Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03
A Cracked Satellite.
THE MOON IN PROCESS OF DISRUPTION
CHEERFUL OUTLOOK FoRUs.
From the Utica Herald

THE MOON IN PROCESS OF DIsRUPrIoN-A
CHEERFUL OUTLOOK FoRUs.
From the Utica Herald
The story of a cracked and disintegrating
moon, which is made public through the well
about it which, If fully assured as to their au-
thenticity, will arouse good deal OF discussion
among astronomers. The story is of Luigi Cac-
ciatore, young man with an idea, and a for
tune OF about $4,000, student at the Observa-
tory OF Marselles. This young ian was so de-
voted to his idea that he heaped his little for
tune upon 1t, and, with telescope and other
Southern seas. Before embarking he handed
to his old instructor roll of manuscript, upon
which was inscribed the idea which the youth
the expense of his time aud fortune. He be-
ieved, speaking unscientifcally, that the moon
was altogether more cracked than modern as
tronomers imagined. and he went to the South
seas alone; that, being there in that region
where passed the deepest shadow, he
might see the sunlight peeping through the
cracked moon at the time of the next eclipse
He went away to the South, even to Pitcairn's
Island, erected his rude observatory gained An
old sailor to assist him, and the two, with ewes
front and instruments pointed, AWAITED the
shadow. 1t came. Straight through the rugged
rocks the ragged sunlight shone as one sees
CLEAN through a crack in a door. CRY of ioy
came from beneath the telescope. The sailor
turned photographer, caught three negatives eli
idea possesses now proof TO him suffi Gent tn At
his belief was not q vision but scientific reali
~, and he writes to his old instructor in France
with all the enthusiasm OF q boy who has
stOrmed snow fort, and with all the excIama-
ton points of q successful lover. The Young
man saw enough during his lonely vigil on Pit
cairns Island to make him declare THAT our
lovely satellite is not only shell, and not only
shell full Of cracks, but shell that is crushed
in upon some portion of its periphery, and
shell that Is now cruUbling to ruin with q con-
slant, . savage, frightful velocity"
The old Professor at Marseilles, commenting
upon the youths observations and records
which accompanied this letter, says he has
"pushed his discovery very near to the point OF
demonstration" and then the old gentlem IMAM
takes hand in running things with Q cracked
moon, as follows" II the Crumblng be con-
nected with and dependent upon any such in
tense internal volcanic action - Luigi seems to
suspect, the fual disruption would be so viole at
a. to project some portions of the moon sheer
out Of their orbit and down upon us with con-
sequences Of the most serious character. Such
an impact, II IL were Of suffi cient force, might
In turn dislodge the earth from Its orbit send it
grazing on spiral into the sun, or flung on a
resistlees force might, In falling, crush in the
surface OF our own planet, break through its
crust and deluge Us with lava aud steam, or
suffocate us with escaping gases from our own
subterrsnean laboratory"
Is not that beautiful paragraph? The read
er may think that the moon Is not the only
cracked thing In existence, but restrain the
thought, for the above occurs just over the sig
nature Of WON De Pontecoulant, Of the OBJ
servatory Of Marseilles.