IS THE MOON A "DEAD PLANET"?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

IS THE MOON A "DEAD PLANET"?

Along discussion was precipitated at a recent* meeting of the British Astronomical Association by an article published recently by Professor W. H. Pickering in the November number ot " Popu'ar Astronomy, in which the writer appeals to astronomers—and espocia.lv amateurs, because " sear:"y any professional astronomers loos at the moon nowadays"—to report tho.r observations of apparent chants <?u the moon, so that "we shall at length nail that ancient falsehood that 'the moon is a dead planet. Professol Pickering began asserting the existence of vegetation on the moon more than twenty years ago, and has been writing on tliis' subject at frequent intervals ever oince. The same id'*a had been favoured by certain earlier astronomers, notably Sir William Herschel. Yet the unqualified statement as u, the complete 'ifelessness of our satelite is repeated in almost every new book on astronomy. The subject is still a moot one, and the discus-ion above mentioned indicates that few members of tiv British Astronomical Association 'hare Professor Pickering's views. The latter a-.tr>womer published in the March number of "Popular Astronomy" an article on "The Heterology of the Moon," in which he details numerous observations of apparent patches of '.now. ice, mi-t, etc., on tin* moon.

The oxpro-s was approach ins; a ra ilwav bridge that spanned a deep river, and a stout old lady in one of the errnipartments showed signs of nervousness. As the train went roaring across the structure she did not speak a word, but seemed to be holding her breath. "There,'' .said' a gentleman in a neighbouring seat, "we are over it fafelv."

The old lady heaved an explosive sigh. "Well." she said, "if we had gone to the bottom I should have died with a (•'ear conscience, for it. wouldn't have been my weight that did it. I bore up so that I really made the train lighter than it would have been without me!"