Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-12
EAKTH

Of the moon eclipsng the sun the solar edge
slightly thrown back in two little points.
Thollon observed the last eclipse also in
Egypt, where 1t was total and noted thicken.
ing of the rays Of the solar spectrum, appear
ing to indicate an absorption due to a light
lunar atmosphere.
l have often observed, especially on that
part Of the moon to the north OF the groove
of Hyginus, on a lunar landscape well known
to seenographs, a grayish tint indicating a
variation of the soil Independent of solar light.
Besides, l have observed a twilight effect
when studying the vast east plain of the Sea
of Serenity on the third day of lunation. The
dark spots on the moon, spoken of as seas,
not, as we know, real watery expanses,
but gray plains.
Well, in that plain to the north, the irregu
lar circle Of the Caucasus, and south, the chain
Of Menelas emerge like two luminous points
visible through ordinary opera glass. The
lighted edge of the plain is not cut off sharply
by an abrupt line separating the lighted coun-
try from that which is still in darkness but
1t melts gradually, If the summit dropped.
1t is a real penumbra Calculation shows
that the solar disk should produce by its
size, a penumbra of 32' OF the arc of the great
circle on the moon, which would be about ten
miles. But / have often observed a much
larger penumbra.
The question of lunar atmosphere is very
closely connected with that of volcanoes and
eruptions, attended they are by vapor and
gases formed in some way. 1t seems as If the
craters scattered all over the moon are not
active and that they emit no vapors. But this
is too radical and premature statement
William Herschel considered Aristarchus TO
be active, stating in 1887 that It burned
with great brilliancy, lighting up all around
it. But there are other reasons for holding
that the moon is not dead star
dead star is upon which there Is
no motion, no variation, an unmoving globe,
but many instances may be cited to the con.
trary.
The crater Linnaeus has been proved by
latest observers to be subject to wide varla.
tions, possibly due to increase or diminution
OF snow, and the double crater, Messier has
changed greatly since 1t was so carefully
studied between 1929 and 1887. The crater
Taquet disappeared altogether in 1911, accord.
ing to Korn, although neghborng and lower
craters are still visible.
The observer notes variations dependent
upon the date of Elimination, but independent,
OF course, OF those which are caused by the
variations OF solar lighting, which may be
more or less oblique, and concludes "that
under the action OF certain geological phe.
pomena, Of the exhalatons OF vapors escaping
from great depths, the crater is masked"
Staemmler writes that on January 25 1912
Taquet seemed to him to be covered by a trans.
parent yapor through which he could dimly
see the shadow OF the walls OF the crater
What Is the nature OF these emissions? Are
they geysers OF water7 Are they smoke?
Vapors OF carbonic acid? Jets OF pulverized
matter? No matter what II be that is thrown
up from the eruptiye mouth, that which Is
thrown up only hides the crater from the earth
ly observer. and this makes the examination
all the more difficult. Besides we see these
activities from a great distance The moon Is