The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-01
xcIlssz OF TEE NOON.
Hsr Hasurs-Iaausnss ON the Earth.
WHAT SCIENTISTS SAY.

The eclipse Of the moon, which occurred
between 10 and o'clock in the night be
tween Saturday and Sunday Last, Oct. 24ti
and 18th, was an event which excited thu
greatest interest among all classes of peo
pie. The N. Y. Herald, always enterpris
ing, published several diagrams and photo
graphs showing the different phases of the
eclipse, besides many columns OF instruc.
tive reading matter on the subject of
eclipses in general, the nature of the moon,
etc. From its issue of last Sunday we
cupy the following:
At forty eight minnt past eleven o'clock
last night q faint shadow passed over the
surface of the moon, and little while after
her fair face became totally immersed in
shade. She bad not donned SO thick veil
before In eighteen years, and while she
wore it she became all the more interesting
because of her dusky and sombre costume.
We can we'll imagine the anguish and
terror of those, ignorant of science and the
laws which govern the movements of the
celestials, upon beholding one Of them
gradually disappearing, whirling from bril-
liant radiance into total obscurity, chang
Ing the aspect at once of both earth and
sky and then rushing back to light and
brilliancy again from behind the gloomy
barriers. We can well understand how the
barbarians are won't upon such occasions to
couch in terror stricken groups, and, while
tearing their hair and mutilating their
bodies, cry aloud upon their imaginary,
impotent gods to deliver them even to us,
among whom the printing press has rem
dered science popular and universal. a
sight so extraordinary and phenomenal as
that which occurred q few hours ago is one
calculated to fill the spectator with wonder
a nd 81 L. r.
understands that all he sees proceeds from
natural causes and after certain fixed, un-
changeable laws.
The different aspects aud phases of the
moon at different periods were q source Of
great perplexity to the ancient astronomers.
but the magnificent instruments Of modern
science have removed all these, and en-
abled rs to map out the moon and gain q
clear conception of verythipg that appears
upon its surface.
WHAT IS THE MooNf
Possessing, as>Re all do, q great deal of
says the able and eloquent Pro-
fessor o. M.Mitchel, "no subject has ex-
cited so/deep an interest as the actual
condition of the face of the moon. Every
one. desires to know whether the other
worlds are like our own. Have they oceans
and seas. lakes. Rivera, islands and CONT
nentsS Does their coil resemble our owne
Does vegetable life there manifest itself in
in every variety of grass and flowers, and
shrub and tree Are there extended forests
and spicy groves, filed with multitudinous
animals In this far off world Z And, above
all, are the bright orbs we see over our
heads inhabited by rational beings like |
manqn
Concerning this latter question science |
theori1es and presumes, but it does not |
actually know. "The moon, destitute of |
both water and atmosphere" says the
arianffet 6 10 -.
form of life imbued with the faculties which |
distinguish men," If q person could be
waited to the chilly surface of the moon |
(supposing him to be enabled to survive
the loss of our terrestrial atmosphere and
20 Withstand the dreadful temperature of
through the space beyond the regions of
our atmosphere) he would find not man,
woman nor child; no animal life of any
description no rushing of rivers, no rust.
ing OF forests, no moaning of winds. No
'ongs of birds, no sound of any description
10 bleak and still as death. He could not
lear the sound of q gun, though it were
ired off at his ear, for there is no atmos.
'here along whose "palpitating bosom it
8 possible to convey sounds to the brain.
All the oxygen gas which once enveloped
~ the elements existing thereon, and there
8 NO longer any of the vital fluid remain
ng. The change from day to night is in
there being no twilight. If
yer water rushed through her dark, deep
alleys, it is now transformed into colossal
glaciers, which can never melt, and which,
ven if they could be dissolved, would fail
o rush downward with the terrific fury so
ommon to the Alpine masses of ice and
now, because standing on the moon OBJ
ects have only one-sixth of the weight
hey would have when placed on our own
lobe. A man of l20 pounds, avoirdupois,
Tould find that he only weighed twenty
ounds on the moon. In addition to this :
dvantage of diminished gravity he would
nd that it took the sun fourteen and a
aif days to rise and set, thus furnishing a .
ay of this length and night of the same .
uration. During this long night be could a.. .
lew the Garth, which never rises ar sets, = i.
ut is constantly visible to that portion of !.
le moon which is turned towards us. The :
arth would appear as a vast moon,
lirteen times as large as our moon seems /.
} us, and would furnish light during tho a..
and end of the night. At y