Despite programs like the National Endowment for the Arts, Uncle Sam is woefully monochromatic when it comes to federal graphic design. In other countries, paper currency is a work of national treasure, and topographical maps are often so beautiful they could hang in a museum. In the good ol’ USA, though, it took more than two centuries before we put more than a smidge of color on the money and even then it was so desaturated Pantone would barely recognize it. USGS topo maps have all the lyricism of something you’d find on the bottom of your shoe.

What wonderful surprise, then, to come across the U.S. Geologic Survey atlas of the moon. Into a world of chamber music screeches Jimi Hendrix–a blast of color, a wave of energy, in-your-face psychedelia that is at last appropriate to subject. Because what is the moon if not psychedelic? Forget the drab dusty gray of NASA photos and think instead of the tides, of werewolves, of Pink Floyd, of the rock that put luna in lunatic. The moon howls at us and for once Uncle Sam howls back.

Here’s a small gallery from the atlas. If you want to know what the colors mean, download this extra-large image of the near side.

Tagged as: space