The Moon

First published in 1874, this monograph is notably illustrated with photographs of accurate plaster models of the lunar surface.

In this 1874 monograph, James Nasmyth (1808–90) and James Carpenter (1840–99) look closely at the lunar surface, illustrating their work with photographs of accurate plaster models. Among the topics discussed are the possibility of a lunar atmosphere, life on the moon, and the probable causes of its craters.The movement of the moon in space had been well documented by the second half of the nineteenth century. In this monograph, which first appeared in 1874, James Nasmyth (1808–90) and James Carpenter (1840–99) pay closer attention to the lunar surface, notably illustrating their work with photographs of accurate plaster models. At this time, many questions about the moon's properties were still open. Could the moon support life? Did it have an atmosphere? How had its craters been formed? Marshalling the latest available evidence, Nasmyth and Carpenter provide their answers in a text accompanied by explanatory diagrams. Also included are theories on planetary formation, a discussion of lunar volcanism, and a vivid imagining of a day on the moon's surface, describing everything from low lunar gravity to the sudden, monthly sunrise. The work remains an instructive resource, reflecting the state of contemporary astronomical knowledge.