The Moon: A Popular TreatiseServiss, Garrett Putman
Science
The Moon: A Popular Treatise
Serviss, Garrett Putman
Moon
“Wait until we arrive at the ‘Sea of Serenity’ once more, and perhaps
you will think better of it. Notwithstanding the increased
magnification, the details in Cyrillus and Catharina are hardly better
seen in this photograph than in its predecessor, but the increase of
size is very effective in emphasizing some of the features of the
surrounding district. Cyrillus is seen to have a decided hexagonal
outline, and west of its southern corner is an exceedingly curious
formation, approaching closely to a square shape. The wall is
illuminated within on all four sides, and out of the midst of the
lozenge-shaped shadow resting over the bottom of the included valley,
rises a mountain which, like the walls, is bright with sunshine. On the
southwest a semicircular ridge runs out into the darkness, its top
brightly illuminated. The general effect of the entire formation is
fantastic. And could you imagine a wilder scene than that presented by
the elongated mountain mass, which starts from the southwestern side of
Cyrillus, skirts the border of Catharina, and continues on along the
northwestern side of the broad valley in the upper part of the picture?
See how it has, apparently, been rent apart by tremendous forces and
torn by volcanic outbursts, which have left yawning craters everywhere.
Even the valley itself seems to be simply a chain of wrecked crater
rings of vast size, the cross walls having nearly disappeared. Observe,
too, the immense number of crater pits of all sizes scattered
everywhere, both inside the ring plains (Theophilus alone having few of
them) and over the surrounding country. We shall see a still more
remarkable example of this pitting of the lunar surface in the
neighborhood of Copernicus, which is the chief object in the next
photograph that we take up.”
We came now to the large picture of Copernicus, and my friend took it in
her hands to examine it.
“It is a marvelous thing to look upon,” she said, “but it doesn’t
frighten me as Theophilus did.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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