8 of the Best Books About the Moon

Dr. Aderin-Pocock, renowned astronomer and presenter of the BBC’s famous show The Sky at Night, has always loved studying the moon. In The Book of the Moon, she introduces readers to many different aspects of moon study, which will appeal to amateur and seasoned sky-watchers alike. The Book of the Moon looks at the history of humanity’s relationship with the moon, the moon’s topography, and the potential future of space exploration.

An excellent overview of the moon for people interested in the science and social impact of our orbiting neighbour, The Moon was produced by Royal Observatory Greenwich to mark the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing. It touches on the way that astronomers have observed the moon over the centuries, and the events that led to the first expedition to the moon.

A beautifully-illustrated book about our history and cultural relationship with the moon, Hannah Pang’s The Moon is a perfect guide to lunar studies for beginners — although seasoned moon-watchers will also undoubtedly find new information and trivia in its pages. It looks at myth, fiction, and the impact of the moon on our everyday lives, as well as the science behind our history with the moon.

Nearly everyone knows a little of the story of the 1969 Moon Landing, but while the names of the astronauts and the first words spoken on the moon are common knowledge, the long journey to get there is less well-known. Eight Years to the Moon contains stories from many of the background figures, such as the engineers and other scientists who worked on getting the Apollo astronauts safely to their destination.

The Apollo missions took place in the 1960s, during a time of segregation and racial prejudice where the many contributions of Black scientists were overlooked. This was true for Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, and Gloria Champine, a group of female African American mathematicians who worked for NASA, and whose calculations allowed the moon missions to go forward. Shetterly’s book uncovers the history of these women, whose contributions to science changed the world.

Humanity’s relationship with the moon doesn’t always mean venturing into space — the moon has also had a huge impact on our earthbound lives. In The Quiet Moon, Kevin Parr uses a focus on the moon as a framework for exploring a year of engaging with nature, working from a lunar calendar and drawing on Celtic history.

The moon has played such an important role in human history and culture that it’s unsurprising it has featured in so many legends and stories from across the world. In Beneath the Moon, Yoshi Yoshitani retells myths from across the globe, including stories about moon gods or tales that focus on the moon.

Many cultures have a moon goddess, as the moon was so central to historic human life, often providing the most reliable calendar. Daughter of the Moon Goddess draws on the Chinese myth of the moon goddess Chang’e, following her daughter Xingyin as she infiltrates the Celestial Kingdom in order to find her exiled mother.