第4章

Inpassingoverthesurroundingplains，Barbicanenoticedagreatnumberoflessimportantmountains;andamongothersalittleringedonecalledGuyLussac，thebreadthofwhichmeasuredtwelvemiles。

Towardthesouth，theplainwasveryflat，withoutoneelevation，withoutoneprojection。Towardthenorth，onthecontrary，tillwhereitwasboundedbythe"SeaofStorms，"itresembledaliquidsurfaceagitatedbyastorm，ofwhichthehillsandhollowsformedasuccessionofwavessuddenlycongealed。

Overthewholeofthis，andinalldirections，laytheluminouslines，allconvergingtothesummitofCopernicus。

Thetravelersdiscussedtheoriginofthesestrangerays;buttheycouldnotdeterminetheirnatureanymorethanterrestrialobservers。

"Butwhy，"saidNicholl，"shouldnottheseraysbesimplyspursofmountainswhichreflectmorevividlythelightofthesun？"

"No，"repliedBarbicane;"ifitwasso，undercertainconditionsofthemoon，theseridgeswouldcastshadows，andtheydonotcastany。"

Andindeed，theseraysonlyappearedwhentheorbofdaywasinoppositiontothemoon，anddisappearedassoonasitsraysbecameoblique。

"Buthowhavetheyendeavoredtoexplaintheselinesoflight？"

askedMichel;"forIcannotbelievethatsavantswouldeverbestrandedforwantofanexplanation。"

"Yes，"repliedBarbicane;"Herschelhasputforwardanopinion，buthedidnotventuretoaffirmit。"

"Nevermind。Whatwastheopinion？"

"Hethoughtthattheseraysmightbestreamsofcooledlavawhichshonewhenthesunbeatstraightuponthem。Itmaybeso;

butnothingcanbelesscertain。Besides，ifwepassnearertoTycho，weshallbeinabetterpositiontofindoutthecauseofthisradiation。"

"Doyouknow，myfriends，whatthatplain，seenfromtheheightweareat，resembles？"saidMichel。

"No，"repliedNicholl。

"Verywell;withallthosepiecesoflavalengthenedlikerockets，itresemblesanimmensegameofspelikansthrownpellmell。

Therewantsbutthehooktopullthemoutonebyone。"

"Dobeserious，"saidBarbicane。

"Well，letusbeserious，"repliedMichelquietly;"andinsteadofspelikans，letusputbones。Thisplain，wouldthenbenothingbutanimmensecemetery，onwhichwouldreposethemortalremainsofthousandsofextinctgenerations。Doyoupreferthathigh—flowncomparison？"

"Oneisasgoodastheother，"retortedBarbicane。

"Myword，youaredifficulttoplease，"answeredMichel。

"Myworthyfriend，"continuedthematter—of—factBarbicane，"itmattersbutlittlewhatit_resembles_，whenwedonotknowwhatit_is_。"

"Wellanswered，"exclaimedMichel。"Thatwillteachmetoreasonwithsavants。"

Buttheprojectilecontinuedtoadvancewithalmostuniformspeedaroundthelunardisc。Thetravelers，wemayeasilyimagine，didnotdreamoftakingamoment’srest。Everyminutechangedthelandscapewhichfledfrombeneaththeirgaze。

Abouthalfpastoneo’clockinthemorning，theycaughtaglimpseofthetopsofanothermountain。Barbicane，consultinghismap，recognizedEratosthenes。

Itwasaringedmountainninethousandfeethigh，andoneofthosecirclessonumerousonthissatellite。Withregardtothis，BarbicanerelatedKepler’ssingularopinionontheformationofcircles。Accordingtothatcelebratedmathematician，thesecrater—likecavitieshadbeendugbythehandofman。

"Forwhatpurpose？"askedNicholl。

"Foraverynaturalone，"repliedBarbicane。"TheSelenitesmighthaveundertakentheseimmenseworksanddugtheseenormousholesforarefugeandshieldfromthesolarrayswhichbeatuponthemduringfifteenconsecutivedays。"

"TheSelenitesarenotfools，"saidMichel。

"Asingularidea，"repliedNicholl;"butitisprobablethatKeplerdidnotknowthetruedimensionsofthesecircles，forthediggingofthemwouldhavebeentheworkofgiantsquiteimpossiblefortheSelenites。"

"Why？ifweightonthemoon’ssurfaceissixtimeslessthanontheearth？"saidMichel。

"ButiftheSelenitesaresixtimessmaller？"retortedNicholl。

"Andifthereare_no_Selenites？"addedBarbicane。

Thisputanendtothediscussion。

SoonEratosthenesdisappearedunderthehorizonwithouttheprojectilebeingsufficientlyneartoallowcloseobservation。

ThismountainseparatedtheApenninesfromtheCarpathians。Inthelunarorographytheyhavediscernedsomechainsofmountains，whicharechieflydistributedoverthenorthernhemisphere。Some，however，occupycertainportionsofthesouthernhemispherealso。

Abouttwoo’clockinthemorningBarbicanefoundthattheywereabovethetwentiethlunarparallel。Thedistanceoftheprojectilefromthemoonwasnotmorethansixhundredmiles。

Barbicane，nowperceivingthattheprojectilewassteadilyapproachingthelunardisc，didnotdespair;ifnotofreachingher，atleastofdiscoveringthesecretsofherconfiguration。

CHAPTERXIII

LUNARLANDSCAPES

Athalf—pasttwointhemorning，theprojectilewasoverthethirteenthlunarparallelandattheeffectivedistanceoffivehundredmiles，reducedbytheglassestofive。Itstillseemedimpossible，however，thatitcouldevertouchanypartofthedisc。

Itsmotivespeed，comparativelysomoderate，wasinexplicabletoPresidentBarbicane。Atthatdistancefromthemoonitmusthavebeenconsiderable，toenableittobearupagainstherattraction。

Herewasaphenomenonthecauseofwhichescapedthemagain。

Besides，timefailedthemtoinvestigatethecause。Alllunarreliefwasdefilingundertheeyesofthetravelers，andtheywouldnotloseasingledetail。

Undertheglassesthediscappearedatthedistanceoffivemiles。Whatwouldanaeronaut，bornetothisdistancefromtheearth，distinguishonitssurface？Wecannotsay，sincethegreatestascensionhasnotbeenmorethan25，000feet。

This，however，isanexactdescriptionofwhatBarbicaneandhiscompanionssawatthisheight。Largepatchesofdifferentcolorsappearedonthedisc。Selenographersarenotagreeduponthenatureofthesecolors。Thereareseveral，andrathervividlymarked。JuliusSchmidtpretendsthat，iftheterrestrialoceansweredriedup，aSeleniteobservercouldnotdistinguishontheglobeagreaterdiversityofshadesbetweentheoceansandthecontinentalplainsthanthoseonthemoonpresenttoaterrestrialobserver。Accordingtohim，thecolorcommontothevastplainsknownbythenameof"seas"isadarkgraymixedwithgreenandbrown。Someofthelargecraterspresentthesameappearance。BarbicaneknewthisopinionoftheGermanselenographer，anopinionsharedbyBoeerandMoedler。

