The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-18
SECRETS OF THE SKY.
Lunar Observations Through the Great Rus
sian Telescope-vast Craters Inspected
Sunrise on the Moon.
New York Her aid.


of the great Russian telescope ere its depart
ure for its eastern home The aspect of the
sky was not propitious, as it was more or
less overspread with Clouds which only oc-
casionally through friendly breaks permitted
the glinting moonbeams to strike through.
That the reader may understand the method
of the observations conducted, let him imag-
inc pier of solid masonry twenty-seven feet
in height. On this the great telescope is
mounted. 1t is giant tube, forty-fve feet
in length ard forty inches in diameter. Great
as are these proportions, they become magni-
fled by the conditions under whichIthey were
viewed, and the immense tube looms grandly
up over the heads of the party against the
dark sky.
The reader may remember that a celestial
object begins to set after it passes the me-
ridian, sinking lower and lower until it
passes below the horizon. In observing,
then, it is as if the object that is being
viewed were at one end of the telescope, the
observer being at the other. As the object
declines toward the western horizon, the
other end of the telescope, with the observer,
must rise in the opposite direction else the
object passes out of the field of view, falling
to the west of the telescope and below it. 1t
is the moon that the party has come to see,
and she has already passed the meridian. She
Is, therefore, setting and the observers must
be prepared to follow her with the telescope
in order to keep her in the field of view. But
here a difficulty arises. This mounting of
the telescope Is only temporary and for
testing its power and performance,
and 1t is not intended to enable
one to follow the moon or
any other celestial object very far
from the meridian. A temporary stand has
been erected on which steps are placed, and
as far as these will permit one to point the
telescope he can follow an object, and no
further The clouds still persistently cover
the moon, allowing only occasional glimpses.
Oh these advantage is taken, and we scan its
surface even through layers of intervening
cloud. Among the party are experts in the
use of the telescope, and they are surprised
at the quantity of light that is brought down,
as well as at the elearness and variety of de-
tail displayed, though only low magnify
ing power has been used
But this is not what the party came to see.
They want to see the moon at its best, and
they are almost ready to give up in despair.
But the prospect brightens. The clouds are
passing over. A little more and the sky will
be entirely clear. The platform is moved to
take advantage of the occasion and to pro.
dong the observation to the last moment
practicable. Again they are at the eye,piece.
The detail is wonderfully clear. The
ragged line of the terminator is
shown in all its irregularity, But
more power is needed. The eye-piece
is removed, and one of high power substi-
tuted Again they look. The solid earth
slips away from under their feet They have
left it behind them. They are one hundred
miles above the moon, sailing over its sur
face. The scenery below the party on which
they fix their gaze is unanimously irregular,
and yet bears throughout general resem-
blance. Here is a specimen: A circular cav
q ~ IN eli do md fba ipta
or the other being brightly illuminated.
They call it cavity, but in the interior it
seems level, except near the center, from
which there rises a cone or dome. bright on
one side. on which the sun shines, and cast
ing a shadow on the other along the floor of
the enclosure. That central mound is higher
than Mount Washington. The enclosing
walls which fence it in are higher still and
the enclosure itself is more than fifty miles
across. This is the type of lunar crater on
grand scale. Others however, are larger,
their diameters being from two to three
times that which we examine, and
covering surface in some instances
of nearly twenty thousand square
miles. From this they range down to
insignificance. There are more than $4,000
craters on the moon, which indicate how
prevalent volcanic action once was upon its
surface. What spectacle our satellite must
have presented at the period of greatest vol
canic disturbance. Fifty thousand craters
many of them rivalling in height the loftier
mountains of our own globe. Here they are
mixed together in inextricable confusion.
No wonder if the observing party are bewil-
dered They have no time to study the era
teTsin detail; they must take them en- masse.
sNow the observers are on the terminator
that line which separates the light and dark
parts Of the moon and which seems so even
to the naked eye displaying now every con-
ceivable irregularity. What is that glitter
Inr in ho Aarlr Ici fla
some artificial work flashing the suns rays
back, telling taeof, .habitation and indus
try? No; it is mountain peak catching the
solar beam, while the surrounding region is
In darkness On that peak the lunar day is
dawning, the long day of 354 4 hours. Could
the party have time to watch it they would
see the sunlight gradually steal along its
rugged tanks and slowly the whole
landscape become illumined But bit
would only repeat in its general features that
on which they had been gazing. AS the sun
Silds that mountain top does any living being
hail the beams that usher in the day? Now,
II fever, is the time TO ascertain if there is life
in the moon. The observers are gazing
through the greatest telescope in the world
They strain their eyes to see some sign, some
token that the landscape they survey is not
desert. They are willing to be convinced
where facts command conviction. 1t is grand,
1t Is magnificent, but the magnifcence of desc
lation. Where, then, are the cities, the for
tfications, theeultiyated fields, that charmed
theseye and delighted the fancy of the older
astronomers. is it possible that these once
existed and are now no moreP Has malevo-
lent influence accompanied the growth of
our Instruments and dissipated them pre-
cisely in proportion to the Improvements Il
our optical powers? Or must we believe that
the older astronomers, viewing things dimly,
and too eager to be convinced of that which
they longed to believe, made up for the JIM
pertectlons of their instruments by the brill
lancy of their imaginations? But the party
have no time for speculation.
What is that now which attracts the OBJ
servers attention? 1t is hollow groove in
the surface of the moon. The party can
trace its course, if they will, for hundred
nilas IL Is nearly q hnlf mila in denth nnd