Abstract
THIS little book contains a clear and interesting account of the essential facts known about the moon in ancient and modern times. Having referred, in the introduction, to some of the more general aspects of his subject, the author proceeds to discuss, in separate chapters, the moon's distance, its size, shape, substance, formation, condition, surface, and motions. In the chapter on the moon's motions, the writer has a good deal to say about the use which has been made of the moon as the measurer of time. “The etymology of the word,” he says, “is full of meaning. ‘Moon’ and ‘Month’ are twins, whose parentage was Sanskrit.” The truth, of course, is, not that “their parentage was Sanskrit,” but that “Moon” and “Month” and the Sanskrit word “Mâs,” the measurer, have the same root. As kindred words appear in several other Aryan languages, it may be assumed that the moon served as a chronometer to the Aryans before they dispersed. The Athenians began their year upon the first new moon after the summer solstice, and this year they divided into twelve months, containing alternately thirty and twenty-nine days. Each month, again, was divided into three decades. The Romans also divided their months into three parts, and, says Mr. Harley, “the first day was called Calendæ, from an old verb meaning ‘to call out,’ because a pontiff then made proclamation to the people that it was new moon. These Calendæ have given us our word ‘calendar.’” Among the North American Indians, time is computed by moons or months, and they talk of the “beaver moon,” the “buck moon,” the “buffalo moon,” and so on, exactly as the Greeks used to talk of the “planting moon,” the “reaping moon,” the “wine moon,” and the like.
Lunar Science.
By the Rev. Timothy Harley, Author of “Moon-Lore,” &c. (London: Swan Son-nenschein, Lowrey, and Co., 1886.)
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Lunar Science . Nature 35, 246 (1887). https://doi.org/10.1038/035246c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/035246c0