Observationhasprovedthatrightwasontheirside，andnotonthatofsomeastronomerswhoadmittheexistenceofonlygrayonthemoon’ssurface。Insomepartsgreenwasverydistinct，suchassprings，accordingtoJuliusSchmidt，fromtheseasof"SerenityandHumors。"Barbicanealsonoticedlargecraters，withoutanyinteriorcones，whichshedabluishtintsimilartothereflectionofasheetofsteelfreshlypolished。Thesecolorsbelongedreallytothelunardisc，anddidnotresult，assomeastronomerssay，eitherfromtheimperfectionintheobjectiveoftheglassesorfromtheinterpositionoftheterrestrialatmosphere。

NotadoubtexistedinBarbicane’smindwithregardtoit，asheobserveditthroughspace，andsocouldnotcommitanyopticalerror。

Heconsideredtheestablishmentofthisfactasanacquisitiontoscience。Now，weretheseshadesofgreen，belongingtotropicalvegetation，keptupbyalowdenseatmosphere？Hecouldnotyetsay。

Fartheron，henoticedareddishtint，quitedefined。Thesameshadehadbeforebeenobservedatthebottomofanisolatedenclosure，knownbythenameofLichtenburg’scircle，whichissituatedneartheHercynianmountains，onthebordersofthemoon;buttheycouldnottellthenatureofit。

Theywerenotmorefortunatewithregardtoanotherpeculiarityofthedisc，fortheycouldnotdecideuponthecauseofit。

MichelArdanwaswatchingnearthepresident，whenhenoticedlongwhitelines，vividlylightedupbythedirectraysofthesun。

Itwasasuccessionofluminousfurrows，verydifferentfromtheradiationofCopernicusnotlongbefore;theyranparallelwitheachother。

Michel，withhisusualreadiness，hastenedtoexclaim：

"Lookthere！cultivatedfields！"

"Cultivatedfields！"repliedNicholl，shrugginghisshoulders。

"Plowed，atallevents，"retortedMichelArdan;"butwhatlaborersthoseSelenitesmustbe，andwhatgiantoxentheymustharnesstotheirplowtocutsuchfurrows！"

"Theyarenotfurrows，"saidBarbicane;"theyare_rifts_。"

"Rifts？stuff！"repliedMichelmildly;"butwhatdoyoumeanby`rifts’inthescientificworld？"

Barbicaneimmediatelyenlightenedhiscompanionastowhatheknewaboutlunarrifts。Heknewthattheywereakindoffurrowfoundoneverypartofthediscwhichwasnotmountainous;thatthesefurrows，generallyisolated，measuredfrom400to500

leaguesinlength;thattheirbreadthvariedfrom1，000to1，500

yards，andthattheirborderswerestrictlyparallel;butheknewnothingmoreeitheroftheirformationortheirnature。

Barbicane，throughhisglasses，observedtheseriftswithgreatattention。Henoticedthattheirborderswereformedofsteepdeclivities;theywerelongparallelramparts，andwithsomesmallamountofimaginationhemighthaveadmittedtheexistenceoflonglinesoffortifications，raisedbySeleniteengineers。

Ofthesedifferentriftssomewereperfectlystraight，asifcutbyaline;otherswereslightlycurved，thoughstillkeepingtheirbordersparallel;somecrossedeachother，somecutthroughcraters;heretheywoundthroughordinarycavities，suchasPosidoniusorPetavius;theretheywoundthroughtheseas，suchasthe"SeaofSerenity。"

Thesenaturalaccidentsnaturallyexcitedtheimaginationsoftheseterrestrialastronomers。Thefirstobservationshadnotdiscoveredtheserifts。NeitherHevelius，Cassin，LaHire，norHerschelseemedtohaveknownthem。ItwasSchroeterwhoin1789firstdrewattentiontothem。Othersfollowedwhostudiedthem，asPastorff，Gruithuysen，Boeer，andMoedler。Atthistimetheirnumberamountstoseventy;but，iftheyhavebeencounted，theirnaturehasnotyetbeendetermined;theyarecertainly_not_fortifications，anymorethantheyaretheancientbedsofdried—uprivers;for，ononeside，thewaters，soslightonthemoon’ssurface，couldneverhavewornsuchdrainsforthemselves;and，ontheother，theyoftencrosscratersofgreatelevation。

Wemust，however，allowthatMichelArdanhad"anidea，"andthat，withoutknowingit，hecoincidedinthatrespectwithJuliusSchmidt。

"Why，"saidhe，"shouldnottheseunaccountableappearancesbesimplyphenomenaofvegetation？"

"Whatdoyoumean？"askedBarbicanequickly。

"Donotexciteyourself，myworthypresident，"repliedMichel;

"mightitnotbepossiblethatthedarklinesformingthatbastionwererowsoftreesregularlyplaced？"

"Yousticktoyourvegetation，then？"saidBarbicane。

"Ilike，"retortedMichelArdan，"toexplainwhatyousavantscannotexplain;atleastmyhypotheseshastheadvantageofindicatingwhytheseriftsdisappear，orseemtodisappear，atcertainseasons。"

"Andforwhatreason？"

"Forthereasonthatthetreesbecomeinvisiblewhentheylosetheirleaves，andvisibleagainwhentheyregainthem。"

"Yourexplanationisingenious，mydearcompanion，"repliedBarbicane，"butinadmissible。"

"Why？"

"Because，sotospeak，therearenoseasonsonthemoon’ssurface，andthat，consequently，thephenomenaofvegetationofwhichyouspeakcannotoccur。"

Indeed，theslightobliquityofthelunaraxiskeepsthesunatanalmostequalheightineverylatitude。Abovetheequatorialregionstheradiantorbalmostinvariablyoccupiesthezenith，anddoesnotpassthelimitsofthehorizoninthepolarregions;thus，accordingtoeachregion，therereignsaperpetualwinter，spring，summer，orautumn，asintheplanetJupiter，whoseaxisisbutlittleinclineduponitsorbit。

Whatorigindotheyattributetotheserifts？Thatisaquestiondifficulttosolve。Theyarecertainlyanteriortotheformationofcratersandcircles，forseveralhaveintroducedthemselvesbybreakingthroughtheircircularramparts。Thusitmaybethat，contemporarywiththelatergeologicalepochs，theyareduetotheexpansionofnaturalforces。

Buttheprojectilehadnowattainedthefortiethdegreeoflunarlatitude，atadistancenotexceeding40miles。Throughtheglassesobjectsappearedtobeonlyfourmilesdistant。

