Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-04
Astronomer Discovers
New Features Of Moon
Satellite Once Was Melting
From Heat of Own Uranium
By Themes R. Henry

BY ihomcS K. henry
The moon throws rocks at the earth.
The moon is covered with glittering
1t once was melted by the emanations
of its own uranium and potassium.
These are some OF the conclusions Of
DR.. Gerard P. Kuiper Of the University
Of Chicago, one Of the worlds fore
most astronomers, from 12-hour-long
observations of the earth's satellite
through the 82-inch Mcdonald tele-
scope at Fort Davis. Tex. Previous OBJ
servations have been for much shorter
periods. Dr. Kuiper adjusted his eyes
to the point where he could make out
fairly large boulders on the moons
surface
Until a few years ago there was
widely accepted theory. first advanced
by Sir George Darwin, son Of the Father
of Evolution, that the moon originally
was part of the earth, torn loose from
what now is the basin of the Pacific.
This theory no longer is acceptable. DR..
Kuiper says. Present theory holds that
moon and earth originated from the
same mass of cosmic gas as a double
planet. The two unequal partners were
pulled apart by tidal friction. a force
still operating Both moon and earth
were of the same elemental compost
ton. essentially that of the sun. There
were much more uranium, radioactive
potassium and thorium in both at the
beginning than at present. This gen.
Grated enough heat to melt both bodies,
or at least to melt the smaller moon.
Bombardment.
Now, on its retreat from the earth.
Dr.. Kuiper says. the moon must have
passed through ring of smaller moons.
satellites of the earth-moon system and
formed at the same time out of the
same cosmic stuff. It got into the orbit
of these satellites, with the result that
for about 100 million years many of
them were crashing at terrific speeds
into its molten mass. They caused big
SplaShes. These primarily are respon-
Sible for the great craters on the moons
surface. They contributed about one
5000th of the present mass of the
earths satellite. After passing through
this ring the moon "froZe," essentially
to its present contours. The impacts
still are in progress, but now they are
quite rare.
They account, Dr. Kuiper believes, for
the curious glasslike stones known as
textiles. which have been found in
Eastern Europe and Australia. These
long have been a mystery, both to as
tronomers and biologists. 1t generally
is agreed that they are not of terrestrial
origin. Still they are different from any
meteorites. If they came from outer
space they evidently have come in
showers. it is assumed from their con-
centration IN a few places
They can be explained DR. Kuiper
holds, as due to impacts of these little
moons on the moons solid surface.
These could be expected to cause great
explosions. as does the impact of large
meteoriteS on the surface of the earth.
The velocity of escape from the moon
by overcoming gravity is much less than
on the earth. 1t can be calculated that
some of the particles thrown up by such
an explosion reach velocity Of about
two miles second, which would be
sufficient to carry them into space In
the direction of the earth.
Explains Textiles.
Some would hit the earth. Such, DR..
Kuiper believes, are the textiles found
today
AS the moon is observed when it Is
full, DR.. Kuiper says, some of the most
prominent surface features can no
longer be seen-such as the large, dark
areas known as "craters." On the other
hand, there appear thousands of glis-
tening white spots, almost perfect
circles. which appear to be the tops of
inverted cones. They look" he says,
"as if they had been turned out on a
lathe from blocks of white chalk"
They can be seen everywhere over the
moons surface, DR.. Kuiper says in his
report to the National Academy of
Sciences. but are most abundant near
the satellites equator Their nature and
origin are unknown. but Dr. Kuiper be-
lleves, they are relatively recent fea-
lures.
The idea that many of the most con-
spicuous features of the moons geog-
raphy were due to great "splashes"
during the period of passing through
the belt Of satellites is confirmed by his
observations. DR.. Kuiper holds. The
surface shows an extremely wild, rug
ged landscape, with great splits and
dark areas surrounded by nearly verti-
cal walls.