Barabashov, N. P., et. al.; An Atlas of the Moon's Far Side: The Lunik III Reconnaissance. Interscience Publishers, New York & London, 1961. Large quarto, pp. 147, 30 b/w photos, folded map of Moon’s far side in rear pocket.
The work is complete and in the original blue cloth with pictorial dust jacker. The binding, text and plates are all in fine condition, minor wear to d/j edges. A near fine copy.
On October 4, 1959, the Soviet Union successfully launched its third space probe, Lunar III into orbit around the moon. The probe passed close to the Moon and its orientation permitted it to photograph the lunar surface that is hidden from the earth and transmit those images back to earth. The results were originally published by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and this the first English translation duplicates the Russian original in format and content. The work includes the definitive map of the Moon’s far side and a catalog of 498 lunar formations identified.