Atthispoint，undertheirfeet，roseMountHelicon，1，520feethigh，androundabouttheleftrosemoderateelevations，enclosingasmallportionofthe"SeaofRains，"underthenameoftheGulfofIris。Theterrestrialatmospherewouldhavetobeonehundredandseventytimesmoretransparentthanitis，toallowastronomerstomakeperfectobservationsonthemoon’ssurface;butinthevoidinwhichtheprojectilefloatednofluidinterposeditselfbetweentheeyeoftheobserverandtheobjectobserved。Andmore，Barbicanefoundhimselfcarriedtoagreaterdistancethanthemostpowerfultelescopeshadeverdonebefore，eitherthatofLordRosseorthatoftheRockyMountains。Hewas，therefore，underextremelyfavorableconditionsforsolvingthatgreatquestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon;butthesolutionstillescapedhim;hecoulddistinguishnothingbutdesertbeds，immenseplains，andtowardthenorth，aridmountains。Notaworkbetrayedthehandofman;

notaruinmarkedhiscourse;notagroupofanimalswastobeseenindicatinglife，eveninaninferiordegree。Innopartwastherelife，innopartwasthereanappearanceofvegetation。

Ofthethreekingdomswhichsharetheterrestrialglobebetweenthem，onealonewasrepresentedonthelunarandthatthemineral。

"Ah，indeed！"saidMichelArdan，alittleoutofcountenance;

"thenyouseenoone？"

"No，"answeredNicholl;"uptothistime，notaman，notananimal，notatree！Afterall，whethertheatmospherehastakenrefugeatthebottomofcavities，inthemidstofthecircles，orevenontheoppositefaceofthemoon，wecannotdecide。"

"Besides，"addedBarbicane，"eventothemostpiercingeyeamancannotbedistinguishedfartherthanthreeandahalfmilesoff;

sothat，ifthereareanySelenites，theycanseeourprojectile，butwecannotseethem。"

Towardfourinthemorning，attheheightofthefiftiethparallel，thedistancewasreducedto300miles。Totheleftranalineofmountainscapriciouslyshaped，lyinginthefulllight。Totheright，onthecontrary，layablackhollowresemblingavastwell，unfathomableandgloomy，drilledintothelunarsoil。

Thisholewasthe"BlackLake";itwasPluto，adeepcirclewhichcanbeconvenientlystudiedfromtheearth，betweenthelastquarterandthenewmoon，whentheshadowsfallfromwesttoeast。

Thisblackcolorisrarelymetwithonthesurfaceofthesatellite。AsyetithasonlybeenrecognizedinthedepthsofthecircleofEndymion，totheeastofthe"ColdSea，"inthenorthernhemisphere，andatthebottomofGrimaldi’scircle，ontheequator，towardtheeasternborderoftheorb。

Plutoisanannularmountain，situatedin51@northlatitude，and9@eastlongitude。Itscircuitisforty—sevenmileslongandthirty—twobroad。

Barbicaneregrettedthattheywerenotpassingdirectlyabovethisvastopening。Therewasanabysstofathom，perhapssomemysteriousphenomenontosurprise;buttheprojectile’scoursecouldnotbealtered。Theymustrigidlysubmit。Theycouldnotguideaballoon，stilllessaprojectile，whenonceenclosedwithinitswalls。Towardfiveinthemorningthenorthernlimitsofthe"SeaofRains"wasatlengthpassed。ThemountsofCondamineandFontenelleremained——oneontheright，theotherontheleft。Thatpartofthediscbeginningwith60@wasbecomingquitemountainous。Theglassesbroughtthemtowithintwomiles，lessthanthatseparatingthesummitofMontBlancfromthelevelofthesea。Thewholeregionwasbristlingwithspikesandcircles。Towardthe60@Philolausstoodpredominantataheightof5，550feetwithitsellipticalcrater，andseenfromthisdistance，thediscshowedaveryfantasticalappearance。

Landscapeswerepresentedtotheeyeunderverydifferentconditionsfromthoseontheearth，andalsoveryinferiortothem。

Themoonhavingnoatmosphere，theconsequencesarisingfromtheabsenceofthisgaseousenvelopehavealreadybeenshown。

Notwilightonhersurface;nightfollowingdayanddayfollowingnightwiththesuddennessofalampwhichisextinguishedorlightedamidprofounddarkness——notransitionfromcoldtoheat，thetemperaturefallinginaninstantfromboilingpointtothecoldofspace。

Anotherconsequenceofthiswantofairisthatabsolutedarknessreignswherethesun’sraysdonotpenetrate。

Thatwhichonearthiscalleddiffusionoflight，thatluminousmatterwhichtheairholdsinsuspension，whichcreatesthetwilightandthedaybreak，whichproducesthe_umbrae_and_penumbrae_，andallthemagicof_chiaro—oscuro_，doesnotexistonthemoon。Hencetheharshnessofcontrasts，whichonlyadmitoftwocolors，blackandwhite。IfaSeleniteweretoshadehiseyesfromthesun’srays，theskywouldseemabsolutelyblack，andthestarswouldshinetohimasonthedarkestnight。JudgeoftheimpressionproducedonBarbicaneandhisthreefriendsbythisstrangescene！Theireyeswereconfused。Theycouldnolongergrasptherespectivedistancesofthedifferentplains。Alunarlandscapewithoutthesofteningofthephenomenaof_chiaro—oscuro_couldnotberenderedbyanearthlylandscapepainter;itwouldbespotsofinkonawhitepage——nothingmore。

Thisaspectwasnotalteredevenwhentheprojectile，attheheightof80@，wasonlyseparatedfromthemoonbyadistanceoffiftymiles;norevenwhen，atfiveinthemorning，itpassedatlessthantwenty—fivemilesfromthemountainofGioja，adistancereducedbytheglassestoaquarterofamile。

Itseemedasifthemoonmightbetouchedbythehand！

Itseemedimpossiblethat，beforelong，theprojectilewouldnotstrikeher，ifonlyatthenorthpole，thebrilliantarchofwhichwassodistinctlyvisibleontheblacksky。

MichelArdanwantedtoopenoneofthescuttlesandthrowhimselfontothemoon’ssurface！Averyuselessattempt;foriftheprojectilecouldnotattainanypointwhateverofthesatellite，Michel，carriedalongbyitsmotion，couldnotattainiteither。

Atthatmoment，atsixo’clock，thelunarpoleappeared。Thedisconlypresentedtothetravelers’gazeonehalfbrilliantlylitup，whiletheotherdisappearedinthedarkness。Suddenlytheprojectilepassedthelineofdemarcationbetweenintenselightandabsolutedarkness，andwasplungedinprofoundnight！

CHAPTERXIV

THENIGHTOFTHREEHUNDREDANDFIFTY—FOURHOURSANDAHALF

Atthemomentwhenthisphenomenontookplacesorapidly，theprojectilewasskirtingthemoon’snorthpoleatlessthantwenty—fivemilesdistance。Somesecondshadsufficedtoplungeitintotheabsolutedarknessofspace。Thetransitionwassosudden，withoutshade，withoutgradationoflight，withoutattenuationoftheluminouswaves，thattheorbseemedtohavebeenextinguishedbyapowerfulblow。

