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。