The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-20
Have Modern Map

We have with us one of the best
Of the modern maps of the moon. It
was made in 1910 by Professor Wal
ter Goodacre, president Of the Brit
ish Astronomical Association.
The map is seventy seven inches
in diameter. We find that it charts
the moons surface with greater de-
tail than terrestrial maps do the les
Ser-knoWn and more inaccessible
regions of the earth's surface.
To supplement the Goodacre lunar
map, we have photographs of the
moons surface made at Mt. Will
son with the 100-inch telescope. the
worlds largest telescope.
These show us the moon as it
would look to the unaided eye at
distance of only fifty miles.
Our rocket-ship is travelling at
the rate of 10000 miles an hour, the
same speed with which we left the
earth'S surface.
Enjoy the Scenery
We chose this speed, though it
is a Slow one for travel out in
empty space, so that we might en-
Joy the scenery at leisure on our
trip to the moon, for the moon is
only 100000 miles from the earth,
trifling distance as distances go
in astronomy.
1t is now five hours since we left
the earths surface. In another
hour we will land upon the moon.
1t is high time, therefore, for us to
pick out a landing spot.
Referring to our map, we note
that there are ten mountain ranges
upon the moon. 1t never would do
to come down in the mountains.
Between the mountain ranges are
great fiat, rolling plains.
Three Great Plains
Calico thought that they were
water and called them Maria" the
Latin word for seas. We know bet
ter today. although we still call
them by the poetic names which the
ancient astronomers gave them.
Three of these great plains stretch
across the northern portion of the
moon from east to west. Our map
tells us that they are called Mare
Imbrium, the sea Of rains" Mare
Serenitatis, the sea of serenity"
and Mare Tranquillitatis, the sea
of tranquility"
We choose the central one of the
three and direct our ship toward the
Sea of Serenity. We now are within
10000 miles of the moons surface
and it is time to slow down.
We throw the motor of our ship
into reverse, depending upon the
recoil blasas to slow us down. There
is no use in unfolding the glider
wings of our ship, for the moon has
no atmosphere and they would be
useless.
Sea AbOunds in HolIows
From a distance the Sea of
Serenity looked as fiat as the tradi-
tional desert. But as we draw closer
we see that this is not the case.
Its surface in many ways resembles
one of the great prairies of the
middle west
1t abounds in hollows and swell
ings. Here and there great ridges
rise, reaching in some places
heights of from $50 to 700 feet.
The Sea of Serenity is roughly cir
cular and about AIS miles in di-
ameter.
We bring our rocket-Ship gently
to rest upon a smooth slope near
one of the ridges 1t is fortunate
that our rocket-ship is equipped
with all the appliances needed for
trip to the moon.
Otherwise, we could not step out
upon the moons surface. Since
there is no atmosphere upon the
moon, we mu-t don breathing
helmets connected to oxygen tanks.
Asbestos Suits Worn
We must also put on asbestos
suits which are cooled by electrical
means. For the lack of an atmoS-
phere upon the moon has a ire
mendous effect upon the tempera-
ture.
Back on earth, the blanket of air
tempsrs the suns rays. Here they
strike the surface of the moon with
full force and we find that the
lunar surface has a temperature
about equal to that of boiling water,