The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-15
[From the Scientific Americana
The Green Fields Of the Moon.

assisted eve readily distinguishes on her
face certain dark gray spots more or less
sharply separated from the brighter
portions. Through the telescope these
-pots appear as broad level spaces, re-
sembling terrestrial seas. Indeed the
earlier ohseryers mi-took them for seas,
and by that name Latin, mare, they
are known TO this day. They are not
| .ea-, however, but ancient sea beds, now
probably nearly, if not quite, destitute
/ Of water; vast arid basins like the Sahara,
or the great interior Utah. basin of our
own continent.
| Examined more closely, these dried
up sea beds-to which Nelson applies
| the irregular but convenient plural
nares-are seen to have rolling surface
like some of our western prairies, or to
be trsversed by numerous long ridges,
resembling the wave-like sand hills
which give 80 marked and peculiar an
appearance to the deserts of Western
Australia, the leveler portions being
dotted with low mounds interpreted
with small crater pits. In many places
formations Of an apparently alluvial
character abound, while the ancient
coast lines show distinct traces of water
action. Two of these lunar plains
Mare Humorum and Mare Chrisium-
are walled in completely by lofty noun
tains, presenting stupendous precipices
10 the vanished. The larger mares are
more like ocean beds. They run togeth-
er as terrestrial oceans, do, and some
times merg. into the brighter continent
al regions, without distinct line of de-
markation. In other places they show a
rugged coast line, rising into cliffs and
peaks, and pierced at times by valleys
, and ravines.
One Of the most conspicuous OF these
, lunar ocean beds, also one of the deepest
, is known as the Mare Serenitatis. Its area
is nearly $4,000 square miles. Within
its dark gray border, from thirty to
eighty miles wide, is an extensive inner
plain which at times presents fine clear
D light green tint with central streak Of
pure white, the green area lying lower
apparently than the gray exterior. The
green tint is difficult to catch, except
: under favorable conditions, and is much
weakened by the effect of numerous
small white round spots and gray ridges.
Another of the moons green plains
D was discovered by Nader in the Mare
s Humorunl, already mentioned. This is
J one of the smallest as well as most dis.
e tinctly bordered ofthe dark gray plains
Its area is $4,000 square miles. The
! greater portion OF its interior is dis
? tinctly tinged dusky green, sometimes
y very marked, sffording strong contrast
: with the pure gray of the borders and
J. high enclosing ridges. On the west the
green area extends nearly to the edge o.
n the mare, but elsewhere. IA in the Mar
" Seenitatis. it is separated from the hord
Il er by narrow darker gray fringe, ex
e cept ON the northwest, where the gra,
Is and green areas merge insensibly into
70 each other.
Still another area of green is observed
J, in the Mare Chrisium, one Of the mos
y conspicuous Of the moons dark plains
l. 1t is completely enclosed and is, perhap
= the deepest Of the lunar mares. Its are;
l. is 7s, 900 square miles. Its general tin
10 is gray mixed with an unmistakabl'
y tinge of green, especially under high il
ie Elimination. This verdant hue is seeI
i to best advantage for several days befor
;" and after the moon is full.
" These and other color changes on tn
9, face of the moon-as, for instance, tn
Z" darkening of the great ring plain o
Plato with increasing light, and ik
'e changes in certain long winding luna
B. valleys-led Beer and Nader to sugges
that they would indicate vegetation
were vegetation possible on the surfac
-. of the moon. But having accepted Bes
sells conclusion that there be neither al
- nor water on the lunar surface, and cor
T sequently no life, those much respecte
selenographers could not entertain th
"A hypothesis of lunar vegetation,sshoweve
:. strong the evidence might seem.
But Bessel's opinion, as our reader
already know, is inconsistent not onl
with the conditions on which he base
his calculations, but also with the resul
Of more recent studies of hesitate of II
!, state of the moons surface. So {;
from being an airless, waterless, unalte
~ able desert, chapgeless mass of des
=, matter, like 80 much volcanic scori
the moon is now known to have an a
mosphere Of considerable volume ar
density, to present abundant evidence
,.I physical activity and change, and
have in all probability water enough
~ make life easily possible on its surfae
- The moon is dying, but very far fro
,.I dead. Being so much smaller than t
81 earth, it has run its course more rapid
but is still a good way off from th
goal of ultimate deafness to which
=. many astronomers have theoretical
-. assigned it. There is not the slight
adequate evidence, Nelson says, of t
L;l popular view, and ats truth would
,d admitted by no astronomer who had {
,,n voted sufficient attention to selenograp
,ha to enable him to thoroughly realize I
,oh probable present condition Of the mool
Iu- Such being the case, the hypothe
w. that the moons green plains DER
H. their color from vegetation ceases to
,h, impossible or absnrd. The evidence
r., 1nt of character TO justify posit
-. assertion that the mythical man in
81, moon may have abundant pasturage
-. his cattle; but his case ceases to be ND
,., lutely hopeless when Il thorough -go
-elenographer can say, as Nelson dc
that the moon may possess an atm
phere that must be regarded as fu
e II capable OF sustaining various forms
'ers vegetation Of even an advanced ty
ch a that it does not appear how it can jus