"Melted，disappeared！"MichelArdanexclaimed，aghast。

Indeed，therewasneitherreflectionnorshadow。Nothingmorewastobeseenofthatdisc，formerlysodazzling。Thedarknesswascomplete。andrenderedevenmoresobytheraysfromthestars。

Itwas"thatblackness"inwhichthelunarnightsareinsteeped，whichlastthreehundredandfifty—fourhoursandahalfateachpointofthedisc，alongnightresultingfromtheequalityofthetranslatoryandrotarymovementsofthemoon。Theprojectile，immergedintheconicalshadowofthesatellite，experiencedtheactionofthesolarraysnomorethananyofitsinvisiblepoints。

Intheinterior，theobscuritywascomplete。Theycouldnotseeeachother。Hencethenecessityofdispellingthedarkness。

HoweverdesirousBarbicanemightbetohusbandthegas，thereserveofwhichwassmall，hewasobligedtoaskfromitafictitiouslight，anexpensivebrilliancywhichthesunthenrefused。

"Deviltaketheradiantorb！"exclaimedMichelArdan，"whichforcesustoexpendgas，insteadofgivingushisraysgratuitously。"

"Donotletusaccusethesun，"saidNicholl，"itisnothisfault，butthatofthemoon，whichhascomeandplacedherselflikeascreenbetweenusandit。"

"Itisthesun！"continuedMichel。

"Itisthemoon！"retortedNicholl。

Anidledispute，whichBarbicaneputanendtobysaying：

"Myfriends，itisneitherthefaultofthesunnorofthemoon;

itisthefaultofthe_projectile_，which，insteadofrigidlyfollowingitscourse，hasawkwardlymissedit。Tobemorejust，itisthefaultofthatunfortunatemeteorwhichhassodeplorablyalteredourfirstdirection。"

"Well，"repliedMichelArdan，"asthematterissettled，letushavebreakfast。Afterawholenightofwatchingitisfairtobuildourselvesupalittle。"

Thisproposalmeetingwithnocontradiction，Michelpreparedtherepastinafewminutes。Buttheyateforeating’ssake，theydrankwithouttoasts，withouthurrahs。Theboldtravelersbeingborneawayintogloomyspace，withouttheiraccustomed_cortege_ofrays，feltavagueuneasinessintheirhearts。

The"strange"shadowsodeartoVictorHugo’spenboundthemonallsides。Buttheytalkedovertheinterminablenightofthreehundredandfifty—fourhoursandahalf，nearlyfifteendays，whichthelawofphysicshasimposedontheinhabitantsofthemoon。

Barbicanegavehisfriendssomeexplanationofthecausesandtheconsequencesofthiscuriousphenomenon。

"Curiousindeed，"saidthey;"for，ifeachhemisphereofthemoonisdeprivedofsolarlightforfifteendays，thatabovewhichwenowfloatdoesnotevenenjoyduringitslongnightanyviewoftheearthsobeautifullylitup。Inawordshehasnomoon（applyingthisdesignationtoourglobe）butononesideofherdisc。Nowifthiswerethecasewiththeearth——if，forexample，Europeneversawthemoon，andshewasonlyvisibleattheantipodes，imaginetoyourselftheastonishmentofaEuropeanonarrivinginAustralia。"

"Theywouldmakethevoyagefornothingbuttoseethemoon！"

repliedMichel。

"Verywell！"continuedBarbicane，"thatastonishmentisreservedfortheSeleniteswhoinhabitthefaceofthemoonoppositetotheearth，afacewhichiseverinvisibletoourcountrymenoftheterrestrialglobe。"

"Andwhichweshouldhaveseen，"addedNicholl，"ifwehadarrivedherewhenthemoonwasnew，thatistosayfifteendayslater。"

"Iwilladd，tomakeamends，"continuedBarbicane，"thattheinhabitantsofthevisiblefacearesingularlyfavoredbynature，tothedetrimentoftheirbrethrenontheinvisibleface。

Thelatter，asyousee，havedarknightsof354hours，withoutonesingleraytobreakthedarkness。Theother，onthecontrary，whenthesunwhichhasgivenitslightforfifteendayssinksbelowthehorizon，seeasplendidorbriseontheoppositehorizon。

Itistheearth，whichisthirteentimesgreaterthanthediminutivemoonthatweknow——theearthwhichdevelopesitselfatadiameteroftwodegrees，andwhichshedsalightthirteentimesgreaterthanthatqualifiedbyatmosphericstrata——theearthwhichonlydisappearsatthemomentwhenthesunreappearsinitsturn！"

"Nicelyworded！"saidMichel，"slightlyacademicalperhaps。"

"Itfollows，then，"continuedBarbicane，withoutknittinghisbrows，"thatthevisiblefaceofthediscmustbeveryagreeabletoinhabit，sinceitalwayslooksoneitherthesunwhenthemoonisfull，orontheearthwhenthemoonisnew。"

"But，"saidNicholl，"thatadvantagemustbewellcompensatedbytheinsupportableheatwhichthelightbringswithit。"

"Theinconvenience，inthatrespect，isthesameforthetwofaces，fortheearth’slightisevidentlydeprivedofheat。

Buttheinvisiblefaceisstillmoresearchedbytheheatthanthevisibleface。Isaythatfor_you_，Nicholl，becauseMichelwillprobablynotunderstand。"

"Thankyou，"saidMichel。

"Indeed，"continuedBarbicane，"whentheinvisiblefacereceivesatthesametimelightandheatfromthesun，itisbecausethemoonisnew;thatistosay，sheissituatedbetweenthesunandtheearth。Itfollows，then，consideringthepositionwhichsheoccupiesinoppositionwhenfull，thatsheisnearertothesunbytwiceherdistancefromtheearth;andthatdistancemaybeestimatedatthetwo—hundredthpartofthatwhichseparatesthesunfromtheearth，orinroundnumbers400，000miles。Sothatinvisiblefaceissomuchnearertothesunwhenshereceivesitsrays。"

"Quiteright，"repliedNicholl。

"Onthecontrary，"continuedBarbicane。

"Onemoment，"saidMichel，interruptinghisgravecompanion。

"Whatdoyouwant？"

"Iasktobeallowedtocontinuetheexplanation。"

"Andwhy？"

"ToprovethatIunderstand。"

"Getalongwithyou，"saidBarbicane，smiling。

"Onthecontrary，"saidMichel，imitatingthetoneandgesturesofthepresident，"onthecontrary，whenthevisiblefaceofthemoonislitbythesun，itisbecausethemoonisfull，thatistosay，oppositethesunwithregardtotheearth。Thedistanceseparatingitfromtheradiantorbisthenincreasedinroundnumbersto400，000miles，andtheheatwhichshereceivesmustbealittleless。"

