, and the downloads page has more than 300 000 connexions.

To improve US VMA users possibility to acquire the VMA CD-Rom, we have now put a PAYPAL payment possibility. We hope they will find more comfortable this situation rather than sending us US bank checks written in Euros.

Erika Rix from “Cloudy Nights Lunar Observing Forum” has realized a tutorial for VMA beginners. You can find it at the following address : http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1273 It's very useful to learn Basic VMA setup and we support Erika's initiative. Also thanks to Allister St Claire for putting this very good job in the articles pages of Cloudy Nignts site.

INTRODUCING THE NEW “PRO” VERSION with :

New multi windows interface

Color Moon Globe

Scientific overlays coming from Clementine and Lunar Propector probes (altimetric, colormetric, gravity, and repartition of iron, hydrogen, potassium, thorium, neutrons…)

use for big hardware configuration

Texture ” Aerograph Clementine Full globe high resolution“

Texture ” Photographic Clementine Full globe very high resolution (500 m)“

New database “Indiced craters / Farside” (1667 entries).

New pictures library of Nearside named formations from “Lunar Astronautical Charts” and “Lunar Map

Extended new pictures library from “Consolidated Lunar Atlas” (More than 2300 images)

New “Pro” version CD-Rom (Software + databases + textures + scientific overlays + “LOPAM”, “Apollo”, “Probes” and “LAC / LM” pictures libraries.

French astronomical “Astronomie magazine ” includes a paper by Erwan Tanguy presenting VMA version 2.1 and indicates that “it's a well done free software, not to say remarkable”.

Versions “Basic” et “Expert” with computerized mounts driving (Celestron “Nexstar”, Meade “Autostar” and all mounts using ASCOM driver.

Information page presenting lunar orbit and Moon globe features.

New detailed database about Moon exploration historical sites (Voluntary or un voluntary impacts and probes or human missions soft landings.

VMA Web site is visited for 220 000 times and the “Download” page has been accessed 150 000 times.

Virtual Moon Atlas is presented in “L'Astronomie”, Société Astronomique de France magazine.

“SKY and TELESCOPE” presents briefly, in its April 2004 issue VMA 2.0 upgrade.

Introduction of “Moon complete globe” with Far Side

Simulation of a spatial flight orbiting the Moon

New texture of complete globe realized with Clementine high resolution photos by professor Mark S. Robinson and his team of the “Northwestern University”.

New more than 600 Far Side craters and formations descriptions

Database corrections for some bad entries

New pictures library : “Moon Stars” 130 LOPAM pictures of the most famous lunar formations

VMA Web site is visited for 140 000 times and the “Download” page has been accessed 100 000 times.

Kitt Peak observatory uses now VMA for its public lectures involving the Moon.

“SKY and TELESCOPE” presents, in its June 2003 issue, a Gary Seronik article (“Three for the Moon” page 54) comparing two others lunar mapping softwares with VMA and which is also very positive for VMA.

“Astronomy magazine ” presents, in its May 2003 issue, a Richard Bartlett's article comparing two others lunar mapping softwares with VMA and which is very positive for VMA.

New more detailed 2D texture

Lunar disk orientation and inversion now possible in 2D display to see the Moon as you can observe it in your refractor or Newtonian

Phase improved appearance in 2D display

Distance and size measure tool now available in 2D display

New mapping texture. It's the best available from David Seals site. It shows you Moon details as in a 5 / 6 ” instrument.

New 3D texture display allowing quicker moves on the map.

Improved labels display on maps

Integrated notepad allowing to record your own notes on each formations.

Eyepiece vision simulation with possibility to enter your own eyepieces parameters.

Addition of about 120 pictures of some formations taken by other probes than Lunar Orbiter 4 and pictures of probes. Are included pictures from american Ranger, Lunar Orbiter 1,2,3,5, Surveyor and from soviet Luna and Lunakhod.

Begining of Clementine pictures series. Formations pictures taken by american probe “Clementine”. Presently, 140 pictures of nearside named formations “A” and”B“.

More than 5300 indiced craters ( Ex : Clavius D ) added - Creation of ” Independant reviews “ page.

Creation of ” Thanks “ page.

Creation of ” VMA History “ page (This one).

Creation of ” Authors and translators “ page.

Creation of VMA Users Forum .

Comparative review by Chuck Taylor, from ” Lunar observing Yahoo group “ presenting pluses and minuses of the three principal lunar software on the market including VMA.

VMA presentation at ” Société astronomique de France “, Planetary Observations Commission. To be included in CISAF CD-Rom project directed by Serge Koutchmy research director at Astrophysical Institute of Paris.

American magazine “SKY and TELESCOPE” briefly presents VMA in its article “Hot Products for 2003”.

VMA Review on Thierry Lombry site

VMA presentation during ” European Sky and Space Encounters 2002 “ organized by french magazine “Ciel & Espace”

Oriented and/or inverted 3D map to match exactly what you can observe in your refractor or in your telescope

Phase display even on 2D map

Formations names on maps depending of zoom factor

“Context” menu on mouse right click

“Neighbor” function

Size and distance between formations tool on 3D map

Maps printing with captions setup

Formation data printing for selected formation

Ephemeris printing for selected period

2D full colors geological map

Lunar related terms glossary

Illustrated help including screens captures

Geological period of formation birth (From Pre-Nectarian to Copernician)

Pages of the excellent “Atlas of the lunar terminator” from John E. Westfall containing the formation

“Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Moon” pictures containing the formation with direct link to Lunar and Planetary Institute Web page

high resolution pictures of about 350 formations in the 45° N to 45° S zone taken duringApollo 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 et 17 missions from 1968 to1972

Possible integration of your electronic own CCD or webcam pictures in your pictures library

French magazine” CIEL & ESPACE “cotes VMA in a remarkable article about ” Apollo 17 “ mission.

VMA review on Rod Mollise site (“SKYWATCH ” founder).

New translations of VMA. Thanks to new voluntary free translators.

Article by Jacques Zufferey in the SAVAR bulletin (in French).

New translations of VMA. Thanks to voluntary free translators.

VMA version 1.0 on line

Version 1.0 programmed by Patrick Chevalley

First contact of Christian Legrand with Patrick Chevalley. Virtual Moon Atlas (VMA) project presented.

APOLLO pictures library realized by Christian Legrand ( More than 2000 examined pictures and selection of the 400 “best of”).

LOPAM pictures library realized by Christian Legrand ( More than 3000 extracted pictures from the 640 atlas frames and selection of the 1200 “best of”).

“DB-Lune” Christian Legrand's software released with Etienne Lecoq's pictures. ( Review in French in ” Astronomie Québec “ ).

First lunar formations database realized by Christian Legrand (More than 1000 informations research hours and 1200 formations typed).