Methodology

Our main reference

Our main reference for organizing lunar regions is 21st Century Atlas of the Moon by Charles A. Wood and Maurice J. S. Collins, published by West Virginia University Press. The atlas guides how we understand the regions presented in the collection and on the site.

How observations are approved

An administrator reviews submissions and decides whether they are a good fit for the collection. This is a qualitative judgment: we look for observations that are visually appealing, clear enough to make the selected lunar features recognizable, and consistent with the regions presented in the atlas and on Moonfolio.

The regions selected for a submission should match what the observation actually shows. Review considers clarity, framing, and usefulness for exploring those regions, rather than a fixed score or a guarantee of approval. An observation can be declined if the administrator feels it does not fit the collection or if the selected regions do not match the visible features.

A guide for exploration

Region selections help visitors explore observations; they are not precise scientific measurements. We’ll expand this page with more detail about the collection as the project develops.