"Verywellsaid！"exclaimedBarbicane。"Doyouknow，Michel，that，foranamateur，youareintelligent。"

"Yes，"repliedMichelcoolly，"weareallsoontheBoulevarddesItaliens。"

Barbicanegravelygraspedthehandofhisamiablecompanion，andcontinuedtoenumeratetheadvantagesreservedfortheinhabitantsofthevisibleface。

Amongothers，hementionedeclipsesofthesun，whichonlytakeplaceonthissideofthelunardisc;since，inorderthattheymaytakeplace，itisnecessaryforthemoontobe_inopposition_。Theseeclipses，causedbytheinterpositionoftheearthbetweenthemoonandthesun，canlast_twohours_;duringwhichtime，byreasonoftheraysrefractedbyitsatmosphere，theterrestrialglobecanappearasnothingbutablackpointuponthesun。

"So，"saidNicholl，"thereisahemisphere，thatinvisiblehemispherewhichisveryillsupplied，veryilltreated，bynature。"

"Nevermind，"repliedMichel;"ifweeverbecomeSelenites，wewillinhabitthevisibleface。Ilikethelight。"

"Unless，byanychance，"answeredNicholl，"theatmosphereshouldbecondensedontheotherside，ascertainastronomerspretend。"

"Thatwouldbeaconsideration，"saidMichel。

Breakfastover，theobserversreturnedtotheirpost。Theytriedtoseethroughthedarkenedscuttlesbyextinguishingalllightintheprojectile;butnotaluminoussparkmadeitswaythroughthedarkness。

OneinexplicablefactpreoccupiedBarbicane。Why，havingpassedwithinsuchashortdistanceofthemoon——abouttwenty—fivemilesonly——whytheprojectilehadnotfallen？Ifitsspeedhadbeenenormous，hecouldhaveunderstoodthatthefallwouldnothavetakenplace;but，witharelativelymoderatespeed，thatresistancetothemoon’sattractioncouldnotbeexplained。

Wastheprojectileundersomeforeigninfluence？Didsomekindofbodyretainitintheether？Itwasquiteevidentthatitcouldneverreachanypointofthemoon。Whitherwasitgoing？

Wasitgoingfartherfrom，ornearing，thedisc？Wasitbeingborneinthatprofounddarknessthroughtheinfinityofspace？

Howcouldtheylearn，howcalculate，inthemidstofthisnight？

AllthesequestionsmadeBarbicaneuneasy，buthecouldnotsolvethem。

Certainly，theinvisibleorbwas_there_，perhapsonlysomefewmilesoff;butneitherhenorhiscompanionscouldseeit。

Iftherewasanynoiseonitssurface，theycouldnothearit。

Air，thatmediumofsound，waswantingtotransmitthegroaningsofthatmoonwhichtheArabiclegendscall"amanalreadyhalfgranite，andstillbreathing。"

Onemustallowthatthatwasenoughtoaggravatethemostpatientobservers。Itwasjustthatunknownhemispherewhichwasstealingfromtheirsight。Thatfacewhichfifteendayssooner，orfifteendayslater，hadbeen，orwouldbe，splendidlyilluminatedbythesolarrays，wasthenbeinglostinutterdarkness。

Infifteendayswherewouldtheprojectilebe？Whocouldsay？

Wherewouldthechancesofconflictingattractionshavedrawnitto？Thedisappointmentofthetravelersinthemidstofthisutterdarknessmaybeimagined。Allobservationofthelunardiscwasimpossible。Theconstellationsaloneclaimedalltheirattention;andwemustallowthattheastronomersFaye，Charconac，andSecchi，neverfoundthemselvesincircumstancessofavorablefortheirobservation。

Indeed，nothingcouldequalthesplendorofthisstarryworld，bathedinlimpidether。Itsdiamondssetintheheavenlyvaultsparkledmagnificently。TheeyetookinthefirmamentfromtheSouthernCrosstotheNorthStar，thosetwoconstellationswhichin12，000years，byreasonofthesuccessionofequinoxes，willresigntheirpartofthepolarstars，theonetoCanopusinthesouthernhemisphere，theothertoWegainthenorthern。

ImaginationlosesitselfinthissublimeInfinity，amidwhichtheprojectilewasgravitating，likeanewstarcreatedbythehandofman。Fromanaturalcause，theseconstellationsshonewithasoftluster;theydidnottwinkle，fortherewasnoatmospherewhich，bytheinterventionofitslayersunequallydenseandofdifferentdegreesofhumidity，producesthisscintillation。Thesestarsweresofteyes，lookingoutintothedarknight，amidthesilenceofabsolutespace。

Longdidthetravelersstandmute，watchingtheconstellatedfirmament，uponwhichthemoon，likeavastscreen，madeanenormousblackhole。Butatlengthapainfulsensationdrewthemfromtheirwatchings。Thiswasanintensecold，whichsooncoveredtheinsideoftheglassofthescuttleswithathickcoatingofice。Thesunwasnolongerwarmingtheprojectilewithitsdirectrays，andthusitwaslosingtheheatstoredupinitswallsbydegrees。Thisheatwasrapidlyevaporatingintospacebyradiation，andaconsiderablylowertemperaturewastheresult。Thehumidityoftheinteriorwaschangedintoiceuponcontactwiththeglass，preventingallobservation。

Nichollconsultedthethermometer，andsawthatithadfallentoseventeendegrees（Centigrade）belowzero。[3]Sothat，inspiteofthemanyreasonsforeconomizing，Barbicane，afterhavingbeggedlightfromthegas，wasalsoobligedtobegforheat。

Theprojectile’slowtemperaturewasnolongerendurable。

Itstenantswouldhavebeenfrozentodeath。

[3]1@Fahrenheit。

"Well！"observedMichel，"wecannotreasonablycomplainofthemonotonyofourjourney！Whatvarietywehavehad，atleastintemperature。Nowweareblindedwithlightandsaturatedwithheat，liketheIndiansofthePampas！nowplungedintoprofounddarkness，amidthecold，liketheEsquimauxofthenorthpole。

No，indeed！wehavenorighttocomplain;naturedoeswondersinourhonor。"

"But，"askedNicholl，"whatisthetemperatureoutside？"

"Exactlythatoftheplanetaryspace，"repliedBarbicane。

"Then，"continuedMichelArdan，"wouldnotthisbethetimetomaketheexperimentwhichwedarednotattemptwhenweweredrownedinthesun’srays？

"Itisnowornever，"repliedBarbicane，"forweareinagoodpositiontoverifythetemperatureofspace，andseeifFourierorPouillet’scalculationsareexact。"

"Inanycaseitiscold，"saidMichel。"See！thesteamoftheinterioriscondensingontheglassesofthescuttles。Ifthefallcontinues，thevaporofourbreathwillfallinsnowaroundus。"

