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Chambers, Ephraim, 1680 (ca.)-1740 / Cyclopædia, or, An universal dictionary of arts and sciences : containing the definitions of the terms, and accounts of the things signify'd thereby, in the several arts, both liberal and mechanical, and the several sciences, human and divine : the figures, kinds, properties, productions, preparations, and uses, of things natural and artificial : the rise, progress, and state of things ecclesiastical, civil, military, and commercial : with the several systems, sects, opinions, &c : among philosophers, divines, mathematicians, physicians, antiquaries, criticks, &c : the whole intended as a course of antient and modern learning
(1728)
Moor - Murrain, pp. 580-599
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Page 580
moo ( 80 ) MOO iLear the Moon's Body; and rarer above, Now as the Air be which incompaffes our Earth is fuch a Fluid, it is manifeft it there is Air about the Moon; and fince the different Denfity fun of the Air depends on its different Gravity and Elaflicity, mi no doubt the different Denfity of the Lunar Air has the M fame Caufes. Again, we have obferv'd the Lunar Air is R, not always equally clear and tranfparent: fometimes it changes the fphericaI Figures of the Stars into Ovals; and na in the feveral total Eclipfes ju{l mentioned, there was gr obfcrved a trembling in the Moon's Limb, immediately Ih before immerfion, with an Appearance of thin, light Smoak flying over it during immerfion, very apparent in is England. And hence, as thefe fame Phenomena are ob- fo ferved in our Air when full of Vapours, it is pretty plain, re at the time when thefe Phenomena are obferved in that of fic the Mloon, it is full of Papours and Exhalations. And, St llfly, fince at other times the Lunar Air is clear and tranf- er parent, producing none of thefe Phxnomena, the Va- tb pours mud have been precipitated on the Moon ; and there- fore either Dew, or Rain, or Snow have fallen. dt 7. The Moon is a lody in all refpegls like our Earth, and if fittedfor tbefame purpofJs. For we have fhewn that it is P. Denfe-Opake-has Mountains and Valleys-Seas, with IJlands, Penmnfulhe, Rocks, and Promonrories- a changeable ti Amtnojbere, wherein 1"apours and Exhalations rife and fall 1 -Day and Night; a Sun to illumine the one, and a Moon V the other,- Slimmer and Winter, &c. tl From thefe, by Analogy, may infinite other Properties st and Appendages of the Moon be deduced: From the C Changes in the Atmofphere will follow Winds, and other oi Meteors; and according to the different Seafons of the t] Year, Rain, is, Froft, Snow, E&c. From the Inequali- v ties upon the Moon's Surface will arife Lakes, Rivers, C Springs, E$'c. it Now Nature, we know, produces nothing in vain: Rains 1: and Dews fall on our Earth to make Plants vegerate ; and C Plants take Root, grow, produce Seeds and Fruits for Ani- r, mals to feed on. But Nature is flill uniform and confident f with herfclf, and like things ferve for like Ends : Why 1 then may not there be Plants and Animals in the Moon ? t' To what other purpofe fo nice a Provifion for them ? t Thefe Arguments * ill receive new force when we come t to fhew that our Earth itfelf is a Planet; and that when viewed from the other Planets, it appears, in fome, like the Noon in others, like Venus ; in others, Jupiter, &c. A Simi- litude between the Planets, both Optical and Phyfical, be-t ing a ffrong Prefumption their Furniture is alike. SeeI EARTHand PLANET. I To meafure the Height of the Mountains of the MOON. Suppofe E D (Fig. 19.) the Moon's Diameter, E CD - the Boundary of Light and Darknefs; and A the Top of the Hill in the dark part beginning to be illumined With a Telefcope obferve the Proportion (of A E, or the diflance of A from the Line where the Light commences, to the Diameter of E D : Here we have two fides of a reaangled Triangle A E, C A; the Squares of which i added together give the Square of the third; whence the Semi-diameter C D being fubfilracded, leaves A B, the Height of the Mountain. Ricciolus, v. g. found the Top of the Hill St. Catherine illumined at the diflance of of the Moon's Diameter from the Confines of Light. Suppofing, therefore, C E, 8 5 and A E, I ; the Squares of the two will be 65, whofe Root is 8.c6z the length of A C ; fubilraaing therefore B C = 8, the Remainder is AB= o6z. The Moen's Semi-diameter, therefore, is to the Mountain's height as 8 is to o.6z ; i.e. as 8o0 to 6z. Suppofing, therefore, the Diameter of the Moon i :82 Eszglifi Miles, by the Rule of Three we find the height of the Mountain 9 Miles. The Heights, Oc. of the Lunar Mountains being mea. furable, Afironomers have taken occafion to give each its Name. Ricciolus, whom mof others now follow, diflin- guilhed them by the Names of the Celebrated Aflronomers; and by thefe Names they are fdill expreffed in Obfervations of the Lunar Eclipfe, tec. See the Figure, (Tab. ASTRO- NOMY, Fig. g0.) The apparent Magnitude of the MooN. The Magnitude of the Moon, at rifing and fetting, is a Phaenomenon that has extremely