THE MOOtf. 



13 



seen) instead of being gradually shaded off into darkness, 

 as would be the case if there were an atmosphere, is well de- 

 fined and uneven, showing the tops of some of the mountains 

 and their shadows (fig. 10). Nor does there appear to be 



FIG. 10. 



any clouds, and as a consequence no water; neither has 

 anything been observed by the aid of the best telescopes 

 which could be considered sea, on the contrary, the whole 

 surface seems torn up and rent into chasms and immense 

 jagged mountains, enclosing circular portions like gigantic 

 walls. The darkened parts which are always seen on the 

 surface of the moon were formerly supposed to be seas, but 

 of late, by the use of improved instruments, they have been 

 seen to be rough like the other parts, and cannot there- 

 fore be water (fig. 11). As there appears to be no water, it 

 may be confidently inferred that there are no inhabitants. 



The moon having always one half illuminated by the sun, 

 while the other half is dark, presents different "phases " to 



