Part 15

HIPPALUS.--A partially ruined walled-plain, about 38 miles in diameter, on the W. side of the Mare Humorum, S. of Agatharchides. At least one- third of the border is wanting on the S.E., but under a low sun its site can be distinguished by a faint marking and the obvious difference in tone between the dark interior and the lighter-coloured plain. The rest of the wall is bright and continuous, except at a place on the W., where what appears to be the segment of a large ring has encroached upon it. There are two craters in the interior of Hippalus, and a row of parallel ridges, running obliquely from the S.W. wall up to a cleft which traverses the floor from N. to S. W. of Hippalus stands a bright crater, Hippalus A, with an incomplete little ring-plain adjoining it on the N.W.; and N.E. of it a much larger obscure ring containing two little hills. The Hippalus rill-system is a very interesting one, and the greater part of it can, moreover, be easily traced in a good 4 inch achromatic. It originates in the rugged region E. of Campanus, from which five nearly parallel curved clefts extend up to the rocky barrier, connecting the N. side of this formation with the S.W. side of Hippalus. The most westerly of these furrows is interrupted by a crater on this wall, but reappears on the N. side of it, and, after making a detour towards the W. to avoid a little mountain in its path, runs partially round the E. flank of Hippalus A, and then, continuing its northerly course, terminates amid the mountains W. of Agatharchides. (A short parallel cleft runs E. of this from the little mountain to the E. side of A.) The most easterly member of the system, originating N. of Ramsden, enters Hippalus at the S. side of the great gap in the border, and, after traversing the floor at the W. foot of a ridge thereon, also extends towards the mountains W. of Agatharchides. Between these clefts are three intermediate furrows, one of which runs N. from the N. side of the encroaching ring already referred to, on the W. wall of Hippalus.

CAMPANUS.--A ring-plain, 30 miles in diameter, on the rocky barrier, extending in nearly a straight line from Hippalus to Cichus. Its terraced walls, which rise on the E. more than 6000 feet above the floor, are broken on the S. by a narrow valley, and on the E. by a small crater. A small central mountain is apparently the only object on a very dark interior.

MERCATOR.--A more irregular ring-plain of about the same area, adjoining Campanus on the S.W. Its rampart is somewhat lower, and is partially broken on the N. by two semi-rings, and on the S. by a gap. The E. wall extends on the S. far beyond the limits of the formation, and terminates in a brilliant mountain mass 6000 feet in height. There is a bright crater on the crest of both the E. and W. border. On the plain E. of Mercator is a remarkable little crater standing on a light area, and, just under the wall, a dusky pit connected with it by a rill-like marking. These objects are of a very doubtful nature, and should be carefully observed. The floor of Mercator is much lighter than that of Campanus, and appears to be devoid of detail.

CICHUS.--A conspicuous ring-plain, about 20 miles in diameter, with a prominent deep crater about 6 miles across on its E. rim. It is situated on a curious boot-shaped plateau, near the S. end of the rocky mountain barrier associated with the last two formations. Its walls rise about 9000 feet above a sunken floor, on which there is some faint detail, but apparently nothing deserving the distinction of a central mountain. The plateau on the N. is cut through by a fine broad valley, which has obviously interfered with a large crateriform depression on its southern edge. A cleft runs from a small crater W. of the plateau up to this valley, and extends beyond to the W. wall of Capuanus. There is also a delicate cleft crossing the region S. of Cichus to the group of complicated formations S.W. of Capuanus. As already mentioned, the great Hesiodus cleft is associated with the Cichus plateau.

CAPUANUS.--A large ring-plain, about 34 miles in diameter, E. of Cichus, with a border especially remarkable on the E., where it rises more than 8000 feet above the outside country, and includes a large brilliant shallow crater. It is broken on the N.W. by a small but noteworthy double crater; and on the S. its continuity is destroyed for many miles by a number of big circular and sub-circular depressions and prominent deep valleys, far too numerous and complicated to describe. The level dusky interior contains only a low mound on the S., but is crossed by some light streaks running from N. to S.

RAMSDEN.--This ring-plain, 12 miles in diameter, derives its importance from the remarkable rill-system with which it is so closely associated. Its border, about 1800 feet on the W. above the outside surface, is slightly terraced within on the E., where there is an unrecorded bright crater on the slope. The two principal clefts on the S. originate among the hills E. of Capuanus. The more easterly begins at a crater on the N. edge of these objects, and runs N. to the E. side of Ramsden; the other originates at a larger crater, and proceeds in a N. direction up to a bright little mountain S.W. of Ramsden; when, swerving to the N.E., it ends at the W. wall of this formation. This mountain is a centre or node from which three other more delicate branches radiate. On the N., three of the shortest clefts pertaining to the system are easily traceable from neighbouring mountains up to the N. wall, which they apparently partially cut through. The E. pair have a common origin, but open out as they approach the border of Ramsden.

