Litchfield enquirer., 1835-09-17
GREAT ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES,
 LATELY MADE BY SIR JOHN HERSCHEL, L.L. D. E. R. 8. Sc
 /fSoncl,dedl

Rv SIR JOHN HERSCHEL, L.L. D. E. R. 8. Sc.
 (COHciudedJ
 aNex, .o this the most remarkable formation in ocea" .I,;,.de md circ"mIere"cs s,a"J;"r 3SO miles E s. E. commonly known aS AristarcIus tNO. l2l and marked in the chart as large mountain with was probably wont to be in ancient ages, volcanic crater, awfully rivalling MODns Ena and Vesu- vHs a the most terrible epochs of their reign U"- favorable te state of the atmosphere was q" close exanlinauoo we could easily mark its illumination of lhe water, over circuit of 60 miles, live had be- fore retained donG of the power Ot lunar vOea- noes 10 throw fragments of their craers 60 lar beyond she ooOs attraction that they would necessarily vale to this earih and thus account Tor lhe multi des of massive aerOlites which have ailen and been found upon our surface, the view which we had Oi Aristarchus would have set scepIcism forever at rest. This mountain, however, though standing 300 miles n fhe ocean, is not absolutely insular, for it connected with the main land by four chains of mOun- lans which branch from tt as a common centre.
 "The next great ocean is situated on the western side ofihe meridian line divided nearly in the midst by the line of the equator, and is about 900 miles M north and snu,I, extent. It is marked in the caa- lOgue, and Gancifuy called the Mare TranqUila- tis It is rather large than o6e ocean, for 1t IS ss ns Se Ss GT ands of large s1e and quite detached from ils shores to be found within it; though several sublime vol canoes exist on it's northern boundary: one of the most siupendous of which is within l2O miles of the Mare Neciars, bePrs mentioned. Immediately con tgaoas to hs second great ocean, aud separated from
 only by concalena,iOn of dislocaled continents and isands, ls the .i.ird marked D; aud koown as the Mare Serenitatis It is nearly square, being nbout S8O miles in length and width. But it has one mos, extraordinary pecuary which is, perfectly straight ridge of hills certainly not more than five miles wide, which starts in direct line from its southern to it's northern shore, dividing it exactly in the midst.
 This singular ridge, is perfectly sMi geneTis being NtOgether unlike any mountain chain either on this Fth or on the moon itseE It is 30 very keen, that
 great concentration of the solar light readers tt vs
 %o small telescopes; but it's character is so siri-
 peculiar that we could not resist the temptation <depart from our predetermined adherence 10 gen eral survey, and examine 1t particularly. Our lens G brought it within the optical distance of 300 yards and ito whole width of four five miles survey within that of our canvass. Nothing that we had hitherto seea, more highly excited our as,Onishme"t Believe it believe t not, it one entire crystalizaton Its edge throughout its whole length of $40 miles an angle of solid crystal brilliant piece Of Der bys.re spar just broughl from mine and containing scarcely fracture chasm from end to end!- What prodigious influence must our thirteen times larger globe have exercised upon this saellite when embryo n the womb of lime, the passive subject Of chemical af6niiy We found that wonder and ason- ishneni, excited by objects in this distant world, were hut modes and attributes of ignorance, which should give place to elevated expectation. and rev. erentiaI confidence in the illmitabe power of the Creator. ts -.+ t." .f v first great ocean. has often been considered fourth bat we found it to be merely of the first class entirely surrounded by land, and much more encum. bered with prOmonlories and sla nds than has been exhibited n any lunar chart One of it's promsn,o- ries from the vicinity of Pitaus, lNo. l9l in slightly carved and very narrow line to B9lliaios, 2l which is merely circular head to , 264 miles from it's starting place. This is another mountan"us ring, a marine volcano, nearly burnt out, and sumberng upon it's cMders. But Piinus, standing upon a bold cape flhe southern shore, apparently exalting tho might and majesty of its ires The atmosphere being quite free from vapor, we introduced the magni' fers to examine large bright circle of hills which sweep close beside the western abutmenls ot his ha' ming moun,ain The hills were either of snow white marble or semi.;Innsparent crystal, could not dis. tinguish which, and they bounded aaother ot these my descrpons are of paradisaicai beauty aud lerti
 INand ke pri@iiiye Eden in the bliss oi their lnhah- ilanis pr. Herschei here again predica'ed another the AamiSg mountain Bullaldus, must be so grent a local convenience dwellers iR s valley duri"g the long periodical absence of solar light as to render it apace of p"pulo"s resort tor tue 'nhanans o aii ne adjacent regions, more especially as iis huwark of hills afforded it inialble security against any volcanic eruption that could We therefore applied our foll power to s*plors " and TIC" '"deea "a' our re-
 'Tbe very first objec. in this valley that appeared upon our canvass was . magnificent work oi art II was temple-a fane fdevotion, ofscience, which, when consecrated to the Creator, s devotion of the lOfiies order; for n exhibits ha attributes purely tree from the masquerade attire and blasphemo9s car'ca- nature of his hand to sanction it's aspirations. IL was an equ triangular temple, built of polished sap- phire, or of some resplendent blue stone which, like i displayed myriad Of points ot golden ligh. twink
 
 though 6ny feet in diameter was too limited 10 receive more than sixth part of 1t at vew and the first part that appeared was aeary the centre of one of it's sides, being three square columns six feet n diameter at their base, and gently iapering 10 height of seven .iy feet. The inteFcolumniati0ns were each twelve feet We instantly reduced our magnitude % as to embrace the whole structure in view, and then in. deed it was most beautiful. The roof was composed Of some yellow metal, and divided into three compart. menis, which were not triangular planes nclinng to the centre, but su,divded cnrved and separated, so represent Of violently agtated flames ris. ing from a common source of confagration and ter minating in wildly waving points, This design was manifest and too sklf1lly executed to be mssa. ken for single moment. Through few openings in these metallic flames, perceived large sphere of darker kind ol metal nearly of clouded copper COG ss if hierogyphically consuming it, This was the soofj but upon each o the three corners there was
 small sphere of apparently the same metal as the large centre one; and these rested upon kiDd Ol C0rOce, quite in any order o architecture with which we
 are acquainted bot nevertheless exceedingly graceful and impressive. 1t like half opened scroll, swelling of boldly from inc roof and hanging far the walls in severa! convoutions. was of the same metal the flames. and on each of the sides of the building t was open both ends. The columns, six each side, were simply plain shafts. whou, capitals or pedestas. or cay description of ornament; nor was ,apy perceived in other parts of the ediice. It open oa each side, and seemed to contain neither seats, aars Dor ocriUgsi but it was light and airy structure, nearly hundred feet high from Us white Glaiening fooV 10 s glowing roof and t stood upon . round greeH emnence on the eastern side ot the va
 which were in every respect fac-smilee of this one but s0 a;;;her did we perceive any vsants. except aocks of wild doves. which agh,ed upon s lus,rous r;nnaeiea Had the deyoiees 0G these temples gONe