"Letusprepareathermometer，"saidBarbicane。

Wemayimaginethatanordinarythermometerwouldaffordnoresultunderthecircumstancesinwhichthisinstrumentwastobeexposed。Themercurywouldhavebeenfrozeninitsball，asbelow42@Fahrenheitbelowzeroitisnolongerliquid。

ButBarbicanehadfurnishedhimselfwithaspiritthermometeronWafferdin’ssystem，whichgivestheminimaofexcessivelylowtemperatures。

Beforebeginningtheexperiment，thisinstrumentwascomparedwithanordinaryone，andthenBarbicanepreparedtouseit。

"Howshallwesetaboutit？"askedNicholl。

"Nothingiseasier，"repliedMichelArdan，whowasneverataloss。

"Weopenthescuttlerapidly;throwouttheinstrument;itfollowstheprojectilewithexemplarydocility;andaquarterofanhourafter，drawitin。"

"Withthehand？"askedBarbicane。

"Withthehand，"repliedMichel。

"Well，then，myfriend，donotexposeyourself，"answeredBarbicane，"forthehandthatyoudrawinagainwillbenothingbutastumpfrozenanddeformedbythefrightfulcold。"

"Really！"

"Youwillfeelasifyouhadhadaterribleburn，likethatofironatawhiteheat;forwhethertheheatleavesourbodiesbrisklyorentersbriskly，itisexactlythesamething。

Besides，Iamnotatallcertainthattheobjectswehavethrownoutarestillfollowingus。"

"Whynot？"askedNicholl。

"Because，ifwearepassingthroughanatmosphereoftheslightestdensity，theseobjectswillberetarded。Again，thedarknesspreventsourseeingiftheystillfloataroundus。

Butinordernottoexposeourselvestothelossofourthermometer，wewillfastenit，andwecanthenmoreeasilypullitbackagain。"

Barbicane’sadvicewasfollowed。Throughthescuttlerapidlyopened，Nichollthrewouttheinstrument，whichwasheldbyashortcord，sothatitmightbemoreeasilydrawnup。Thescuttlehadnotbeenopenedmorethanasecond，butthatsecondhadsufficedtoletinamostintensecold。

"Thedevil！"exclaimedMichelArdan，"itiscoldenoughtofreezeawhitebear。"

Barbicanewaiteduntilhalfanhourhadelapsed，whichwasmorethantimeenoughtoallowtheinstrumenttofalltothelevelofthesurroundingtemperature。Thenitwasrapidlypulledin。

Barbicanecalculatedthequantityofspiritsofwineoverflowedintothelittlevialsolderedtothelowerpartoftheinstrument，andsaid：

"AhundredandfortydegreesCentigrade[4]belowzero！"

[4]218degreesFahrenheitbelowzero。

M。PouilletwasrightandFourierwrong。Thatwastheundoubtedtemperatureofthestarryspace。Suchis，perhaps，thatofthelunarcontinents，whentheorbofnighthaslostbyradiationalltheheatwhichfifteendaysofsunhavepouredintoher。

CHAPTERXV

HYPERBOLAORPARABOLA

Wemay，perhaps，beastonishedtofindBarbicaneandhiscompanionssolittleoccupiedwiththefuturereservedforthemintheirmetalprisonwhichwasbearingthemthroughtheinfinityofspace。Insteadofaskingwheretheyweregoing，theypassedtheirtimemakingexperiments，asiftheyhadbeenquietlyinstalledintheirownstudy。

Wemightanswerthatmensostrong—mindedwereabovesuchanxieties——thattheydidnottroublethemselvesaboutsuchtrifles——andthattheyhadsomethingelsetodothantooccupytheirmindswiththefuture。

Thetruthwasthattheywerenotmastersoftheirprojectile;

theycouldneithercheckitscourse，noralteritsdirection。

Asailorcanchangetheheadofhisshipashepleases;anaeronautcangiveaverticalmotiontohisballoon。They，onthecontrary，hadnopowerovertheirvehicle。Everymaneuverwasforbidden。Hencetheinclinationtoletthingsalone，orasthesailorssay，"letherrun。"

Wheredidtheyfindthemselvesatthismoment，ateighto’clockinthemorningofthedaycalledupontheearththe6thofDecember？

Verycertainlyintheneighborhoodofthemoon，andevennearenoughforhertolooktothemlikeanenormousblackscreenuponthefirmament。Astothedistancewhichseparatedthem，itwasimpossibletoestimateit。Theprojectile，heldbysomeunaccountableforce，hadbeenwithinfourmilesofgrazingthesatellite’snorthpole。

Butsinceenteringtheconeofshadowtheselasttwohours，hadthedistanceincreasedordiminished？Everypointofmarkwaswantingbywhichtoestimateboththedirectionandthespeedoftheprojectile。

Perhapsitwasrapidlyleavingthedisc，sothatitwouldsoonquitthepureshadow。Perhaps，again，ontheotherhand，itmightbenearingitsomuchthatinashorttimeitmightstrikesomehighpointontheinvisiblehemisphere，whichwoulddoubtlesslyhaveendedthejourneymuchtothedetrimentofthetravelers。

Adiscussionaroseonthissubject，andMichelArdan，alwaysreadywithanexplanation，gaveitashisopinionthattheprojectile，heldbythelunarattraction，wouldendbyfallingonthesurfaceoftheterrestrialglobelikeanaerolite。

"Firstofall，myfriend，"answeredBarbicane，"everyaerolitedoesnotfalltotheearth;itisonlyasmallproportionwhichdoso;andifwehadpassedintoanaerolite，itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatweshouldeverreachthesurfaceofthemoon。"

"Buthowifwegetnearenough？"repliedMichel。

"Puremistake，"repliedBarbicane。"Haveyounotseenshootingstarsrushthroughtheskybythousandsatcertainseasons？"

"Yes。"

"Well，thesestars，orrathercorpuscles，onlyshinewhentheyareheatedbyglidingovertheatmosphericlayers。Now，iftheyentertheatmosphere，theypassatleastwithinfortymilesoftheearth，buttheyseldomfalluponit。Thesamewithourprojectile。Itmayapproachveryneartothemoon，andnotyetfalluponit。"

"Butthen，"askedMichel，"Ishallbecurioustoknowhowourerringvehiclewillactinspace？"

"Iseebuttwohypotheses，"repliedBarbicane，aftersomemoments’reflection。

"Whatarethey？"

"Theprojectilehasthechoicebetweentwomathematicalcurves，anditwillfollowoneortheotheraccordingtothespeedwithwhichitisanimated，andwhichatthismomentIcannotestimate。"

"Yes，"saidNicholl，"itwillfolloweitheraparabolaorahyperbola。"

"Justso，"repliedBarbicane。"Withacertainspeeditwillassumetheparabola，andwithagreaterthehyperbola。"

"Ilikethosegrandwords，"exclaimedMichelArdan;"oneknowsdirectlywhattheymean。Andpraywhatisyourparabola，ifyouplease？"

