Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-11-14
THE EARTH
4 Graphic Description of How the
Earth Would Appear From
the Nearer Stars

4 Graphic Description OF How the
Earth Would Appear From
the Nearer Stars
The earth exhibits different aspects
that human eyes will never contem
plate, that the boldest of travellers,
the most fearless OF aeronauts can per
ceive neither from the SUBMITS OF
nor from the heights OF the
atmosphere, since, in order to fix ones
eyes upon these singular aspects, 1t Is
necessary to cross immense spaces
through the infiniteness by which our
globe is surrounded.
1t is only in imagination, upon the
swift wings OF astronomical science,
that we can accomplish this extraor-
binary voyage Let us, in the first
place, observe the spectacle that the
earth offers to the lunarlans or selen-
ites-If such eXlst-then, leaving the
terrestrial domain, let US examine the
aspect of our globe as viewed from
different planets, successive stages of
our odd excursion into the heavens.
WHAT WE LOOK LIKE FROM TIE
MOON.
Seen from the moon, which gravi-
tates around us at the mean distance
of 240 ,000 miles, the earth appears
four times greater in diameter and thir-
teen times wider III surface; and, con-
sequently, more luminous than our sat-
elite does to us. Immovable IN the
black depths of celestial space, she
scars with majesty, seeming to reign
over human destinies, and shows
phases analogous to those exhibited in
the moon, but in inverse order.
Wnen the sun covers with his rays
II f1a.ar
the moon, the latter is new, and the
full earth is shining III the sky, while
at the moment of the full moon, it is
the non illuminated half of our glObe
| that is turned toward this nelghDor-
ing world; the earth Is then new. To
| the first lunar quarter corresponds the
last terrestrial quarter, and to the first
| quarter OF the earth, the last quarter
of the moon.
The lunar day, the period during
which our satellite successfully pre-
sents every portion of her surface To
the solar rays, and consequently make:
one revolution upon her axis, equals
| % days, II hours and Al minutes.
During this long oiurnal period the
earth offers its first quarter at sunset
and its last at sunrise. 50 the "earth-
| light" contributes much more to the
| illumination of the lunar nights thar
the moonlight dos to the illuminating
of our nights, and the selenites truly
| have more reasons for believing thai
the earth exists for the sole purpose
| OF dissipating the darkness of thell
nights than we have for consider
ing the moon as created to be the torcl
OF terrestrial nights.
Our planet is afterwaId visible, amid
the stars, and despite the suns pres
ence, under the form of large cres
cent, which gradually diminishes II
width until it entirely disappears a
the moment of the new earth. Th'
daily rotation of the earth upon IT
axis forms a very attractive spectacle
Varied spots mark our continents ant
seas, over which move vast bands o
clouds. Two white caps cover tn
poles. The oceans have a blueisl
green color and appear darker thai
the land. The contour of the disk
imore luminous than the inner part, j
Slightly reddish under the influence O
atmospheric refraction. Europe an
Africa, ASIA and the Indian Sea, tn
IPaciGc, the two Americas, and th
, Atlantic defile in turn every twenty
flour hours. The earth thus forms
:
consulted 10y but glance at tn
. heavens, and to which the successio
of the terrestrial phases adds anothe
! base for the measurement OF time.
Seen from the centre of the visibl
hemisphere of the moon, the cart
Z hovers always in the zenith. l
measure as an advance is made towaT
!, the edges of the disk, our globe al
pears to descend progressively, anC
! from the circumference of the luna
! hemisphere, 1t is observed to osclllat
at the horizon.
D Like all the stars of the celestl
/ vault, the sun puTsueS Its apparel
course much beyond the earth, and,
| its daily motion, passes either above
below our immovable planet, or som
: times even behind her. An eclipse
} | the sun by the earth then occur
f while an eclipse of the moon Is visib
. Ito US. AS the apparent diameter
[ ithe sun Is four times less than that
: Ithe earth, this sublime phenomena
lasts about two hours, when Il
eclipse is total, and is accompanl'
, with wonderful plays of light, tn
> are caused by the terrestrial atmO
There, and that have the effect of su
rounding our globe (which Is th'
. dark with d luminous auTeola- 1t
= likewise possible to observe the pa
tlal eclipses of the earth which Occ
when we are spectators of eclipseS
the sun.
AT times stars or planets come
conjunction with the earth or hide |
hind it, and are projected upon {
:; edge of its disk in consequence of
absorption to which cur atmospht
gives rise.
In the course of the long lunar mig
of 354 hours, which forms half of I
diurnal period and succeeds dayllg
the earth scars majestically In
;, heavens, undergoing her phases frt
- the first to the last quarter, and
- midnight shines with an intense liz
a. fourteen times stronger than that
. the full moon. With SO strong liz
=, do we illuminate that part OF our 81
" elite which is dark at this epoch Il
u it becomes visible from here, owing
a. the reflection of the terrestrial T;
10 from its surface. This reflection o
- reflection is styled ashen light
The earth, an enormous globe of e.
- varied aspect, suspended at a III
io point of space, therefore presents
the selenites a charming spectacle.
"a inhabitants of the invisible hen
= phere of the moon, where our globt
" unknown, have to take long voy;
as in order, from the lunar face turI
u toward us, TO contemplate that N
- nificent star which we cal the ear
and which up there must bear mar
that express all the admiration {
she inspires.
Seen from her sisters, the plan,
at the earth suddenly loses the magnifc
or aspect that she exhibits in the lu
le. heaven, and the great diameter that
SO seems to have, when viewed from
1T satellite, Is reduced TO very modest !
ty portions.
y. The terrestrial globe, SO long regar
lly as composing the entire universe