McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-02-12
THE MOONS SURFACE.
Shadows Of the Lunar Mountains--A Noctur-
nal Study

THE MOONS SURFACE
Shadows Of the Lunar M0untains--A NOctur
nal Study.
From the comparative proximity OF
the moon and the extreme readiness
with which we may discern the visible
characters of the objects presented on
her disk, it is not surprising that our
satellite has always attracted a large
measere of attention. Before the in
vention of the telescope, little could
be seen beyond few indefinite dark
spots, but subsequently to the time OF
Calico astronomers have ever been
endeayoring
To decry new lands,
Rivers and mountains, in her spotty globe.
AS to mountains and their allied for
nations, large numbers have been dis
covered upon the moon, but no indica-
tons of rivers or seas have ever been
distinguished. There is, in fact, no
appearance on the disk Surveyed with
powerful telescope and critically ex-
amined in detaiD which would war
rant us in assuming that any consider
able body of water exists on the moon,
or that rivers or lakes form part of the
physical arrangement of her exterior.
The numerous clefts or deep burrows,
some of which are of numerous extent
and form very interesting objects of
study, were supposed by Gruithuisen
to be old, dried river beds, but the idea
is not substantiated by other observ-
ers, and it must be admitted that these
canal-like assures on the inner surface
remain involved in mystery so far as
their origin is concerned, and we APP
pear to be equally in the dark as to
their present or future purpose with
relation to the other objects which
diversity the surface of our satel-
lite.
The moon.is also found equally des-
titute of anything in the shape of an
atmosphere. A perfectly uniform SER
entity prevades her general features,
and enables them to be exhibited to us
with invariable sharpness of outline.
There are none of the clouds or OBJ
scuring yapors which are so common
a feature of the terrestrial atmosphere.
We are thus able to view the surface
with great distinctness and to trace
the details of minute objects with a
clearness and perspicuty that would be
impossible under less favorable cir
cumstances. 1t is evident that our
satellite, though it may formerly have
been involved in an atmosphere, is now
devoid of such an appendage of suffi-
cient intensity to be distinguished in
our telescopes, though it is quite posi-
BILE there may exist little attenuated
air close on the surface, or in the inter-
ior of some of the deep craters which
abound On her surface.
The most noteworthy characteristic
of the lunar landscape is its crateri-
form structure, which becomes OBJ
vious when submitted to the scrutiny
of any small telescope. The most
suitable period to observe these ap-
pearances is when the moon is in q
crescent form. At the time of the full
the effect is obliterated by the glare,
and the shadows of the mountains and
high walls surrounding the craters-
have disappeared under the vertical
sun. Some idea may perhaps be form
ed of the number of craters existing
on the surface of our satellite when it
is stated that a recently-published
chart of the surface includes more
than $4,000 such objects. Some of these
are of enormous dimensions, but for
the most part they are minute objects,
only discernible with good instru-
ments
There is little analogy exhibited be-
tween the features of the earth and
moon. The disk of the letter presents
more the appearance of precipitous,
cavernous globe, formerly the seat of
extraordinary commissions in the form
of volcanic action, than of a planet
suitable for the sustenance of animate
creatures.
Turned to the sun direct, her spotted disk
Shows mountains rise, outrageous dales de-
scend,
And cayerns deep, as optic tube describes.
The absolute freedom of the moon
from turbulent atmospheric vapors
has originated the idea of serenity
with which we are accustomed to re-
gard her appearance in the armament,
but, when we come to look closely in
to her constituent features, we see at
once that she presents the aspect of a
globe which has passed through many
vicissitudes and changes, and has now
probably reached stage of inactivity
and exhaustion. The absence of an
atmosphere and the fact that no GER
tain instances of variation in any OBJ
ject on her surface has ever been OBJ
served support this view. But our
satellite is none the less interesting on
this account, for we discern in the wild
and broken character of her landscape
the emblems of phenomena of great
import, which must have affected her
condition in past ages. 1t is true the
nature of these phenomena is in a great
measure involved in mystery, though
their effects are strikingly apparent,
but the correct Interpretation of them
will doubles be ultimately achieved as
more observers apply themselves to
this attractive branch of astronomy,
and eadeavor to search out, with ap-
pliances of greater capacity than any
hitherto constructed, the meaning of
so weird and varied CONFORMATION. =
Bristol (EagtandD Mercury.
An Ideal American.
IF there is any person in the world