"Myfriend，"answeredthecaptain，"theparabolaisacurveofthesecondorder，theresultofthesectionofaconeintersectedbyaplaneparalleltooneofthesides。"

"Ah！ah！"saidMichel，inasatisfiedtone。

"Itisverynearly，"continuedNicholl，"thecoursedescribedbyabomblaunchedfromamortar。"

"Perfect！Andthehyperbola？"

"Thehyperbola，Michel，isacurveofthesecondorder，producedbytheintersectionofaconicsurfaceandaplaneparalleltoitsaxis，andconstitutestwobranchesseparatedonefromtheother，bothtendingindefinitelyinthetwodirections。"

"Isitpossible！"exclaimedMichelArdaninaserioustone，asiftheyhadtoldhimofsomeseriousevent。"WhatIparticularlylikeinyourdefinitionofthehyperbola（Iwasgoingtosayhyperblague）isthatitisstillmoreobscurethanthewordyoupretendtodefine。"

NichollandBarbicanecaredlittleforMichelArdan’sfun。

Theyweredeepinascientificdiscussion。Whatcurvewouldtheprojectilefollow？wastheirhobby。Onemaintainedthehyperbola，theothertheparabola。Theygaveeachotherreasonsbristlingwith_x_。TheirargumentswerecouchedinlanguagewhichmadeMicheljump。Thediscussionwashot，andneitherwouldgiveuphischosencurvetohisadversary。

ThisscientificdisputelastedsolongthatitmadeMichelveryimpatient。

"Now，gentlemencosines，willyouceasetothrowparabolasandhyperbolasateachother’sheads？Iwanttounderstandtheonlyinterestingquestioninthewholeaffair。Weshallfollowoneortheotherofthesecurves？Good。Butwherewilltheyleadusto？"

"Nowhere，"repliedNicholl。

"How，nowhere？"

"Evidently，"saidBarbicane，"theyareopencurves，whichmaybeprolongedindefinitely。"

"Ah，savants！"criedMichel;"andwhatareeithertheoneortheothertousfromthemomentweknowthattheyequallyleadusintoinfinitespace？"

BarbicaneandNichollcouldnotforbearsmiling。Theyhadjustbeencreating"artforart’ssake。"Neverhadsoidleaquestionbeenraisedatsuchaninopportunemoment。Thesinistertruthremainedthat，whetherhyperbolicallyorparabolicallyborneaway，theprojectilewouldneveragainmeeteithertheearthorthemoon。

Whatwouldbecomeoftheseboldtravelersintheimmediatefuture？

Iftheydidnotdieofhunger，iftheydidnotdieofthirst，insomedays，whenthegasfailed，theywoulddiefromwantofair，unlessthecoldhadkilledthemfirst。Still，importantasitwastoeconomizethegas，theexcessivelownessofthesurroundingtemperatureobligedthemtoconsumeacertainquantity。

Strictlyspeaking，theycoulddowithoutits_light_，butnotwithoutits_heat_。FortunatelythecaloricgeneratedbyReiset’sandRegnaut’sapparatusraisedthetemperatureoftheinterioroftheprojectilealittle，andwithoutmuchexpendituretheywereabletokeepitbearable。

Butobservationshadnowbecomeverydifficult。thedampnessoftheprojectilewascondensedonthewindowsandcongealedimmediately。

Thiscloudinesshadtobedispersedcontinually。Inanycasetheymighthopetobeabletodiscoversomephenomenaofthehighestinterest。

Butuptothistimethediscremaineddumbanddark。Itdidnotanswerthemultiplicityofquestionsputbytheseardentminds;

amatterwhichdrewthisreflectionfromMichel，apparentlyajustone：

"Ifeverwebeginthisjourneyoveragain，weshalldowelltochoosethetimewhenthemoonisatthefull。"

"Certainly，"saidNicholl，"thatcircumstancewillbemorefavorable。

Iallowthatthemoon，immersedinthesun’srays，willnotbevisibleduringthetransit，butinsteadweshouldseetheearth，whichwouldbefull。Andwhatismore，ifweweredrawnroundthemoon，asatthismoment，weshouldatleasthavetheadvantageofseeingtheinvisiblepartofherdiscmagnificentlylit。"

"Wellsaid，Nicholl，"repliedMichelArdan。"Whatdoyouthink，Barbicane？"

"Ithinkthis，"answeredthegravepresident："Ifeverwebeginthisjourneyagain，weshallstartatthesametimeandunderthesameconditions。Supposewehadattainedourend，woulditnothavebeenbettertohavefoundcontinentsinbroaddaylightthanacountryplungedinutterdarkness？Wouldnotourfirstinstallationhavebeenmadeunderbettercircumstances？

Yes，evidently。Astotheinvisibleside，wecouldhavevisiteditinourexploringexpeditionsonthelunarglobe。Sothatthetimeofthefullmoonwaswellchosen。Butweoughttohavearrivedattheend;andinordertohavesoarrived，weoughttohavesufferednodeviationontheroad。"

"Ihavenothingtosaytothat，"answeredMichelArdan。

"Hereis，however，agoodopportunitylostofobservingtheothersideofthemoon。"

Buttheprojectilewasnowdescribingintheshadowthatincalculablecoursewhichnosight—markwouldallowthemtoascertain。Haditsdirectionbeenaltered，eitherbytheinfluenceofthelunarattraction，orbytheactionofsomeunknownstar？Barbicanecouldnotsay。Butachangehadtakenplaceintherelativepositionofthevehicle;andBarbicaneverifieditaboutfourinthemorning。

Thechangeconsistedinthis，thatthebaseoftheprojectilehadturnedtowardthemoon’ssurface，andwassoheldbyaperpendicularpassingthroughitsaxis。Theattraction，thatistosaytheweight，hadbroughtaboutthisalteration。Theheaviestpartoftheprojectileinclinedtowardtheinvisiblediscasifitwouldfalluponit。

Wasitfalling？Werethetravelersattainingthatmuchdesiredend？

No。Andtheobservationofasign—point，quiteinexplicableinitself，showedBarbicanethathisprojectilewasnotnearingthemoon，andthatithadshiftedbyfollowinganalmostconcentriccurve。

Thispointofmarkwasaluminousbrightness，whichNichollsightedsuddenly，onthelimitofthehorizonformedbytheblackdisc。Thispointcouldnotbeconfoundedwithastar。

Itwasareddishincandescencewhichincreasedbydegrees，adecidedproofthattheprojectilewasshiftingtowarditandnotfallingnormallyonthesurfaceofthemoon。

"Avolcano！itisavolcanoinaction！"criedNicholl;"adisembowelingoftheinteriorfiresofthemoon！Thatworldisnotquiteextinguished。"

"Yes，aneruption，"repliedBarbicane，whowascarefullystudyingthephenomenonthroughhisnightglass。"Whatshoulditbe，ifnotavolcano？"

