Moon globe by John Russell;England;1797

Moon globe 12-inch in diameter on libration stand, by John Russell, R.A., London, England, 1797. Known as ‘Selenographia’, the globe shows the nearside of the Moon visible from Earth. It has a mechanical mounting which demonstrates lunar libration, and which also features a miniature terrestrial globe.

Published in 1797 this printed Moon globe was produced by the portrait artist John Russell R.A. and shows the nearside of the lunar surface. Mounted in an elaborate brass stand the whole apparatus was titled 'Selenographia'. The mechanism was designed to demonstrate lunar libration, the slight wobble of the Moon as it rotates. The globe was based on Russell's accurate measurement and observation of the Moon made using a micrometer and telescope. Financed through private subscription only small numbers were ever produced. Even fewer were mounted on the intricate mechanical stand. Russell produced an explanatory pamphlet to accompany the Selenographia apparatus; the copy acquired with this instrument is in the Science Museum’s Library collections.