JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 89 
lunar tables, nautical almanacs and observatories shew that the 
moon’s influence is not yet ignored. In the sharp conflicts which 
have overthrown numberless ancient conceits, veneration for the 
moon did not utterly perish by the hand of the iconoclast, but in 
spirit still lives, transformed into the attention paid to her by positive 
science and investigation of her physical influence upon the world 
we live in. 
Much that is noteworthy concerning the moon is inscribed so 
boldly on the firmament above us that the most listless observer 
cannot choose but read and be instructed. From the earth’s axial 
rotation, both sun and moon have an apparent motion from east to 
west none can fail to notice. In addition to this apparent motion 
toward the west, common to all the heavenly bodies, observation of 
the star-sphere will shew that sun and moon proceed on a course 
among the stars toward the east. But that motion, though similar 
in direction, is otherwise different. One day with another the moon 
moves eastward about 13 degrees daily, making the circuit of the 
heavens in a month, while the sun goes towards the east but 1 
degree each day, requiring a year to complete his circuit. More- 
over, the eastward motion of the sun is apparent only, being caused 
by the earth’s translation in her orbit, while the moon’s eastward 
course is her proper orbital motion round the earth. 
In her monthly course the moon, whose light is received from 
the sun, assumes various familiar phases. When in conjunction, 
nearest the sun, she is for a day or two lost in the sun’s brightness. 
After such temporary concealment each month, she comes again to 
view—a radiant sickle in the western sky. The limb, or convex 
outline of the waxing crescent, is toward the sun. ‘The horns of the 
crescent, and terminator, or dividing line between the bright and 
dark parts of the disk, are to the left hand of the beholder. Imme- 
diately before concealment the waning moon shews a reversed cres- 
cent having its limb toward the east, and its horn and. terminator 
to the beholder’s right hand. When half her monthly course is run, 
the moon in opposition becomes full moon. From new to full moon 
the dark part of the disk generally becomes illuminated, and from 
full moon till the waning crescent is lost in the blaze of the sunlight, 
the illuminated part of the disk by almost imperceptible degrees 
becomes obscured. 
