The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-09-02
GREAT ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES,

NEW IUNAr DHUOFEnlES.

Until the lOu "a January the observations were
chiefly directed to the stars in the southern signs,
in which, without the aid of the hydro oxv"o" ro
Electors, countless number of new stars ncbulc
were discovered. But we shall defer correspon-
dents account of these to future pages for the pur
pose of no longer Withholding from our readers the
more generally and highly interesting discoveries
which were made in the luncr world. And for this
purpose, too, we shall defer DIR. Grants elaborate
mathematical details of the corrections which Sir
lIerschel has made in the best tables of moons
TOPICAL sidcria and synodic revolutions and of the
phenomena of the syzyges ON which great part
of the established lunar theory depends.
! 1t was about half past nine o'clock on the night
of the 10th, the moon having then advanced within
four days OF her ibcration that the astronomer ad-
Justcd his instruments for the inspection of her east
ern limb The whole immense power of his tcle-
scope was applied and to its focal image about
one-half ofthe power OF his microscope On remov-
ing the of the latter, the field of view
covered throughout its entire area, with beautifully
distinct and even vivid representation of bdSdiick
rock. Its color greenish brown, and the width
of the columns defined by their intcrstccs on the
canvass, was invariably twenty-eight inches. No
fracture whatever, appeared in the mass first pre-
sented but in few seconds shelving pile appeared
of five six columns width, which showed their
figure to be hcXagona and their articuations similar
to those of the basaItick formation at Staffa This
PERCEPTIONS shelf was profuscly covered with dark
red flower, precisely SIMILAR" says Dr. Grant, to
the Papaver Rhnas, or rose poppy of our sublunary
cornfelds aud this was the first organic production
of nature in foreign world ever revealed to the eyes
of men,"
The rapdity of the moons ascension, or rather
of the carths durnal rotation, peing nearly equal to
tive hundred yards in second, would have etfcctu-
ally prevented the inspection or even the discovery
of objects minute these, but for the admirable
mechanism which constantly regulates, under the
guidance of the sextant the required attitude of the
lens. But its operation was found to be consum-
matey perfect that the observers could detan the
object upon the field of view for any period they
might desire. The specimen of luner vegetation
however, which they had already seen, had decided
question of too exciting interest to induce then,
to retard its exit. Ii had demonstrated that the
moon has an atmosphere constituted similarly our
own, and capable of sustaining organized, and there
fore, most probably animal life. The basaltic rocks
continued to pass over the inclined canvass planet
0 through three successive diameters when verdan,
dcclvity OF great beauty, appeared, which occupied
two more. This was preceded by another mass OF
nearly tho former hegh at the base of which they
/ were at length delighted to perceive that novelty,
luner forest. The trees" says Dr.. Grant, for
c period of ten minutes, were of one UNMARRIED kind
and unlike any have seen, cNcer' thc largest class
of yews in the English church ards, which they in
S some respect resemble These were followed by q
n level green plain which measured by the painted
circle canvass, of forty mine feet, have
: been more than half mile in breadth and then
appeared fine forest of frs, unequivocal frs
G ever have seen cherished in the bosom Of my ma
r tive mountains Weared with the long continuaucc
d of these greatly reduced the magniiying powe
of the microscopc, without cclipsing either of th,
: reilectors and immediaely perceived that we hod
been inscnsibly dccending, as it were, mountain
Gus district ofhighy diyershed and romantic charac-
v ter and that w were on tha verge D. iaNs, oI
Il inland sea but OF uHat relative locality or extent
f we yet too greatly magnifcd to determine On
introducing the ieeblcst achromotic lens possess
\ cd, found that the water, whose boundary We
had Just discovered, answered in general outline tc
the Mare Nubium of Riccolli, 10y which we detected
that instead Of commencing, we supposed, on the
eastern longitude of the planet some delay in the
elevation of the great lens, had thrown us nearly
upon the axis of her equator. However, she wa:
free country, and we not, as yet attached to any
particular province, aud moreover, since we could n
any moment, occupy our intended position, we agar
slid in magic lenses 10 survey the shores OF Tia,
Mare Nubium. Why Riccoli so termed it, unless