Путешествие на Луну
Permissive Limits of Ignorance and Belief in the United States
Tothosewhowerenotfamiliarwiththemotionsofthemoon,theydemonstratedthatshepossessestwodistinctmotions,thefirstbeingthatofrotationuponheraxis,thesecondbeingthatofrevolutionroundtheearth,accomplishingbothtogetherinanequalperiodoftime,thatistosay,intwenty-sevenandone-thirddays.
Themotionofrotationisthatwhichproducesdayandnightonthesurfaceofthemoon;savethatthereisonlyonedayandonenightinthelunarmonth,eachlastingthreehundredandfifty-fourandone-thirdhours.But,happilyforher,thefaceturnedtowardtheterrestrialglobeisilluminatedbyitwithanintensityequaltothatoffourteenmoons.Astotheotherface,alwaysinvisibletous,ithasofnecessitythreehundredandfifty-fourhoursofabsolutenight,temperedonlybythat"paleglimmerwhichfallsuponitfromthestars."
Somewell-intentioned,butratherobstinatepersons,couldnotatfirstcomprehendhow,ifthemoondisplaysinvariablythesamefacetotheearthduringherrevolution,shecandescribeoneturnroundherself.Tosuchtheyanswered,"Gointoyourdining-room,andwalkroundthetableinsuchawayastoalwayskeepyourfaceturnedtowardthecenter;bythetimeyouwillhaveachievedonecompleteroundyouwillhavecompletedoneturnaroundyourself,sinceyoureyewillhavetraversedsuccessivelyeverypointoftheroom.Well,then,theroomistheheavens,thetableistheearth,andthemoonisyourself."Andtheywouldgoawaydelighted.
