The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
NEW LINES ON LUNA.
Peculiar Markings Discovered by
Astronomers of Paris.

Peculiar Markings Discovered by
Astronomers of Paris.
PARIS, Oct. 17.-Are there water and air
on the moon? Do rivers and vegetation ex-
list on the satellite of the earth, which for
years astronomers have supposed to be a
dead and calcined world? These are ques-
tions that now are agitating the scientists
of Paris. Maps of the lunar planisphere
taken in the new observatory at Mendon
show peculiar lines, markings and shadows
that have never before appeared in tele-
scopic pictures of the moons surface. And
it is these markings and spots that furnish
food for speculation to astronomers and to
physicists.
BY a curious coincidence next week, which
will see the opening of the Yerkes observa-
tory in Wisconsin, will also see the official
Inauguration of the grand new observatory
Of Merdon, which, SO far as concerns physi-
cal astronomy, is said to be the best
equipped in the world. While the Yerkes OBJ
servatory is acknowledged by French as
tronomers to possess the most powerful tele-
scope ever constructed, that of Mendon has
the largest double telescope arranged for
taking stereoscopic and Photographic views
that mas ever been made. The observatory
Is well situated on the heights of Mendon
to the southwest of Paris and not far from
the city, Surrounded by the dark gre IN
forest, 1t is a conspicuous object from al
most any part OF the western and southern
suburbs.
1t was finished some time ago, but the
inauguration has been delayed until the re-
turn of M. Jansen, the famous astronomer,
who has been on a tour of inspection TO the
observatory of Mont Blanc together with
M. HanSky, a Russian astronomer lately
attached to the observatory of Odessa. The
new establishment at Mendon will greatly
facilitate the preparation Of the detailed
lunar photographs which the observatory
hopes TO have ready in time for the exhibi-
ton of 1900. AT the same timeS q monster
telescope 200 feet long is being constructed
for the exhibition, which, 1t is calculated,
will be of such power as to bring the
moon to an apparent distance of forty miles.
There will be twenty-five TO thirty sheets
in the proposed lunar atlas, dozen OF
which have been already printed This does
not seem much, but these sheets make
revelations, which, if confirmed, would revo-
lutionize all our ideas OF lunar topography.
There has never been so clear and dis
tinct an image of the moon taken before.
The photograph is so perfect that 1t looks
like plan in relief, and one can scarcely
believe that 1t is plane surface until after
having passed ones hand over it. The
photograph is also the largest ever taken.
When all the sheets are completed and put
together the lunar diameter Will be repre-
sented by a line over thirteen feet long,
nearly twice the size Of the map made by
the Lick observatory.
Already astronomers are VtVidly inter-
ested in certain lines and spots on the new
photographs which have again caused the
question to be raised of the existence of air,
water and vegetation on the moon, Wnlch
science up to within few months had pro-
nounced a dead planet. The photograph, IL
may be stated, is as clear ana dlstlnct as
those one sees of Mount Blanc. OBJECTS a
thousand feet long on the moon could be
distinguished on the chart 1t seems that a
minute examination reveals a number OF
narrow and winding lines having every ap-
pearance of a river seen from balloon at
a height of four or five miles. They seem,
however, to be larger at the source ana TO
grow narrower as they progress. Yet there
are several terrestrial rivers like that, haV-
ing their origin in a big lake and moving
through arid regions. 1t is on these lndl-
cations that the presence OF water IN the
moon. and consequently of an atmosphere,
is beginning to be reaftirIned.
There are also on the map several spots
which are certainly not shadows projected
on the moons surface, for they retain their
configuration, whether the sun Is high n
low. above the lunar horizon. Then, too,
in full sunlight they appear to grow darker
instead Of brighter. No mineral substance
known could present this phenomena. Its
only parallel may be seen on a fair summer
day in autumn in the country when, after
some cloud has rolled away, little patcn
of woods will appear darker than be1ore,
because the sunlight makes the surrounding
fields of yellow grain look brighter.
Are there rivers and plants upon the
moon? Such is the question raised by the
new maps a question which 1t is possible
the more powerful Yerkes telescope may
soon answer. Paris waits to hear from
America