embarraffed the modern rhilofophers. According to the ordinary Laws of Vifion, it Should appear the lead when neared the Horizon, as being then neared to the Eye ; and yet we find the contrary true in faa. Des Cartes, and from him Dr. Wallis, and mod other Authors, account for this from the long Series of Ob- jeals interposed between the Eye and the Extremity of the fenfible fHorizon, which make us imagine it more remote than when in the Meridian, where the Eye fees nothing in the way between the Objea and itfelf This Idea of a great diflance, makes us imagine the Moon the bigger: For any Objedt being feen under any certain Angle, and lieved, at the fame time, very remote,we naturally judge mu*t be very large, to appear under fuch an Angle at :h a diflance. And thus a pure Judgment of the Soul lkes us fee the Moon bigger in the Horizon, than in the eridian ; norwithilanding its Image painted on the etina is lefs in the former Situation than the latter. This Hypothefis, F. Guuye deftroys, by obferving that the rrower and more confined the fenfible Horizon is, the eater does the Moon appear; the contrary of which ould happen on the Principle laid down. Gaffenkdi is of opinion, that the Pupil of the Eye, which always more open as the Place is more dark; being more in the Morning and Evening than at other times, by afon the Earth is covered with grofs Vapours ; and be- ies, being obliged to pafs through a longer Column or eries of'em, to reach the Horizon, the Image of the Moon iters the Eye at a greater Angle, and is really painted ere greater. In anfwer to which, it mufd be faid, that notwithilanding his dilatation of the Pupil, occafion'd by the Obfcurity j the Moon be viewed through a little pin-hole made in a saper, {he appears lefs when in the Horizon. F. Gouye finding both the Conjeaures falfe, advances a lird : He is of opinion then, when the Moon is in the Horizon; the neighbourhood of the Earth, and the grofs Tapours wherewith the Moon then appears inveloped, have ie fame Effe~l, with regard to us, as a Wall, .or o- ier denfe Body placed behind a Column; which in that afe appears bigger than when infulate, and incompalfed a all fides with an illumined Air. Further, it is obterved hat a Column when fluted, 'appears bigger than before, when it was plain; the Flutes being fo many particular )bjects, which by their Multitude occafion the Mind to inagine the whole Objed whereof they are compofedof a irger extent. The fame thing may be faid of the feveral )bjecs feen towards the Horizon, to which the Moon cor- efponds at her Riuing and Setting. And hence it is that he appears greater Rill, when fhe rifts or fets between [rees; the narrow, yet diflind Intervals whereof have he fame Effed with regard to the apparent Diameter of he Moon, as a greater number of Flutes with regard to he Shaft of a Column. For the Eclqpfes of the MOON, fee ECLIPSES. For the MOON'S Parallax, fee PARALLAX. Tofindthe MOON'S Age. To the Day of the Month add the Bpac1 of the Year, and the Months from March inclu- five. The Sum, if under 30; if over, the Excefs is the Moon's Age. If the Month have but 3o Days, the Excefs ibove 29 is the Moon's Age. To find the Time of the MooiN's being in the Meridian, Dr Southing: Multiply her Age, if under I Days, by 4 and divide the Produa by 5; the Quotient gives the Hour, and the Remainder multiplied by 12, the Minute. If her Age exceed 15, fubifraln I5, and proceed with the Re- mainder as before. To find the Time of the MOON'S beginning tofLine. Mul- tiply her Age, if under i5, by 48 t and divide the Produ&t by 60: the Quotient gives the Hours ; and the Remainder the Minutes. If her Age be above i5 Days, fubfira& the time thus found, from 143 the Remainder gives the time of lhining in the Morning. MOOR, MORA, a Heath, or barren Tracl of Ground. See HEATH. It is fometimes alfo ufed for a Morafi, Mofs, or Fen. See MOR ASS. Mlora Misa, in antient Writings, particularly denotes a Mofs, or Peat-Mofs. MOORING, at Sea, is the laying out of Anchors, in a proper place, for the fecure Riding of a Ship. See ANCIIOR. To Moor a-crofs, is to lay out one of the Anchors on one fide, or a-thwart a River, and the other right againft it. To Moor along/, is to have an Anchor in a River, and a Hawfer on Shore. To Moor QLuarter-.fot, is to moor Quartering, between the two firnl ways. MOORING for Eaft, Weft, &c. is when they obferve which way, and on what Point of the Compafs the Wind or Sea is mod likely to endanger the Ship, and there lay out an Anchor. MOORS-HEAD, in Chymidry, a Copper-Cap made in form of a Head, to be fet over the Chimney of a Re- verberating Furnace. See REVERBERATORT. MOORS-HEAD is alfo the Head of a Copper or Glafs- Still or Alembic, which is luted on to the Body or Cucur- bit, and hath a Beak or Pipe to let the Spirit run down into the Receiver. MOOT, a difficult Cafe, or Queflion argued by the Students of Inns of Court, by way of Exercife. Sea MOOTING. The Word is formed either from the Saxon, Ahoting, A~embly; or the French, Mot, Word, MOOTING,
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