Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-02-28
THE MOONS SUgFACE.
Shadows Of the Lunar Mountains--A Noctur-
nal Study.


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
mcascre 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 as ronomers have ever been
iendcavoring
To decry new lands,
/ Rivers and mountains, in her spotty globe.
AS to mountains and their allied for
Imations, large numbers have been dis
covered upon the moon, but no indica-
tiOns of rivers or seas have ever been
distinguished. There is, in fact, no
appearance on the disk Surveyed with
apowerful telescope and critically ex-
amincd 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 extcnt
and form very interesting objects of
study, were supposed by Gruithuisen
to be old, dried river beds, but the idea
is not substantiatcd by other observ-
crS, and it must be admitted that these
canal-like lissures on the inner surface
remain involved in mystery so far as
their origin is concerned, and wo 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 tho shape of an
atmosphere. A perfectly uniform SER
entity prevadcs her general features,
and enables them to be exhibited to us
with invariabie sharpness of outline.
There are none of the clouds or OBJ.
scuring vapors which are SO common
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
clcarncss and perspicuty that would be
impO ,sible 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
bic 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 APP
pcarances is when the moon is in a
crescent form. At the time of the full
tho effect is oblterated 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 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-
mcDtS
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,
caycrnous 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 deserves.
The absolute freedom of the moon
from turbulent atmospheric vapors