The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-11-23
From the Scientific Americana
The Green Fields Of the Moon.

face certain dark gray spots more or less
sharply separated from the brighter por-
tions. Through the telescope these spots
appear as broad level spaces. Indeed
the earlier observers mistook them for
seas, and by that name (Latin, mare)they
are known to this day. They are not
seas, 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 ir-
regular but convenient plural nlares-are
seen to have a rolling surface like some
of our Western prairies, or to be travers-
ed by numerous long ridges, resembling
the wave-lilxe sand hills which give so
marked and peculiar an appearance to
the deserts OF Western Australia, the
leveler portions being dotted with low
mounds interspersed with small crater
pits. In many places formations Of an
apparently alluvIal character abound.
while the ancient coast lines show dis
tinct traces of water action. Two of
these lunar plains-Mdre Htmoram and
Mare Chrisatnl-are walled in completely
by lofty mountains, presenting stipend
Gus precipices to the vanished sea. The
larger mares are more like ocean beds
They run together as terrestrial oceans
do, and sometimes merge into the bright
er continental regions, without distinct
line of demarkation. In other places
they show rugged coast line, rising in
to 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 S6enitatis. Its
area is nearly $4,000 square miles. With
in its dark gray border, from thirty to
eighty miles wide, is an extensive inner
plain which at times presents fine clear
light green tint with a central peak of
pure white, the green area lying lower
apparently than the gray exterior. The
green tint is difficult to catch, except un-
der favorable conditions, and is much
weakened by the effect of numerous
small white round spots and gray ridges.
Another of the moons green plains
was discovered by Nader in the Mare
Humorlup, already mentioned. This is
one OF the smallest as well as most dis
tinctly bordered of the dark gray plains.
Its area is $4,000 square miles. The
greater portion of its interior is distinct
ly tinged a dusky green, sometimes very
marked, atfording a strong contrast with
the pure gray of the borders and high
enclosing ridges. On the west the green
area extends nearly TO the edge Of the
mare, but elsewhere as in the Mare iSerc.
nitatis, it is separated from the border by
a narrow darker gray fringe, except on
on the northwest, where the gray and
green areas merge insensibly into each
other.
Still another area of green is observed
in the Mare ChrisinHl, one of the most
conspicuous OF the moons dark plains
1t is completely enclosed and is, perhaps
the deepest of the lunar mares. Its area
is $4,000 square miles Its general tint
is gray mixed with an unmistakable
tinge OF green, especially under high il
Elimination. This verdant hue is seen
to best advantage for several days before
and after the moon is full.
These and other color changes on the
face Of the moon-as, for instance, the
darkening Of the great ring plain of Pla
to with increasing light, and like chang
es In certain long winding lunar valleys
led Beer and Nader to suggest that
they would indicate vegetation, were
vegetation possible on the surface Of the
moon. But having accepted Besseps
conclusion that there could be neither
air nor water on the lunar surface, and
consequently no life, those much respec
ted selenographers could not entertain
the hypothesis Of lunar vegetation, how
ever strong the evidence might seem.
But Bessels opinion, as our readers al
ready know, is inconsistent not only
with the conditions on which he based
his calculations, but also with the re
suits Of more recent studies OF the state
of the moons surface. So far from be
ing an airless, waterless, unalterable des.
ert, a changeless mass OF dead matter
like so much volcanic scoria the moon
is now known to have an atmosphere
of considerable volume and density. Il
present abundant evidence OF physica
activity and change, and to have in al
probability water enough to make lif,
easily possible on its surface.
The moon is dying, but very far from
dead. Being so much smaller than the
earth it has run its course more rapidly
but is still good way off from that goa
of ultimate deadness to which so many
astronomers have theoretically assigned
it. There is not the slightest adequat,
evidence, Nelson says, of the popula
view, and ''its truth would be admitted
by no astronomer who had devoted suffi
cient attention to selenography to enabl,
him to thoroughly realize the probabl,
present condition of the moon"
Such being the case, the hypothesi
that the moons green plains derive thei
color from vegetation ceases to be impos
sible or absurd. The evidence is not o
a character to justify positive assertion
that the mythical man in the moon MAJ
have abundant pasturage for his cattle
but his case ceases to be absolutely hope
less when a thorough-going selenogra
pher can say as Nelson does, that tn,
moon may possess an atmosphere tina
must be regarded as fully capable of sus
tanning various forms of vegetation o
even an advanced type; that it does no
appear how it can justly be questioned
that the lunar surface in favorable posi-
tions may yet retain a suficiency o
moisture to support vegetat<6h Of mani
kinds; and that IN a very>oonsiderabl'
portion of the entire surface of tn,
moon, the temperature would vary suffi
GENTLY to materially affect the existenc,
ofvegetable life.
Who can tell but that the aforemen
toned man in the moon may not follow
the plan of the African tribe which Liv
ingstone tells OF, and keep himself anc
his cattle in extensive lunar caveTns
where the temperature is uniform anC
water abundant; driving them forth up
on. these great green fields for fortnight
ly feed when the sun is up for its long
days and the grass in good condition.