Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-03
The Latest Studio. Of the nee Of the
Moon.


face. The lecture opened with an exposition.
showing that the moon wasthe smallest heavenly
body visible to the naked eye. By diagrams the
size OF the moon, as compared with the earth and
planets. was shown. Explanation OF the phases
Wss made. and the fact that the moon shows us
only one face was dwelt on and illustrated.
"That tremendous changes are not going on
now in the MOON" said the lecturer sis very evil
dent to all students. That no change at all is
taking place is not proved It is only within the
last few years that fine maps and photographs
have been taken. 50 that 1t IL only lately that
astronomers have been In good position tor
study. Some authorities consider that the
moon is burnt-Out planet, an arid and barren
waste, In which no change can be expected
Newcomb writes that to whatever geological
commissions the moon may have been subjected
IN the past IT seems as If she had now reached
state In which no farther change was TO take
place unless BY the action of some new cause
This VIII not seem surprising II We reflect what
m important part our atmosphere PLAYS In the
changes that are going on In the surface of the
earth. The growth of forests the formation OF
deltas. the washing away OF mountains, disinte-
grafton and blackenng Of rocks and the decay of
buildings. are all due to the action of air and
water. the latter acting In the form OF rain
Changes Of temperature powerfully reinforce the
action OF these forces. but are not of themselves
sunicient to produce any effect. Now. on the
",
organic matter. the Causes Of disinteeration and
decay are all absent. A marble building man
ufactured on the moons surface would remain
century after century. Just as il was left It Is
true that there might be bodies 50 friab!e that
the expansions and contractions due to the
great changes Of temperature to which the
moons surface Is exposed would cause the
bodies to crum6le, but whatever crumbling
would thus be caused would soon be done with
and then no further change would occur
Nasymth states. upon the strength Of close OBJ
seryation, continued with assiduity through
thirty years. that he has never had the suspi-
caon suggested to his eyes OF any actual change
whatever having taken place in any feature or
minor detail OF the lunar surface Still there
are others. equally good observers who hold
that changes In minor details have been noticed
Many Of these supposed changes have been ex-
plalned by variations OF Nominations. This re-
mark Is trle Of Schweter's and the elder
Herschel's observations OF changes. We know
the lunar objects mainly by the shadows which
they cast. aud the appearances OF these lunar
features and their shadows vary considerably
under different angles OF illumination SO that
changes have been spoken OF which were not due
% any change In the object observed but
been caused By the shifting Of the shadows cast
Definition, or. In other words, Cur power OF see
Ing thing clearly. Is better at one tine than mt
another. which IL due to atmospheric effects. 20
that at one tine We see ali object indstinc,iy
while at another time We have clearer view OF
i. and the two appearances differ largely In their
dsea.ls. Hence changes sometimes reported are
merely due TO changes Of definition
Aliusion was also made by the lecturer 10 the
apparent changes caased by the moons libra
dons aud thea he went ON to speak OK Schmidt.
Of Athens, who, he said. was me highest antlor-
lty On selenography. This Observers detailed
oT1wings Of the moon. he said. cusss:is::sy fj.c
uoxk q iorfy years, form small library IN then-