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
which are covered with innumerable craterlets, hillocks, and other minute
features, and by a labyrinth of bright streaks, extending for hundreds of
miles on every side, and varying considerably both in width and
brilliancy.
The notable crater-row on the W., often utilised by observers for testing
the steadiness of the air and the definition of their telescopes, should
be examined when it is on the morning terminator, at which time Webb's
homely comparison, "a mole-run with holes in it," will be appreciated,
and its evident connection with the E. side of Stadius clearly made out.
There is another much more delicate row running closely parallel to this
object; it lies a little W. of it, and extends farther in a northerly
direction.
ARCHIMEDES.--Next to Plato the finest object on the Mare Imbrium. It is
about 50 miles in diameter. The average height of its massive border is
about 4000 feet above the interior, which is only depressed some 500 or
600 feet below the Mare, the highest peak (about 7000 feet) being on the
S.E. The walls are terraced, and include much detail, both within and
without. The most noteworthy features in connection with this formation
are the crater-cones, craterlets, pits, white spots, and light streaks
which figure on the otherwise smooth interior. Mr. T.P. Gray, F.R.A.S.,
of Bedford, who, with praiseworthy assiduity, has devoted more than ten
years to the close scrutiny of these features, Mr. Stanley Williams, and
others, have detected four crater-cones on the E. half of the floor, and
about fifty minute craters and white spots, also probably volcanic vents,
and a very curious and interesting series of light streaks, mostly
traversing the formation from E. to W. A little E. of the centre is a
dusky oval area about 6 miles across, and S.W. of this is another, much
smaller. Under some conditions of illumination the two principal light
markings may be traced over the W. wall, and for some distance on the
plain beyond.
On the southern side of Archimedes is a very rugged mountain region,
extending for more than 100 miles towards the south: on the W. of this
originates a remarkable rill-system, best seen under evening
illumination. The two principal clefts follow a nearly parallel course up
to the face of the Apennines near Mount Bradley, crossing in their way,
almost at right angles, other clefts which run at no great distance from
the E. foot of this range and ramify among the outlying hills. Archimedes
A is a brilliant little ring-plain on the S.E. of Archimedes. It casts an
extraordinary shadow at sunrise, and has a well-marked crater-row on the
E. of it, and two long narrow valleys, one of which appears to be a
southerly extension of the row.
BEER.--A very bright little crater, with an unnamed formation of about
the same size adjoining it on the N., with which is associated a curious
winding ridge that appears to traverse a gap in its N. wall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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