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CHAPTER V.

LUNAR CELESTIAL PHENOMENA.

In discussing the nature of the celestial phenomenapresented to lunarians, if such there be, we have con-siderations of two classes to deal with. In the firstplace, there are demonstrable facts respecting theapparent motions of the sun, earth, stars, and planets,the progress of the lunar seasons, year, and so on; inthe second, we have other points to consider re-specting which we can only form opinions more orless probable,—as the possible existence of a lunaratmosphere of small extent, the nature and effects ofsuch an atmosphere, the question whether life—animalor vegetable—exists on the moon, with other mattersof a similar nature.

But the only point of a doubtful nature respectingwhich I propose to speak at any length in this chapter,is the possible existence of a lunar atmosphere. Allcelestial phenomena must be so importantly affectedby the presence or absence of an atmosphere that it isdesirable to inquire carefully into the evidence bearingon the subject.

Remembering that our air is a mixture of oxygen