The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-16

class which seems mos. empha;-
dcally to suggest lis origin 10 have btsr
ian ancient sea basin ! would Fiysc!slly
call attention 70 the Mare C,ls.ur-l J.
needs but little eIUr; =, ths tInngiup-
ton TO fill this remarks sls rrulf wiln
water, and then 10 Etit huw ith margin
forms The cliffs aEutnEt wiiirr IN.
waves have hurled Ltamsslves fur TELL
turtles. Elose eEHil!,iH-iun ~vGgis tint
the floors VI these ''s.ps' W. nIui't,.d
over with various irreglirrt-iss. 30 tim;
when SUCH features are spoken ~ u
smooth. il must M understood that tnln
IS merely by WY VI contrast 10 tnc c&-
IRENE ruggedness which prevails over
the greater part 81 tns iunGr surface.
EXTINCT N0L,C|ANOElS ON gNHE
MOON
The most characteristic features %
the scenery on our satellite are. now
ever, the remarkable objects whicn ure
the results of volcanic phenomena
There are many classes into which these
objects can be divided. but for our pres
ent purpose Il will. perhaps be sufficient
If we attempt 10 give some brief account
of what may be called the walleC plains,
and of the volcanic craters. properly 50
termed. According 10 Nj. ElGer. the
authority to whom we have already Ie-
ferred, the most perfect example Of Z
walled plain OH the moon is the great
object known as Ptolemaeus. The re-
markable district so designated covers
an area on our satellite considers bly,
larger than Wales. 1t Is situated nearly
centrally on the face of the moon. d!-
rected towards us, so that II generally
lies very conveniently placed for exam!m
alton. 1t will be recognized as the last
OF q chain OF four magnificent objects Of
the came character which lie along the
coast of that darkest of lunar seas.
TN N,,6i, ~ ,,u
may be described as almost circular in
outline, though sometimes II might be
regarded as rudely siX-s!ded figure.
Its appearance may be compared TO that
OF an eye-glass, whereof the little handle
IS formed by beautifully shaped
crater bearing the name OF Herschel
The floor Of Ptolemaeus Is q plain. not
much depressed below the general level
of the lunar surface. 1t Is SO vast that
an observer placed in its midst would
see a boundless 5horizon stretching
eway from him or all sides He would
not realize the fact that Ptolemaeus
was surrounded, more or less complete
ly. by a noble circle OF lofty mountains
FOR these mountains would be below
his horizon. Some of the peaks ascend
one mile. and in certain cases even two
miles above the interior OF the plain
AT certain points the mountain chains
will be found interrupted by mighty
passes; especially Is this the case on the
margin between Ptolemaeus and the
next adjoining walled plain, which is
called Alphonsus.
To my mind, however, the most inter
esting Of these objects. as we'll as per-
haps the moso perfect representative.
of Its class. is the beautiful walled main
named Plato. This is so well placed
and has such striking appearance
that 1t is probably one OF the first oh,
1ects which student OF lunar TOM.
graphy succeeds in identifying. No
other object Of the same character han
pens to lie in It's neighborhood. and con
sequently There is but little difficulty in
distinguishing the walled plain refer
red TO- For 1t may be remarked that
the aspect Of the moon changes so fire.
8quent!y that the Identification of some
features Is at times a little troublesome.
1 Thas partly arises from the reverend
Ing varieties of light and shade as the
moon changes from day to day
There Is also another circumstance
WAieh 70 co1aatiRess apt to puzzle the
IS I. . = .