Homann-Doppelmayr Map of the Moon

A comparison between the nomenclature of Hevelius and Riccioli


Doppelmayr created the comparative chart above to illustrate the different lunar mappings of Johannes Hevelius and Giovanni Battista Riccioli: Hevelius named lunar features after terrestrial locations such as "Asia Minor", "Persia", "Sicilia". This nomenclature was popular until the middle of the 18th century when Riccioli's nomenclature took precedence. The Riciolli system names lunar features after great astronomers.

This map first appeared in J. B. Homann’s 1707 Neuer Atlas and was later reissued as plate no. 11 in Doppelmayr’s important 1742 Atlas Coelestis, which was also published by the Nuremburg firm of Johann Baptist Homann.

Lunar names: Riccioli (used today) vs. Hevelius

Oceanus Procellarum - Mare Eoum / Mare Mediterraneum
Mare Imbrium - Mare Mediterraneum
Mare Crisium - Palus Moeotis
Mare Tranquilitatis - Euxinus
Tycho - Mons Sinai
Copernicus - Ætna M.
Ptolemaeus - M. Sipylus
Aristarchus - M. Parphyritas

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Text based on Wikipedia,
License: CC-by-SA 3.0

License of the map: Public Domain