The Moon Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite

Abstract

THE illustrations to this book are so admirable, so far beyond those one generally gets of any celestial phenomenon, that one is tempted to refer to them first of all. No more truthful or striking representations of natural objects than those here presented have ever been laid before his readers by any student of Science; and I may add that, rarely if ever, have equal pains been taken to insure such truthfulness. Mr. Nasmyth, not content with the drawings he has been accumulating for many years, has first translated them into models, which, when placed with a strong light shining obliquely upon them, should reproduce the ever-changing lunar effects of light and shadow. Having obtained models which bore this test, he has photographed them with the light falling, now on one side, and now on the other, to represent the sunrise and sunset appearances on our satellite, as observed in the telescope. The result is perfect; far more perfect than any enlargement of photographs could possibly have been, because, by every such enlargement, a softness is brought about, whereas, the more powerful the telescope employed and the more perfect the atmospheric conditions, the more does the unevenness and sharpness of every lunar detail come out.

The Moon Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite.

By James Nasmyth James Carpenter. With 24 illustrative plates of lunar objects, phenomena, and scenery, and numerous woodcuts. (London: Murray, 1874.)