When the moon is out in all its bright glory many observers don't even bother taking out their scopes. Why? Because the light from the moon washes out all their favorite deep-sky targets. But not this bird. It's time for the planets and the MOON! I love pouring over Luna's surface, mountain ranges, rilles, etc. And I have found a wonderful piece of software that makes it the more enjoyable, the Virtual Moon Atlas. And it's free.

Here is a look at the interface:

And here we pick an area to explore:

Zoom in:

And you can view photos of the area as well:

Great piece of software for planning a lunar tour. You can now know what you are viewing, learn all about it as well. It has a telescope control interface as well. Top flight stuff and you sure can't beat the price. Here are the details provided on Grimaldi, the lunar feature I chose above:

GRIMALDI

Type: Walled plain
Geological period: Pre-Nectarian (From -4.55 billions years to -3.92 billions years)

Size:
Dimension: 228×228Km / 134×134Mi
Height: 0
Height/Wide ratio: 0.009

Description:
Very dark circular formation resembling to a sea.
Steep slopes supporting many craterlets whose Grimaldi K L M N and P to the South Grimaldi D E and Q to the
North-East and Rimae Grimaldi to the South-East.
Few high walls ridden by Grimaldi B to the North.
Very large and flat floor filled somber lava. Small relief to the North-East. Craterlets and clear bands.

Observation:
Interest : Exceptional formation
Observation period: 6 days after First Quarter or 5 days after Last Quarter
Minimal Instrument: 10x binoculars

Position:
Longitude: 68.6° West
Latitude: 5.2° South
Quadrant: South-West
Area: Moon West limb

Atlas:
Rukl map: 39 Grimaldi
Viscardy page: 226
Hatfield map: 3c4
Westfall Atlas: 067C 075C 080C Q3W. 233C 237C 247C
Charles Wood article: MM183
Lunar Orbiter:  IV-161-H3  IV-161-M  IV-162-M  IV-168-H3  IV-168-M  IV-169-M  IV-173-M  IV-174-M  IV-181-M
IV-187-M  IV-188-M

Name Origine:
Detailed Name: Francesco Grimaldi
17 th century italian Astronomer and physicist born in Italy
Born at: Bologne in 1618
Dead at: Bologne in 1663
Important Facts: Jesuit. Discoverer of luminous interferences and the diffraction of the light in 1650. Author of
a map of the Moon used by Riccioli in 1651.
Name Author: Riccioli (1651)
Name by Langrenus: Not named
Name by Hevelius: Palus Maraeotis
Name by Riccioli: Grimaldi

Click the link to learn more: Virtual Moon Atlas