VITELLO.--A very peculiar ring-plain, 28 miles in diameter, on the S. side of the Mare Humorum, remarkable for having another nearly concentric ring-plain, of considerably less altitude within it, and a large bright central boss, overlooking the inner wall, 1700 feet in height. The outer wall is somewhat irregular, and is broken by gaps and valleys on the S. and N.W. It rises on the E. about 5000 feet above the Mare, but only about 2000 above the interior, which includes a crater on its N. side, and some low ridges.

HAINZEL.--This remarkable formation, which is about 55 miles in greatest length, but is hardly half so broad, derives its abnormal shape from the partial coalescence of two nearly equal ring-plains, the walls of both being very lofty,--more than 10,000 feet. It ought to be observed under a morning sun when the floor is about half illuminated. At this phase the extension of the broad bright terraced E. border across a portion of the interior is very apparent, and the true structural character of the formation clearly revealed. The floor abounds in detail, among which, on the S., are some large craters and a bright longitudinal ridge. Hainzel is flanked on the W. and S.W. by a broad plateau, W. of which stand two ring-plains about 15 miles in diameter, both having prominent central mountains and bright interiors.

WILHELM I.--A large irregular formation, about 50 miles across, S.E. of Heinsius, with walls varying very considerably in height, rising more than 11,000 feet on the E., but only about 7000 feet on the opposite side. The border is everywhere crowded with depressions, large and small. Three ring-plains, not less than 6 miles in diameter, stand upon the S. wall, the most westerly overlapping its shallower neighbour on the E., which projects beyond the wall on to the floor. The interior has a very rugged and uneven surface, upon the N. side of which are two very distinct craters, and a short crater-row on the W. of them. It is traversed from W. to E. by three bright streaks from Tycho, two on the N. being very prominent under a high light.

LONGOMONTANUS.--A much larger walled-plain, S. of the last. It is 90 miles in diameter, with a border much broken by depressions, especially on the N.E. At one peak on this side it rises to the tremendous altitude of 13,000 feet above the floor, and at peaks on the W. more than 1000 feet higher. There is a crowd of ring-plains on the N.E. quarter of the interior, and some hills and craterlets in other parts of it. It is also crossed by rays from Tycho.

SCHILLER.--A fine lozenge-shaped enclosure, with a continuous but somewhat irregular border. It is about 112 miles in extreme length, and rather more than half this in breadth. The loftiest section of the wall is on the W., where it rises 13,000 feet above a considerably depressed interior. There is a bright crater on this side and some terraces. On the broad inner slope of the E. border, the summit ridge of which is especially well-marked, there is a large shallow depression. The floor contains scarcely any detail, except some ridges on the N. side and a few craterlets. The great bright plain E. of Schiller and the region on the S.E. are especially worthy of scrutiny under a low morning sun.

BAYER.--This object, 29 miles in diameter, with a terraced border rising on the W. to a height of 8000 feet above the floor, is so closely associated with Schiller, that it may almost be regarded as forming part of it. A long lofty mountain arm, apparently connected with the W. wall of the latter, runs from the E. side of Bayer towards the N.W. There is a crater on the E. side of the interior.

ROST.--An oblong-shaped ring-plain, 30 miles in diameter, on the S.W. of Schiller, with moderately high walls, and, according to Neison, a shallow depression within, nearly central. I have seen a crater shown by Schmidt on the E. side of the floor. A valley runs from the E. side of Rost to the S. of Schiller.

WEIGEL.--A not very conspicuous ring-plain on the S. of Schiller, with a crater on its N.W. rim, and a larger ring adjoining it on the S.E. A prominent curved mountain arm from the E. wall of Schiller runs towards the N. side of this formation.

BLANCANUS.--A formation, 50 miles in diameter, on the S.E. side of Clavius, whose surpassing beauties tend to render the less remarkable features of this magnificent ring-plain and those of its neighbour Scheiner less attractive than they otherwise would be. The crest of its finely terraced wall, which at one peak on the E. rises to 18,000 feet, is at least 12,000 feet above the interior. Krieger saw twenty craters on the floor (1894, Sept. 21, 13h.), most of them situated on the S. quarter.

SCHEINER.--A still larger object, being nearly 70 miles in diameter, with a prominently terraced wall, fully as lofty as that of Blancanus. There is a large crater, nearly central, two others on the N.E. side of the floor, and a fourth at the inner foot of the E. wall. There is also a shallow ring on the N.E. slope. Schmidt shows, but far too prominently, two straight ridges crossing each other on the S. side of the central crater.

CASATUS.--A large walled-plain, about 50 miles in diameter, S.E. of Blancanus, near the limb, remarkable for having one of the loftiest ramparts of all known lunar objects; it rises at one peak on the S.W. to the great height of 22,285 feet above the floor, while there are other peaks nearly as high on the N. and S. The wall is broken on the E. by a fine crater. There is also a crater on the N.W. side of the very depressed floor, together with some craterlets.

KLAPROTH.--Casatus partially overlaps this still larger but less massive formation on its S.E. flank. The walls of Klaproth are much lower and very irregular and broken, especially on the W. There are some ridges on the floor. The neighbouring region is covered with unnamed objects, large and small.

