Mission Moon 3-D
Reliving the Great Space Race
Incredibly, 21 July 2019 will mark 50 years since Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. Mission Moon 3-D: Reliving the Great Space Race celebrates this epic feat of exploration in a unique fashion, with a huge collection of photographs documenting the space race from both the American and Soviet points of view. But what’s really special here is that they are presented as stereoscopic pairs that can be viewed in 3-D, using the ‘Lite Owl’ viewer that’s embedded in the back cover of the book. This brings literally a whole new dimension to some very famous photographs, along with a large number of stunning shots that aren’t as well known.
The images that take such a starring role in this volume have been assembled by one of Britain’s best-known astrophysicists and 3- D photography enthusiasts, Dr Brian May, who some readers may also be familiar with from his musical career with Queen. The images complement an enthralling story written by American science journalist David J. Eicher that details the trials and tribulations of the scientists, engineers, astronauts and cosmonauts involved, from the first tentative flights into Earth orbit to the Apollo lunar landings less than a decade later.
In practice it’s not always easy to visualise the images in 3- D, especially to begin with. Learning how to use the viewer properly takes persistence, and some readers might be tempted to give up entirely. But that would be a huge mistake: stick with it and your efforts will be rewarded with some stunning views. Neil Armstrong’s iconic photograph of Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface is here, as are some extraordinary shots looking back towards Earth. Even frames that appear to be unremarkable in 2- D take on a whole new depth, revealing huge craters and otherworldly landscapes. It’s the next best thing to being there yourself. ★★★★★