Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-25
EVOLUTION OF THE MOON.
The New Lunar Photographs Of the Paris
Observatory.

-
Ever since the ihkerNisss the tele.
scope. many observers 4h been IA
mIliarizing themselves With the detail:
of the surface of. the moon, and many
maps and charts have been made
wherein one may study to his heart:
content the topography of our com
panion. Numerous publications nav
been issued, one after the other. which
have put to profit the very latest adj
yantages IN the way of instruments
and thus all the important features
have become well known. Sharing, as
il does, the attention of many astron-
omers with the sun. there is evident ons
very striking and important difference
for while the sun is the very height Of
activity and the stronghold for the
manifestation of tremendous forces, the
moon seems fixed in eternal immova
biityIt is true that observers have
from time to time suspected that they
could detect evidences of change, bu
these have usually been set down as
due to errors of observation or oi
drawing.
In order to obviate just this difficulty
this uncertainty as to the actual con-
ditions at the time of observation, the
selenographers have proposed a plan
the first fruits of which have just beer
issued, a scheme to preserve by pho
Biography the precise condition of the
moon today, and by comparison with
other photographs taken in the future
the changes that have taken place, il
any, will certainly be detected.
~. 3. IL far,t pAc
of every body about which we know
anything is the fact that it is subject tc
change. In truth, science is nothing
more than a study into these changes,
and if there Were no change there
would be practically no science, since
a single observation f any phenomenon
is all that would be necessary y
seems hardly possible. therefore thG
the moon is an exception to this rune
OF change, nor does it appear credible
that the accumulated changes can be
so minute as to avoid permanently the
power of the modern telescope. inc
idea. therefore, is to make Father Time
the principal workman, and to prepare
for the future by obtaining the actual
condition of the moon in a representa-
For this purpose photography is supe-
rior to drawing.
The advantage of photography is that
ii secures at one and the same time a
considerable portion of the moons sur
face under the same conditions Of posi-
ton. atmosphere and illumination Tne
resulting picture, or map. is compare
bic within itself ana in all its parts,
and is homogeneous and referable 10 a
date that is strictly determined.
In accordance with these advanced
IDEAS, the Observatory of Paris mas
been at work for upwards OF three
years and has just issued the flrst part
Of its Atlas of the Neon. series OF
folio charts. which, when compieteu'
shall present precisely the existing con-
ditions of the surface Of the moon. Inc
work has been undertaken by LoeW.
and PusieuS two of the astronomers
connected with the observatory, inc
former of whom has on the death OF
Tisserand. been appointed director. 10
give an idea of the careful nature or the
undertaking. it may be said that oil the
twenty nights month during winch
the moon is visible at Paris, hardly one
is found to be suitable for their Worh-
1t is accordingly true that although Tor
three years constant Watcn mas peoi'
Kept for conditions favorable TO the
taking Of the photographs, the opssl ' d
tory has not yet been able to secure d
complete set of all the phases OF the
moon. The telescope with when the
work is done is a curious Instrument
being bent at right angles and denver
ing the image to the observer aiter II
has been twice reflected in plane ma
rors. The form is such that II IS very
convenient. and the length OF the FOCUS