round the moon-第29章
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uttering an interjection of admiration； they gazed； they contemplated。
All their feelings； all their impressions； were concentrated in that
look； as under any violent emotion all life is concentrated at the heart。
Tycho belongs to the system of radiating mountains； like
Aristarchus and Copernicus； but it is of all the most complete
and decided； showing unquestionably the frightful volcanic
action to which the formation of the moon is due。 Tycho is
situated in 43@ south latitude； and 12@ east longitude。 Its center
is occupied by a crater fifty miles broad。 It assumes a slightly
elliptical form； and is surrounded by an enclosure of annular
ramparts； which on the east and west overlook the outer plain from
a height of 15；000 feet。 It is a group of Mont Blancs； placed
round one common center and crowned by radiating beams。
What this incomparable mountain really is； with all the
projections converging toward it； and the interior excrescences
of its crater； photography itself could never represent。
Indeed； it is during the full moon that Tycho is seen in all
its splendor。 Then all shadows disappear； the foreshortening
of perspective disappears； and all proofs become white a
disagreeable fact： for this strange region would have been
marvelous if reproduced with photographic exactness。 It is
but a group of hollows； craters； circles； a network of crests；
then； as far as the eye could see； a whole volcanic network
cast upon this encrusted soil。 One can then understand that
the bubbles of this central eruption have kept their first form。
Crystallized by cooling； they have stereotyped that aspect
which the moon formerly presented when under the Plutonian forces。
The distance which separated the travelers from the annular
summits of Tycho was not so great but that they could catch
the principal details。 Even on the causeway forming the
fortifications of Tycho； the mountains hanging on to the
interior and exterior sloping flanks rose in stories like
gigantic terraces。 They appeared to be higher by 300 or 400
feet to the west than to the east。 No system of terrestrial
encampment could equal these natural fortifications。 A town
built at the bottom of this circular cavity would have been
utterly inaccessible。
Inaccessible and wonderfully extended over this soil covered
with picturesque projections！ Indeed； nature had not left the
bottom of this crater flat and empty。 It possessed its own
peculiar orography； a mountainous system； making it a world
in itself。 The travelers could distinguish clearly cones；
central hills； remarkable positions of the soil； naturally
placed to receive the _chefs…d'oeuvre_ of Selenite architecture。
There was marked out the place for a temple； here the ground of a
forum； on this spot the plan of a palace； in another the plateau
for a citadel； the whole overlooked by a central mountain of
1；500 feet。 A vast circle； in which ancient Rome could have
been held in its entirety ten times over。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； enthusiastic at the sight； 〃what
a grand town might be constructed within that ring of mountains！
A quiet city； a peaceful refuge； beyond all human misery。 How calm
and isolated those misanthropes； those haters of humanity might
live there； and all who have a distaste for social life！〃
〃All！ It would be too small for them；〃 replied Barbicane simply。
CHAPTER XVIII
GRAVE QUESTIONS
But the projectile had passed the _enceinte_ of Tycho； and
Barbicane and his two companions watched with scrupulous
attention the brilliant rays which the celebrated mountain shed
so curiously over the horizon。
What was this radiant glory？ What geological phenomenon had
designed these ardent beams？ This question occupied Barbicane's mind。
Under his eyes ran in all directions luminous furrows； raised at
the edges and concave in the center； some twelve miles； others
thirty miles broad。 These brilliant trains extended in some
places to within 600 miles of Tycho； and seemed to cover；
particularly toward the east； the northeast and the north； the
half of the southern hemisphere。 One of these jets extended as
far as the circle of Neander； situated on the 40th meridian。
Another； by a slight curve； furrowed the 〃Sea of Nectar；〃 breaking
against the chain of Pyrenees； after a circuit of 800 miles。
Others； toward the west； covered the 〃Sea of Clouds〃 and
the 〃Sea of Humors〃 with a luminous network。 What was the
origin of these sparkling rays； which shone on the plains as
well as on the reliefs； at whatever height they might be？
All started from a common center； the crater of Tycho。
They sprang from him。 Herschel attributed their brilliancy to
currents of lava congealed by the cold； an opinion； however；
which has not been generally adopted。 Other astronomers have
seen in these inexplicable rays a kind of moraines； rows of
erratic blocks； which had been thrown up at the period of
Tycho's formation。
〃And why not？〃 asked Nicholl of Barbicane； who was relating and
rejecting these different opinions。
〃Because the regularity of these luminous lines； and the
violence necessary to carry volcanic matter to such distances；
is inexplicable。〃
〃Eh！ by Jove！〃 replied Michel Ardan； 〃it seems easy enough to me
to explain the origin of these rays。〃
〃Indeed？〃 said Barbicane。
〃Indeed；〃 continued Michel。 〃It is enough to say that it is a
vast star； similar to that produced by a ball or a stone thrown
at a square of glass！〃
〃Well！〃 replied Barbicane； smiling。 〃And what hand would be
powerful enough to throw a ball to give such a shock as that？〃
〃The hand is not necessary；〃 answered Nicholl； not at all
confounded； 〃and as to the stone； let us suppose it to be a comet。〃
〃Ah！ those much…abused comets！〃 exclaimed Barbicane。 〃My brave
Michel； your explanation is not bad； but your comet is useless。
The shock which produced that rent must have some from the
inside of the star。 A violent contraction of the lunar crust；
while cooling； might suffice to imprint this gigantic star。〃
〃A contraction！ something like a lunar stomach…ache。〃 said
Michel Ardan。
〃Besides；〃 added Barbicane； 〃this opinion is that of an English
savant； Nasmyth； and it seems to me to sufficiently explain the
radiation of these mountains。〃
〃That Nasmyth was no fool！〃 replied Michel。
Long did the travelers； whom such a sight could never weary；
admire the splendors of Tycho。 Their projectile； saturated with
luminous gleams in the double irradiation of sun and moon； must
have appeared like an incandescent globe。 They had passed
suddenly from excessive cold to intense heat。 Nature was thus
preparing them to become Selenites。 Become Selenites！ That idea
brought up once more the question of the habitability of the moon。
After what they had seen； could the travelers solve it？ Would they
decide for or against it？ Michel Ardan persuaded his two friends
to form an opinion； and asked them directly if they thought that
men and animals were represented in the lunar world。
〃I think that we can answer；〃 said Barbicane； 〃but according to
my idea the question ought not to be put in that form。 I ask it
to be put differently。〃
〃Put it your own way；〃 replied Michel。
〃Here it is；〃 continued Barbicane。 〃The problem is a double one；
and requires a double solution。 Is the moon _habitable_？ Has the
moon ever been _inhabitable_？〃
〃Good！〃 replied Nicholl。 〃First let us see whether the moon
is habitable。〃
〃To tell the truth； I know nothing about it；〃 answered Michel。
〃And I answer in the negative；〃 continued Barbicane。 〃In her
actual state； with her surrounding atmosphere certainly very
much reduced； her seas for the most part dried up； her
insufficient supply of water restricted； vegetation； sudden
alternations of cold and heat； her days and nights of 354
hours the moon does not seem habitable to me； nor does she
seem propitious to animal development； nor sufficient for the
wants of existence as we understand it。〃
〃Agreed；〃 replied Nicholl。 〃But is not the moon habitable for
creatures differently organized from ourselves？〃
〃That question is more difficult to answer； but I will try； and
