MOONLIGHT. 519^' 



appearance then is shown at 2, Fig. 2. In any intermediate portion between) 

 M and W, the sickle of light is visible bat narrower. We see also that all 



12 3 4 5 6 



Fig. 2. 

 this time the moon's place on the sky cannot be far from the sun's pTaeev 

 for the line from E to M^ is not greatly inclined to the line from Etc S^ 

 When the moon has got around to M^, the observer on the earth sees as 

 much of the dark half as of the bright half of the moon, the bright half 

 being seen, of course, toward the sun. Thus the moon appears at §, Fig. 

 2. Again as to position, the moon is now a quarter of a circuit of th& 

 heavens from the sun, for the line from E to M.^ is square to the line from 

 E to S. We see similarly that when at M* the moon appears as shown at 4,, 

 Fig. 2, for now the observer at E sees as small a part of the moon's dark 

 side as he had seen of her bright side when she was at M^ When she is at 

 M^ the observer at E sees her bright face only, the dark face being turned 

 directly from him. She, therefore, appears as at 5, Fig, 2. Also being; 

 now exactly opposite the sun, as we see from Fig. 1, she is at her highest 

 when the sun is at his lowest, or midnight ; and, at this time, rules the 

 night as the sun rules the day.* As the moon passes on to M", a portion of 

 her dark half comes into view, the bright side being now towards the left,, 

 as we look at M^ from E, Fig. 1. Her appearance, therefore, is as shown at- 

 5. When at M'' she is seen at 7, half bright and half dark, as when she was- 

 at M^, but with the halves interchanged. At M** she appears as at 8, and^ 

 lastly, at M^ she is again undiscernible. 



The ancient Chaldsean astronomers could have little doubt as to the- 

 validity of this explanation. In fact, while it is the explanation obviously* 

 suggested by observed facts, one cannot see how any other could have oc- 

 curred to them. 



But if i\xQj had had any doubts for a while, the occurrence of eclipses-- 

 would soon have removed those doubts. They must early have noticed 

 that at times the full moon became first partly obscured, then either wholly 

 disapj)eared or changed in color to a deep coppery red, and after a while? 



* It has been thought by some that, in the begiuning, the moon was always opposite the sun, thiis- 

 always ruling the night Milton thus uuderstooa the account given in the fli st book of Genesis. For he says :: 



Less bright the morn 

 But opposite in levell'd west was set 

 His mirror, wiih full forre, borrowing her light 

 From him ; for oiher light she needed none 

 In that aspect ; and still that distance keeps 

 Till uight, then in the e-.ist her turn she shines 

 Revolv'd on Htav'n's great axle. 

 It was only as a cons?quence of Adam's transgression that he conceives the angels sought to piaffliibh. tfee? 

 human race by altering the movements of the ce estial bodies . 



To the blank moon 

 Her office they prescribe — 

 It is hardly necessary to say, perhaps, that this interpretation is not scientifically admissible. 



