Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-08-28
asooN pAoIoaRAPHs.
P,otures just Taken at the Paris Observ'
atorv Excel All others

~
P,o.ures just Taken at the Paris Obssrv'
atory Excel All Others.
The moon has been brought closer 10
ms That is an announcement which
science will appreciate. For it is to the
moon, as the nearest of all planets, that
science must first look for increase OF
our knowledge of stellar geology and
geography. Therefore, every success
sive step by which science lessons the
apparent space between the moon and
our eyesight is an invaluable stePin ad-
vance.
The instrument which has accom-
nlished this last result is the great
iointed equatorial at the observatory OF
Paris recently constructed under the
auspices of NJ. Loewy, the vice presi-
dent. For two years he and his assist
ants have been carrying on the most
rarsevering studies, the minutest re-
searches as to the physical conditions on
the moons surface. He has found the
optical qualities of the instrument SUI
perior to anything heretofore known.
Hence the map which he has just pub
hshed is the most important recent ad-
dition TO astronomical science. He has
been able to bring out the lunar surface
Y with so minute precision and so clear
" defined that it would be Impossible
70 construct a more intelligent or faith
full map of our own globe. In the atlas
fbus obtained the eminent vice presl-
dent of the observatory has found a
means of outlining for us the geological
history of our satellite.
II Is so difficult to unite the favorable
atmospheric conditions to graduate eX-
actlv the duration of the exposure &C
coriing to the brilliancy Of the different
zones that Messrs. Loewy, PuisseauX
and LIE Marvan have only been able to
take half a dozen perfect photographs
as the result of two years incessant
vigilance.
One of the photographs represents
the moon in her first quarter. rms
piyes u good idea of ths general phy-
.eiopnomy of the moons surface. In the
region of the south pole the greater am
nlitude and depth of the circles, those
circular gullies so characteristics OF thf
moon and of which the earth boasts nc
equivalent, and the spots corresponding
10 those great depressions which ARK
called seas, while towards the nortf
Dole are easily discernible mountainous
groups which exactly correspond to om
chains of mountains.
On one enlargement it IS easy u
study the peculiar diversities OF tn
lunar surface, for the region which thi!
man represents contains three of th'
most beautiful and regular of the lunal
craters-Walter, Aliancensis and Ner
ner. -,
The largest, Walter, measures 1o'
liloneters in diameter. In the group
rises an important mountainous group
running from north to south. TIL
central mountain of the group is plain
" visible in this photograph. I'm
Aliancensisian range dominates the III
terror plain of the circle at a height
3.5eO meters in the northwest and 500
in the western region.
BELOW Aliancensis is Werner, 70 kilo
meters in diameter, and almost perfec
in its regularity. The most elevate'
,,oints are in the northwest and ar
more than 5000 meters in height Onl
one part of the central mountain is Wis
ible- ON account of the shadows. Nea
this mountain is a large white spo
which stands out, by reason of its great
er brilliancy, more prominently tina
the spots all around it and occupies a
most so square ldlometers. No othe
part of the moon presents so brilliant
lioht. This whole region is lighter tina
any other parts shown. The presenc
of these spots is very instructive to tn
student. They cannot be explained
being the effects of light, nor are the
due to the color of the soil, nor
placiers. NJ. Loewy has decided tha
they are deposits of ashes and lava, pr'
iected by the innumerable small crater
existing in this region, and he conclude
that it has once been the center fpov
erful volcanic action.
Although it does not seem to hi
clearly enough demonstrated, NJ. LOew
consents to admit with the greater nun
her of astronomers that the moon pc
sesses no liquid surface to-day, and tn;
her atmosphere is null or hardly pc
eeptible. But his concessions stop her
To his mind the moon formerly ha
water and air, which were the necessal
conditions for the volcanic eruption
found there, and consequently, thong
contrary to the theory generally adop
ed, volcanic eruptions were one of Il
constitutional factors of the moons