"But，then，"saidMichelArdan，"inordertomaintainthatcombustion，theremustbeair。Sotheatmospheredoessurroundthatpartofthemoon。"

"Perhapsso，"repliedBarbicane，"butnotnecessarily。

Thevolcano，bythedecompositionofcertainsubstances，canprovideitsownoxygen，andthusthrowflamesintospace。Itseemstomethatthedeflagration，bytheintensebrilliancyofthesubstancesincombustion，isproducedinpureoxygen。Wemustnotbeinahurrytoproclaimtheexistenceofalunaratmosphere。"

Thefierymountainmusthavebeensituatedaboutthe45@southlatitudeontheinvisiblepartofthedisc;but，toBarbicane’sgreatdispleasure，thecurvewhichtheprojectilewasdescribingwastakingitfarfromthepointindicatedbytheeruption。

Thushecouldnotdetermineitsnatureexactly。Halfanhourafterbeingsighted，thisluminouspointhaddisappearedbehindthedarkhorizon;buttheverificationofthisphenomenonwasofconsiderableconsequenceintheirselenographicstudies。

Itprovedthatallheathadnotyetdisappearedfromthebowelsofthisglobe;andwhereheatexists，whocanaffirmthatthevegetablekingdom，nay，eventheanimalkingdomitself，hasnotuptothistimeresistedalldestructiveinfluences？Theexistenceofthisvolcanoineruption，unmistakablyseenbytheseearthlysavants，woulddoubtlessgiverisetomanytheoriesfavorabletothegravequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon。

Barbicaneallowedhimselftobecarriedawaybythesereflections。

Heforgothimselfinadeepreverieinwhichthemysteriousdestinyofthelunarworldwasuppermost。Hewasseekingtocombinetogetherthefactsobserveduptothattime，whenanewincidentrecalledhimbrisklytoreality。Thisincidentwasmorethanacosmicalphenomenon;itwasathreateneddanger，theconsequenceofwhichmightbedisastrousintheextreme。

Suddenly，inthemidstoftheether，intheprofounddarkness，anenormousmassappeared。Itwaslikeamoon，butanincandescentmoonwhosebrilliancywasallthemoreintolerableasitcutsharplyonthefrightfuldarknessofspace。Thismass，ofacircularform，threwalightwhichfilledtheprojectile。

TheformsofBarbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdan，bathedinitswhitesheets，assumedthatlividspectralappearancewhichphysiciansproducewiththefictitiouslightofalcoholimpregnatedwithsalt。

"ByJove！"criedMichelArdan，"wearehideous。Whatisthatill—conditionedmoon？"

"Ameteor，"repliedBarbicane。

"Ameteorburninginspace？"

"Yes。"

Thisshootingglobesuddenlyappearinginshadowatadistanceofatmost200miles，ought，accordingtoBarbicane，tohaveadiameterof2，000yards。Itadvancedataspeedofaboutonemileandahalfpersecond。Itcuttheprojectile’spathandmustreachitinsomeminutes。Asitapproacheditgrewtoenormousproportions。

Imagine，ifpossible，thesituationofthetravelers！Itisimpossibletodescribeit。Inspiteoftheircourage，their_sang—froid_，theircarelessnessofdanger，theyweremute，motionlesswithstiffenedlimbs，apreytofrightfulterror。

Theirprojectile，thecourseofwhichtheycouldnotalter，wasrushingstraightonthisignitedmass，moreintensethantheopenmouthofanoven。Itseemedasthoughtheywerebeingprecipitatedtowardanabyssoffire。

Barbicanehadseizedthehandsofhistwocompanions，andallthreelookedthroughtheirhalf—openeyelidsuponthatasteroidheatedtoawhiteheat。Ifthoughtwasnotdestroyedwithinthem，iftheirbrainsstillworkedamidallthisawe，theymusthavegiventhemselvesupforlost。

Twominutesafterthesuddenappearanceofthemeteor（tothemtwocenturiesofanguish）theprojectileseemedalmostabouttostrikeit，whentheglobeoffireburstlikeabomb，butwithoutmakinganynoiseinthatvoidwheresound，whichisbuttheagitationofthelayersofair，couldnotbegenerated。

Nichollutteredacry，andheandhiscompanionsrushedtothescuttle。Whatasight！Whatpencandescribeit？

Whatpaletteisrichenoughincolorstoreproducesomagnificentaspectacle？

Itwasliketheopeningofacrater，likethescatteringofanimmenseconflagration。Thousandsofluminousfragmentslitupandirradiatedspacewiththeirfires。Everysize，everycolor，wasthereintermingled。Therewereraysofyellowandpaleyellow，red，green，gray——acrownoffireworksofallcolors。

Oftheenormousandmuch—dreadedglobethereremainednothingbutthesefragmentscarriedinalldirections，nowbecomeasteroidsintheirturn，someflaminglikeasword，somesurroundedbyawhitishcloud，andothersleavingbehindthemtrainsofbrilliantcosmicaldust。

Theseincandescentblockscrossedandstruckeachother，scatteringstillsmallerfragments，someofwhichstrucktheprojectile。Itsleftscuttlewasevencrackedbyaviolentshock。Itseemedtobefloatingamidahailofhowitzershells，thesmallestofwhichmightdestroyitinstantly。

Thelightwhichsaturatedtheetherwassowonderfullyintense，thatMichel，drawingBarbicaneandNicholltohiswindow，exclaimed，"Theinvisiblemoon，visibleatlast！"

Andthroughaluminousemanation，whichlastedsomeseconds，thewholethreecaughtaglimpseofthatmysteriousdiscwhichtheeyeofmannowsawforthefirsttime。Whatcouldtheydistinguishatadistancewhichtheycouldnotestimate？Somelengthenedbandsalongthedisc，realcloudsformedinthemidstofaveryconfinedatmosphere，fromwhichemergednotonlyallthemountains，butalsoprojectionsoflessimportance;itscircles，itsyawningcraters，ascapriciouslyplacedasonthevisiblesurface。

Thenimmensespaces，nolongeraridplains，butrealseas，oceans，widelydistributed，reflectingontheirliquidsurfaceallthedazzlingmagicofthefiresofspace;and，lastly，onthesurfaceofthecontinents，largedarkmasses，lookinglikeimmenseforestsundertherapidilluminationofabrilliance。

Wasitanillusion，amistake，anopticalillusion？Couldtheygiveascientificassenttoanobservationsosuperficiallyobtained？

Daredtheypronounceuponthequestionofitshabitabilityaftersoslightaglimpseoftheinvisibledisc？

Butthelightningsinspacesubsidedbydegrees;itsaccidentalbrilliancydiedaway;theasteroidsdispersedindifferentdirectionsandwereextinguishedinthedistance。

Theetherreturnedtoitsaccustomeddarkness;thestars，eclipsedforamoment，againtwinkledinthefirmament，andthedisc，sohastilydiscerned，wasagainburiedinimpenetrablenight。