EAST LONGITUDE 40 deg. TO 60 deg.

FLAMSTEED.--A bright ring-plain, 9 miles in diameter, in a barren region in the Oceanus Procellarum, N.E. of Wichmann. It has a regular border (broken at one place on the N. by a gap, which probably represents a crater), rising to a height of about 1400 feet above the surrounding plain. A great enclosure, 60 miles in diameter, lies on the N. of Flamsteed. It is defined by low ridges which exhibit many breaks, though under a high light the ring is apparently continuous. Within are several small craters and two considerable hills, nearly central.

HERMANN.--A ring-plain, about 10 miles in diameter, in the Oceanus Procellarum, W. of Lohrmann. It is associated with a group of long ridges, running in a meridional direction and roughly parallel to the coast-line.

LETRONNE.--A magnificent bay or inflexion in the coast-line of the Oceanus Procellarum, N.N.E. of Gassendi, presenting an opening towards the N. of nearly 50 miles, and bounded on the S. and S.W. by the lofty Gassendi highlands. Its border on the W., about 3000 feet high, is crowned with innumerable small depressions. The interior includes four bright little mountains, nearly central (three of them forming a triangle), a bright crater on the W. side, and several minor elevations and ridges. On the plain N. of the bay, is a large bright crater, from which a fine curved ridge runs to the central mountains. If Letronne is observed under oblique illumination, the low mounds and ridges on the Mare outside impress one with the idea that they represent the remains of a once complete N. wall.

BILLY.--A ring-plain, 31 miles in diameter, S.E. of Letronne, with a very dark floor, depressed about 1000 feet below the grey surface on the W., and a regular border, rising more than 3000 feet above it. There is a narrow gap on the S., and indications of a crater on the N.W. rim. Two small craters stand on the S. half of the interior. The formation is flanked on the S.W. by highlands.

HANSTEEN.--A somewhat larger ring-plain, with a lower and more irregular rampart, rising on the W. to nearly 3000 feet above the floor, which is depressed to about the same extent as that of Billy. Both the inner and outer slopes are terraced on the E., where the glacis is traversed by a short, delicate, rill-like valley. There are some bright curved ridges on the floor. On the W. of Billy and Hansteen is a wide inlet of the Oceanus Procellarum, bounded by the Letronne region on the W., and on the S. by lofty highlands. On the surface, not far from the S.W. border of Hansteen, is a curious triangular-shaped mountain mass, with a digitated outline on the S., and including a small bright crater on its area. Between this and the ring- plain is a large but somewhat obscure depression, N. of which lies a rill-like object extending from the N. point of the triangular mountain to the W. wall. At the bottom of a gently sloping valley between Billy and Hansteen is a delicate marking, which seems to represent a cleft connecting the two formations.

ZUPUS.--A formation about 12 miles in diameter with a dark floor, situated in the hilly region N.E. of Mersenius.

FONTANA.--A noteworthy ring-plain, about 20 miles in diameter, E.N.E. of Zupus, with a bright border, exhibiting a narrow gap on the S. and two large contiguous craters on the N.W. The faint central mountain stands on a dusky interior. On the N. is a large peculiar depressed plain with a gently sloping wall, within which are three short rill-like valleys and a crater.

MERSENIUS.--With its extensive rill-system and interesting surroundings, one of the most notable ring-plains in the third quadrant. It is 41 miles in diameter, and is encircled by a fine rampart, which on the side fronting the Mare Humorum rises 7000 feet above the floor, which is distinctly convex, and is depressed 3000 feet below the region on the E., though it stands considerably above the level of the Mare. The prominently terraced border is tolerably regular on the N.W., but on the S. and S.E. is much broken by craters and depressions, the largest and most conspicuous interrupting the continuity of its summit-ridge on the latter side. A fine crater-row traverses the central part of the interior, nearly axially, and a delicate cleft crosses the N. half of the floor from the inner foot of the N.E. wall to a crater not far from the opposite side. I detected another cleft on November 11, 1883, also crossing the N. side of the floor.

South of Mersenius is the fine ring-plain Mersenius d, about 20 miles in diameter, situated on the border of the Mare; and, extending in a line from this towards Vieta are two others (a, and Cavendish d,), somewhat larger, but otherwise similar; the more easterly being connected with Cavendish by a mountain arm. One of the principal clefts of the system (all of which run roughly parallel to the N.E. side of the Mare, and extend to the Percy Mountains E. of Gassendi) crosses the floor of d, and, I believe, partially cuts into its W. wall. Another, the coarsest, abuts on a mountain arm connecting d with Mersenius, and, reappearing on the E. side, runs up to the N.W. wall of the other ring- plain, a, and, again reappearing on the E. of this, strikes across the rugged ground between a and Cavendish d, traversing its floor and border, as does also another cleft to the N. of it. Cavendish d includes a coarse cleft on its floor, running from N. to S., which I have frequently glimpsed with a 4 inch achromatic. There are two other delicate clefts running from the Gassendi region to the S.W. side of Mersenius, which are in part crater-rills.