Science.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2082, 17 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Science.

Surface of the Moon

From the comparative proximity of the moon and the extreme readiness with which we may discern the visible characters of the objects presented on her disc, it is not surprising that i ui satellite has always attracted a large measure of attention. Before the invention i f the telescope, little could be gen b- yond a few indefinite dark spoti, but subsequently to the time of Galileo astronomers have ever been endeavouring To decry new lands. Rivers and mountains, in her spotty globe.

As to mountains and their allied formations. large numbers have been discovered upon the moon, but no indications of rivers or soa« have ever been distinguished. There is, in fact, no appearance on the disc (surveyed with a powerful telescope and critica'ly examined in detail) which would warrant ns in assumingthatanyconsidcrable body of water exists on the moon, or that rivers or lakes form part of the physical arrangement of her exterior. The numerous clefts or deop fatrrows. some of which are of enormous extent and form very interesting objects for study, were supposed by Gruithuisen to be old. dried river beds, but the idea is not substantiated by oilier observers, and it nm-t be admitted tbit these canal-like fissures on the lunar surface remain involved in mvsteiy so far as their origin is concerned, and wc appear to be equally in the dafiv as to their present or future purposes with relation to the other objects which diversify the surface of our satellite. The moon is also found equally destitute of anything in the shape of an atmosphere. A perfect "uniform serenity pervades her general features, and enables them to be exhibited to ns wish invariable sharpness of outline. Theic are none of the clouds or obscuring vapours which are so feature of the terrestrial atmosphere. We am thus able to view the surface with great distinctness, and to trace the details of minute objects with a clearness and perspicuity that wottld.be impossible under less favorable circumstances. It is evident that our satellite, though she may formerly have been involved in an atmosphere, is now devoid of such an appendage of sufficient in-l-n-ity to be distinguished tty our telescopes, though it is quite possible there may exist a iittle'attenuaied air close on the surface, or in the interior of some of the dorp craters which abound on Iter surface. Tim most noteworthy characteristic of the lunar landscape is its crateriform structure, which becomes immediately obvious when submitted to the scrutiny of any small te'.eseopc. The most suitable period to observe these appearances is when the moon i- in a crescent form. At the time of the full the I fleet is obliterated by the glare, and the shadows of the mountains and high walls surrounding the craters have disappeared under the vertical sun. Some idea may perhaps be formed of the number of craters existing m the surface of our satellite when it is stated that a recently published chart of the surface include* more than 32 000 such objects 1 Some of these are of enormous dimensions, but for the most part they are minute objects, only discernible with good instruments.

There is little analogy exhibited between the features of the earth and the tndon. The disc of the latter presents more the appearance of a precipitous, cavernous globe, formorlv the seat of extraordinary convulsions in the form of volcanic action, than of a planet suitable for the sustenance of animate creatures.

Turned to the sun direct, her spotted dice fiiiows mountains rise, umbrageous dales

descend And caverns deep, as optic tube descries,

Tlic absolute freedom of the moon from turbulent atmospheric vapours has originated U;u idea of si-ienity with which we arc accusturned to regard her appearance in the (iron* inenr, hut, when we come to look closely into her constituent features, we see at once that -die presents the aspect of a globe which has pass.il through many vicissitude* and changes, and has now probably reached a >:aye of inactivity and exhaustion. The absence of an atmosphere, and the fact that no certain instances of variation in any obj-ct on her surface has ever been observed, support this view. Hut our satellite is none the less interesting on this account, for we discern in the wild and broken character of her landscape the emblems of phenomena of groat import, which must have all'ected her condition in past ages. It is true the in lure <>l these phenomena is in a great measure involved in mystery, but the correct interpretation of them will doubtless be iddmately achieved as more observers apply t'n ms.lves to this attractive branch of a-tn-nomy. and endeavour to search out, with appliances of greater capacity than any hitherto constructed, the meaning of so weird and varied a conligi.ralion.

Houses for Tropical Climates.—A German writer, in dealing with the general question of colonization, has laid great stress upon the necessity of providing suitable dwelling accommodation before any definite w.,, k of cultivation can be proceeded with. He refers to the wooden houses sent from Armies and the iron dwellings received from England : but considers them both uneom-fo’-t;.Mc and unhealthy on account of (he variations of their internal temperature. Wie n the >uu is shining the heat is intolerable, and at night (he rooms are often unpleasantly con!. He recommends double walls, with a space of t> to 1* inches. It is however remarked that this . arrangement would so increase the cost of iron dwellings as l i bring them into the category of luxuries. while the timber harbors so many insects that the double walls would not perhaps be deei.'.ul gain in the end. For similar reasons ir n ioofs have disadvantage’s of a more or 1. mark"d character. They are apt to expand in 'm at and to contract in cool weather; be.-i.ttropical hurricanes damage them considerably. it Gpos-hdc that this practice t ■ xp.-Mli n of the requirements of tropical ioil.om nts may lead to English tnterprisc m ■ ’in.'the .!■ mand thus indicated.

Popularizing Science- —For while s-- hi h.o* made its iu ginning in observation, it has :tally constructed system oat of the heap of observations only by rationalizing. If, however, it bo objected, from the. sc'cntiti 'stand point, that tin transcendental philosophy is to. intricate, remote and in many of us at-peoU abstract, to bo attractive l) the scientific mind, there is but. one answer; Things cannot be made simpler than th.-y are. It is a much easier thing to know than to construct a theory of knowing. Here no attempt can be successful which will n>t face things remote from ordinary exp riettet : the intricacy is lying within the ordinary, wrapped up in the marvels of our owa intellectual procedure. Granting the hue ( ,f popularity which (his involves, the rati nal school must accept the inevitable, as science does, in order that it may bo truly scientific. For science proclaims the impossibility of popularizing itself. Stoneworking by Machinery - -In desiguin.' machines for dressing stone, the first id- a iu.it appears to have struck the majority of inventors was to imitate the. action of the mason’s chisel or quarry axe by mechanical nnans, and the whole of these have end“d either in absolute failure or in the very smallest deceo of success. The reasons are not very far to seek. To make a “steam stone. ma=on ’’ commercially successful, it must be, abb* t - turnout a large amount of work, and to d -■ this would necessitate the use of a considerable number of mason's chisels. To successfully work rinse mechanically may not appear very oiil'c dt in theory : hut in practice w.• invariably find, whe". a lav-c number of t0..« arc employed. they vary in wear, fr m difference in temp r. material,or the work they have t<> do. and this is, without doubt, in.- of 1 1, - it, ;,i r-e- o: i r I'-.-fuT•-.!•• rd this cla--< of machine-, wh- ••r I r working stone, wo-d, or other makied-.