The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-12

tend to hide the features of the earth
from outside scrutiny Whenever the
clouds on orr globe are out of the
way, it is then possible to observe the
moon with but little obstruction. If we
also remember that many of the fea-
lures of our satellite are within reach
of a telescope of comparatively mod
crate power, it will not be surprising
that the lunar scenery has attracted
so much attention and that thousands
of minute features on it's surface have
been carefully identified. In some
cases accomplished observers have de-
voted themselves with praiseworthy
assiduity to the detailed examination
of special Minute parts on the sur
face.
It would be impossible to enumerate
all the astronomers of recent times
whose labors have been directed to the
study of the lunar scenery. [ may,
however, here mention a few names,
adding the remark that there are
doubtless many others whose valuable
labors could not be overlooked if it had
been possible to give a more complete
account OF the subject than would be
practicable within the limits Of the
present article.
First, | must mention Mr.. Nasmyth,
who was at once a famous mechanical
engineer, a skilful artist and devoted
student of the stars. He employed his
WelI-earned leisure in the study of ce-
lestial objects, and he devoted especial
attention to the moon. The work which
he produced in conjunction with Mr..
Carpenter is a standard authority on
the lunar scenery, and is perhaps one
of the most beautifully illustrated
books that has ever been devoted to
the subject of the heavens. L must
also refer to Professor Holden ana
IL. Of
Lick observatory, on the top of Mount
Hamilton in California. They have
applied their resources to the photo
graphy of the moon with remarkable
success, and some of their pictures OF
our satellite have formed the pest pa
sis upon which DR.. Weinek has pro-
duced exquisite drawings Of the lunar
features.
AS. perhaps, the latest book on the
Topography of the moon, [ may men
tion the elaborate work of Thomas
Gwyn Elger, who is himself one of the
most assiduous of lunar observers.
He has collected together the most in
teresting facts relative to the topo-
graphy of our satellite. am much IN
dehted to the various authorities
have named for information which I
am utilizing in the present paper.
FEATURES OF THE MOONS SUR
FACE.
When we look up at the full moon,
even without calling the telescope to
our aid, we at once notice the pres
ence of a number of large dark
patches. It is certainly true that there
are no sheets of water, nor anything
like water, at present visible on the
moon, even with the highest powers
of our telescope In fact, there are
sound physical reasons why it does
not seem the least likely that there
could be any water in the fluid form
present in our satellite. At the same
time, The appearance of these dark
spots. in days before telescopes were
employed, suggested that those objects
were basins of water, and accordingly
they were anciently called seas" In
modern days, astronomers have some
what awkwardly retained this name,
or IT'S latin equivalent, to designate
these peculiar dark tracts, notwith-
standing the absence of water. Many
of these are of enormous extent, so
called seas, to be reckoned in thous-
ands of square miles. In fact, nearly
half the visible surface Of the moon is
so occupied.
1t is still an open question as to
whether these regions have ever been
covered with water. No doubt it seems
the simplest supposition, so far as GER
tain phenomena are concerned, to be-
lieve that they are the basins in which
great seas did once roll, but that as
the moon has gradually cooled down
from a primeval state in which it was
largely composed of molten matter, the
water from the seas penetrated into
the interior, and there entered into
chemical union with the materials
which were crystallizing. 1t certainly
does seem that whole oceans full of
water could have been thus disposed
of. There are, however. many who be-
lieve that these dark regions are due
to the pouring forth from the interior
of vast volumes. of molten lava which
spread over deep hollows, burying more
or less completely the objects which
had previously occupied them. In
some places indications are found that
these regions were once occupied by
other structures, of which only yes
tiges are any longer to be discerned.
There can be no doubt that these So
called seas lie lower than the gen
eral surface of the moon. If water