The moon : $b a full description and map of its principal physical featuresElger, Thomas Gwyn
Science
The moon : $b a full description and map of its principal physical features
Elger, Thomas Gwyn
Moon
OERSTED.--An oblong formation with very low walls, scarcely traceable on
the S.E., except when near the terminator. There is a conspicuous crater
on the N.W. side of the floor, and a curious square enclosure, with a
crater on its W. border, abutting on the N.E. wall.
CHEVALLIER.--An inconspicuous object enclosed by slightly curved ridges.
It includes a deep bright crater. On the N. is a low square formation and
a long ridge running N. from it. Just beyond the N.E. wall is the fine
large crater, Atlas A, with a much smaller but equally conspicuous crater
beyond. A has a central hill, which, in spite of the bright interior, is
not a difficult feature.
ATLAS.--This, and its companion Hercules on the E., form under oblique
illumination a very beautiful pair, scarcely surpassed by any other
similar objects on the first quadrant. Its lofty rampart, 55 miles in
diameter, is surmounted by peaks, which on the N. tower to an altitude of
nearly 11,000 feet. It exhibits an approach to a polygonal outline, the
lineal character of the border being especially well marked on the N. The
detail on the somewhat dark interior will repay careful scrutiny with
high powers. There is a small but distinct central mountain, south of
which stands a number of smaller hills, forming with the first a circular
arrangement, suggestive of the idea that they represent the relics of a
large central crater. Several clefts may be seen on the floor under
suitable illumination, among them a forked cleft on the N.E. quarter, and
two others, originating at a dusky pit of irregular form situated near
the foot of the S.E. wall, one of which runs W. of the central hills, and
the other on the opposite side. A ridge, at times resembling a light
marking, extends from the central mountain to the N. border. During the
years 1870 and 1871 I bestowed some attention on the dusky pit, and was
led to suspect that both it and the surrounding area vary considerably in
tone from time to time. Professor W.H. Pickering, observing the formation
in 1891 with a 13 inch telescope under the favourable atmospheric
conditions which prevail at Arequipa, Peru, confirmed this supposition,
and has discovered some very interesting and suggestive facts relating to
these variations, which, it is hoped, will soon be made public. On the
plain a short distance beyond the foot of the _glacis_ of the S.E. wall,
I have frequently noted a second dusky spot, from which proceeds, towards
the E., a long rill-like marking. On the N. there is a large formation
enclosed by rectilineal ridges. The outer slopes of the rampart of Atlas
are very noteworthy under a low sun.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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