A VOYAGE TO THE SUN. 4$ 



ciable change whatever had affected these mysterious 

 objects. 



As it seemed not unlikely that we should shortly 

 witness farther changes in the radiated glory, which we 

 could not but regard as probably auroral in its nature, 

 it appeared desirable to X. that we should endeavour to 

 time the continuance of the aspect now presented. A 

 sufficiently accurate measurement of time seemed likely 

 to be obtained by noting the moon's motion. The 

 earth and moon were now far behind us, appearing as 

 two planets of great splendour, and close together. The 

 apparent diameter of the earth was about a sixth of that 

 commonly presented by the moon; while the moon, 

 which was approaching the earth (in appearance) from 

 the left, showed a diameter equal to about a fourth of 

 the earth's. Both seemed appreciably 'full,' that is, 

 shone with full circular discs, the moon seeming to 

 shine with a somewhat fainter degree of luminosity. 

 This was, no doubt, due to the inferior reflective quali- 

 ties of her surface, or rather, to the superior reflective 

 power of clouds in the earth's atmosphere. For we 

 could distinctly perceive that the middle part of the 

 earth's disc, occupied at the time by the Atlantic Ocean, 

 showed a band of whitish light, north and south of 

 which the ocean presented a purplish colour much 

 darker than we should have expected, and certainly 

 not shining with more light than the general surface 

 of the moon. The ice-covered regions round the 

 southern pole could be plainly recognised by the 

 brilliant whiteness of the light they reflected; and 



