Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-04-08

"a portions d her surface opposite -
the sun. These shadows correspond in
shape to the form Of the mountain Or
mountains which cast them.
There is one remarkable feature in
the moons surface which bears no re-
semblance to anything to be seen on
the earth. These are the great circu-
lar cavities which appear on every part
Of her surface. Some of these tremen-
dous caverns are about forty miles in
diameter and four miles deep. It is
now generally conceded that the moon
has but little, If any, atmosphere; and
in support of this theory, several very
strong reasons can be advanced. For
instance, there are no indications OF
twilight, a phenomenon that implies
the presence of an atmosphere. For il
she had twilight there would be a
gradual transition from the light to
the dark portions, but no such transit
ton occurs on her surface, but there
is well-defined line between the light
and dark portions.
1t is an interesting contemplation for
us to try to realize how the earth
would appear as viewed from the
moon. The surface of the earth would
appear about thirteen times as large
as that OF the moon viewed from the
earth. This fact would add immensely
to the beauty of the starry heavens as
viewed from our faithful lunar COM
panion. However, we must not sup
pose that because the earth appears SO
large that her physical features be-
come more distinct. Indeed, it is just
otherwise. for owing to the dense at
mosphere of the earth, it would render
a clear view of her surface a matter of
great difficulty if not of absolute i'm
possibility.
Generally speaking, comets appear
to be bodies whose texture is one of
extreme temerity. The smaller ones
appear merely as round or oval-shaped
masses Of, vapor, or navy light that is
either uniformly bright or with
brighter spot near the center.
Referring to the larger and brighter
ones, in which there appears a nucleus
or head, when viewed through tele-
scope are found to be of a substance
that is far less substantial than that
of a star. Those that leave a long
fiery train behind them sometimes
show minute stellar point of light
at the center. 1t is from this inner
kernel that there seems to emanate
fiery stream of luminous matter that
gradually broadens and becomes so diff
fused as to form one long train that
grows less and less distinct until 1t has
entirely faded from view.
Comets, as they are distributed
through space, are found to be very
numerous. Many hundreds Of them
have been observed and astronomi-
cally recorded. Usually, as many as
six telescope comets are discovered
within the period of a year. Many OF
these rapidly flying visitants to our
system are also supposed to traverse
only that part of the heavens that is
above the horizon in the daytime.
Hence the rather remarkable state
ment of Kepler would seem justiaable
when he says: Celestial space is as
full of comets as the sea is OF flsh.
AS a rule, but one or two naked-eye
comets are seen in a lifetime. There
is upon the astronomical records or the
ancients the account Of some most re-
markable comets. That which appear
ed at the birth of Mithridates is said
to have had disk equal in magnitude
to that of the sun. Justin refers to
one that lasted ten days; that it occu-
pied fourth part of the sky, required
four hours to rise and four hours to
set, and that it's light was superior to
that of the sun. Freret also refers to
one that appeared in the year 419 A.
D., that was of such magnitude as to
cause the remarkable eclipse of the
sun that occurred about that time.
Those that appeared in 1866 and
1906 are said to have exhibited disks
that were larger than those of the
moon. Other instances are mentioned
in history of comets that appeared so
bright as to be plainly seen in the day.
time. Those of as recent periods as
1S43 and 1858 were distinctly seen amid
the open glare of the sun.
In enc or two pervious articles we
have spoken at some length of a num-
Der of the various consultations of the
heavens, but have not said as much
about the circumpolaE consultations as
they probably deserve By circumpolar
consultations we mean those constel-
lations which are strung In circle
around the North Star and never set.
We will first take up Ursa Major, the
Great Bear Looking skyward about y
o'clock in the evening of this month,
we behold this great constellation high
I'D in the heavens. 1t is easily distin-
guished by means of cluster OF seven
bright stars forming what Is called the
Dipper. In some countries it is called
Charles vain or wagon.
fl .fl1Tatjb1w fnw fir far hah hseses
The Dipper, which is now near the
meridian, above the North Star, lies
with it's bottom towards us, and its
handle on the right. Climbing up be-
hind the Great Bear is Draco, the
Dragon, which, with it's many contfe-
lions, occupies a large space in the
polar regions. While north of Draco
is situated Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.
This constellation, which contains but
few prominent stars, is, however, much
distinguished because of the advan-
tages which it's position in the heavens
affords to surveying the navigation.
It's principal star is so near the true
pole of the heavens that it has been
known for several thousand years as
the North Polar Star. The seven prin-
cipal stars in this constellation form
a figure very much like the dipper In
the Great Bear; but the dipper in this
constellation is reversed and anly about
one-half as large as the dipper in the
Great Bear. Below the North Star we
see Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Cepheus
contains no star above the third mag
nitude. Cassiopeia is nearly at the