Style

When you select the Style Tab, the four selections under style lets you choose the type of map you’d like to use for a particular application. Use your mouse to highlight the circle next to your selection. Your most recent style selection becomes the new default, the next time the program is opened.

• The Texture (image) Map is the factory default map
• The Texture Map with Vector Outlines places outlines on texture map features in order to enhance difficult to observe objects, such as limb features or domes.
• Vector Map [Outlines with Maria] provides an outline only map with the Maria filled in for easier identification. This map comes in handy for observing the terminator without interference from the shadows found in the texture map. It is also useful for more precise measurements of lunar features when using the Surveyor Tool.
• The Outlines Only [Sketch] Map is designed to provide an accurate map template for those of you with an interest in sketching features at the eyepiece. (See the map examples below)

Vector Map or Texture Map?

Lunar Map Pro^TM is the only program that provides users with a choice of map styles. Since changing maps is easy, you may want to experiment with various formats under a variety of observing conditions. This will help you discover which map styles best meet your personal observing needs.

Vector Maps have the capability of producing clean, high-resolution graphics. They do not suffer from the zoom limitations associated with texture maps, and they are not impacted by factors such as contrast, albedo, or viewing angle. For that reason, vector maps are excellent for identifying low contrast features, such as domes, or features located near the limb.

Since vector maps do not display shadows, they are often easier to use for following the progression of the lunar terminator. Printed copies of vector maps also make excellent templates for sketching. The vector map with Mare shading turned Off is specifically designed for sketching at the eyepiece.

Texture Maps are more aesthetically pleasing, and provide a more realistic representation of the lunar surface. This format more closely matches the view through your telescope, and is especially useful when you are trying to identify similar features in close proximity to each other.

As you zoom-in to increase the image scale, the image will begin to lose resolution in much the same way as when you increase your telescope magnification.

When you are using texture maps, please keep in mind that the position of the sun is continuously changing during the lunar cycle causing the lunar surface to undergo significant changes in shadowing. This can cause features seen through your eyepiece to look vastly different from their map appearance, especially around the time of full moon.

Using the Texture Map combined with Vectors can often provide the best of both worlds, since you have the realism of an image along with easy to see vector outlines. The vectors enhance difficult to observe features so they become easier to locate. Below are domes near the crater, Arago that are only visible because of the vector outlines.

Please note that domes are always cross-hatched to make it easy to distinguish them from the surrounding craters. This is especially useful when working with the vector map.