The Moon: A Popular TreatiseServiss, Garrett Putman
Science
The Moon: A Popular Treatise
Serviss, Garrett Putman
Moon
Second, the libration in longitude, which arises from the eccentricity
of the moon’s orbit, causing her to move a little faster when she is
nearer the earth, or in perigee, and a little slower when she is
farther from the earth, or in apogee. In consequence of this, she gets
alternately about 6° ahead of, or behind, the position which she would
have if her orbit were a perfect circle and her motion perfectly
uniform. But, inasmuch as her rotation on her axis is never either
faster or slower, she shows a little of her usually invisible
hemisphere on the western side when she is between perigee and apogee,
and a little on the eastern side when she is between apogee and
perigee. The accompanying diagram is designed to aid the reader in
understanding these effects.
[Illustration:
Effect of Moon, Varying Velocity in Orbit Producing Libration in
Longitude.
]
Third, the diurnal libration, which arises from the fact that the
diameter of the earth bears a considerable proportion to the distance
of the moon. If the observer were at the center of the earth there
would be no effect of this kind, but being situated about 4,000 miles
from the center, there is a parallactic effect in consequence of which
we see a little around the western side of the moon when she is rising
and a little around the eastern side when she is setting. The maximum
diurnal libration is a little more than one degree. The maximum
libration in latitude is 6° 44´, and that in longitude 7° 45´. An
illustration of the results of libration will be found by comparing
photographs Nos. 1 and 2. They were both taken at nearly the same “age
of the moon,” about three days, twenty hours, but under different
librations, so that in No. 2 more of the western edge of the moon is
visible, and the crescent appears broader. Even more remarkable
examples of the results of libration are seen in Nos. 6 and 7, and 8
and 9. In No. 6, the moon is actually “older” by about half a day than
in No. 7, yet, owing to libration, the “terminator,” or line between
day and night on the moon, is considerably farther toward the east in
the latter than in the former. A similar effect is seen in comparing
Nos. 8 and 9. The exact dates and ages of the moon corresponding to
these photographs are given in the Appendix.
“If you will follow the curve of the terminator toward the south (upward
in the photograph), you will perceive that there is a long line of
ovals, more or less resembling Langrenus. The first of these, darker in
appearance than Langrenus, is named Vendelinus.”
“What extraordinary names!” exclaimed my companion, “and how
unpicturesque!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account