Rare training-used Apollo lunar surface map plate, signed and inscribed by Apollo 16 LMP Charlie Duke—the 10th man to walk on the lunar surface! 
 
The plate is inscribed "The rugged Central Lunar Highlands just west of our landing site at Descartes. Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 LMP"
 
This double plate shows the rugged region immediately to the West of the Apollo 16 landing site at Descartes-Cayley. Plate 23 features craters Ritchey, Hind, and Hipparchus' minor craters. Plate 24 shows Halley (bottom, black), with Albategnius dominating the left side and Hipparchus dominating the right side. The bottom edge of Müller can be seen at the top of the map. This double plate features a large swath of Smyth's Sea, with crater Haldane dominating the center of the plate, the top half of Runge (near bottom center), with Talbot above.
 
These plates come from the Apollo 16 Lunar Module Orbit Monitor Chart (SKB 32100122-384, Training Chart #5), used in crew training for the fifth lunar landing at Descartes.  Each plate shows a view of the lunar surface as seen during the descent, with significant landmarks labeled for quick reference.  The orbital path of the lunar module, as well as time and distance scales, are overlayed on each plate in white.
 
This double plate (which covers 2 minutes of the descent trajectory toward Descartes) measures ~10.5” x 15.5”, with a horizontal fold separating the two plates — a perfect size for framing and display!  Condition is fine.
 
This item comes with the following: a holographically-sealed Orbital Artifacts COA detailing provenance and authenticity guarantee; 2) Letter of Attestation certifying the origin of the training-used map plates; 3) copy of RR Auction Auction Certificate; 4) copy of original sales record documenting my ownership of the original training-used Orbit Monitor Chart; and 5) a hi-res digital photo of Duke holding the signed map plate.  This item is 100% guaranteed genuine and as described, and comes with a 100% guarantee of authenticity.
 
What is the LM Orbit Monitor Chart? — The Lunar Module “Orbital Monitor Chart” chart (from which this plate comes) covers the LM's ground track through the first complete lunar orbit before landing.  This is a flight-ready article, identical to the one used in lunar module Orion during its final descent to the Apollo 16 landing site in the Descartes Highlands.  It consists of 24 numbered printed B&W photographic panels, each  ~10.5" x 7.75”, taped together to form a continuous loop map that folds into a compact accordion-style book.  When folded, the crewmembers could view two panels at a time, showing the LM’s progress toward the landing site.  Unfolded, the complete series of maps measures ~186”.  
 
The chart was used for lunar landmark identification and verification of LM positions above the surface prior to the lunar landing.  Each panel shows approximately 5500 square miles of the moon's surface, and the total area of the maps covers the sunlit portion of the near-side of the Moon covered by the LM before landing. Generated from unmanned Lunar Orbiter missions of 1966-67, the chart provided an accurate prediction of where the Lunar Module would be, and what features would be visible to the crew, at any time during the descent phase. During the flight period on this chart, the LM was face down which allowed Young and Duke to view these lunar features outside their windows.  
 
The LM’s ground track for certain revolutions is shown on the maps as bold white lines.  The left side of every other the panel shows the countdown in minutes (as the LM flies from east to west) before reaching the orbital position over the landing site, after which the count increases in minutes until reaching the eastern edge (limb) of the Moon. Longitude and latitude are shown numerically and in black lines on each panel, and a scale of distance on the surface (in nautical miles) is shown on every other panel.  

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