Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-08
OUR MOONS SURFACE.
Tycho's Walls not Lava-How the
Moons Mountains Are Formed.

tuye. Jaly Is.
A monograph by the writer, relating 10
the temperature of the lunar surface, read
before the American Academy of Science,
September, 1869, contained the following:
"Are we not forced to dissent from Sir
John Herscheps opinion that the heat of
the moons surface, when presented to the
sun, much exceeds that of boiling water?
Raised to such high temperature, our
satellite, with its feeble attraction, could
not possibly be without an envelope Of
gases of some kind. Indeed nothing but
the assumption OF extinct volcanoes offers
a satisfactory explanation of the absence
or any gaseous envelope round q plane
tary body which, on account OF its near
proximity, cannot vary very much from
the earth as regards its composition. The
superstition that this neighboring body is
devoid OF water, dried up and sunburnt,
will assuredly prove one of the greatest
mistakes ever committed by physicists"
This assertion was based on demOnstra-
tons showing that the circular walls or the
great 'ring mountains" on the lunar sur
face are not, as supposed, composed Of
mineral substances originally in state
of fusion" The height and diameter of
these walls being recorded in "Der Mond,"
computations based on the safe assump-
0lOH bUhJ bu6 areas Vi tUelE LTd06NeTbc SeC-
tions cannot be less than the square of
their height, establishes the important
fact that the contents OF the wall OF, for
instance, Tvcho, the circumference Of
which is 100 miles, height 294 miles,
amounts to 2.94 X 100 r- 1889 cubic miles.
The supposed transfer OF this enormous
mass, in molten state, a distance OF %
miles from the central vent Imagined by
Nasmyth. and it's exact circular distribu-
q 49, AAI H-N. kA1sa tRc On
elevation TO a vertical height OF nearly
three miles, involve. need not point out,
numerous physical lmposstbilities. Other
materials and agencies than those sup
posed to have produced the "ring noun
,tains" must consequently be sought in
explanation of their formation. A rigid
application of physical and mechanical
principles to the solution of the problem
proves conclusively that water'eubjec
successively to the action of heat and cold
has produced the circular walls OF Tycho.
The superstition that these stupendous
mounds consist OF volcanic materials
must accordingly be rejected. and the as
sumption admitted that they are inert
glaciers, which have become as perma-
nent as granite mountains by the action
of perpetual intense cold.
independently of the foregoing demon
stration, the fallacy of the volcanic n.y.
vocates on learning that the quantity of
lava requisite TO form the circular walls
of Tycho would cover the entire surface
of England and Wales to depth of 125
feet.
The formation of annular glaciers by the
Joint agency of water and the internal
heat OF planetary body devoid of an
atmosphere and subjected to extreme cold
is readily explained on physical princi-
ala NF ND. md
on the moons surface, covering the same
area as the plateau of Tycbo, viz: 80
miles diameter and 1860 square miles.
Suppose, also, that the internal heat of the
moon is capable of maintaining a mode
rate steam pressure, say two pounds to
the square inch, at the surface of the
water In the pond. The attraction of the
lunar mass being only One-sixth OF terres-
trial attraction, while the moons surface
! is freed from any atmospheric pressure,
1t will be evident that under the foregoing
conditions very powerful ebullition and
rapid evaporation will take place, and
| that dense column of vapor will rise to
considerable height above the boiling
| water. 1t will also be evident that the
| expansive force within this column at the
| surface Of the water will be so powerful
at the stated pressure that the vapor will
be forced beyond the confines Of the pond
vertical current, it should be understood
since the altitude of the column, after
having adjusted itself to the pressure cor
responding with the surface temperature
OF the water, remains stationary, except
ing the movement consequent on conden-
satIon from above. The particles of vapor
forced beyond the confines of the pond, on
being exposed to the surrounding cold
caused by unobstructed radiation against
nil Af Foil TIM MD
and, in the form OF snow, fall in equal
quantity round the pond, and thereby
buildup an annular glacier. AS the radius
of the vaporous column exceeds twenty
five miles, 1t will be perceived that, not
withstanding the rapid outward move
ment before referred to, some of the snow
formed by the vapors rising from the
boiling pond will fall into the same, to be
melted and re-evaporated
In connection with the foregoing expla-
nation OF the formation OF annular gla-
ciers, their exact circular form demands
special consideration. ConsId-
ering that the friction against the surface
of the ocean. caused by the gentle trade
wind, is sufficient TO produce the Gulf
Stream, we need no figures TO show the
effect on the water in the boiling pond
produced by the vaporous mass propelled
by an energy of { HO pounds to the square
inch, in radical lines toward iIs confines.
A circular tidal wave of extraordinary
power, together with a return undercur-
rent toward the centre, will obviously be
the result. But agreeably to the laws
supposed TO govern vortex motion, these
currents cannot be maintained in radlal
| direction. A rotary motion, rapidly aug
meDting, will take place, producing a
vortex more powerful than any imagined
by Descartes. The radial currents OF the
vaporous column having assumed spiral
course, will RAPIDLY acquire velocity
exceeding that or n cyclone. The practi-
cal effect OF the powerful movement Of
the vortex. it is reasonable 10 suppose,
will resemble that of gigantic carving
tool. whose thorough efficiency IN remov-
Ing Irregularities has been proved by the
/ exact circular outline presented by thOu-
sands Of lunar formations. The terraces
within the "ring mountains" indicated
on Beer and Madler's chart, IL may be
shown, were produced by evaporation re-
sulting from low temperature and re-
| duced energy after the formation Of the
main glacier.
There is another feature in toe lunar
landscape scarcely less remarkable than
its CIRCULAR walls and depressions. In the
centre oi nearly all Of the latter one or
more conical hills rise, in some cases sew
eral thousand feet high. Has the rotary
motion OF the boiling vortex any connec-
ton With these central cones? brief
explanation will show that the connection
ia 01ftp Intimate Tho unIprrafod patt.