pointed out elsewhere)
notable changes of aspect under different phases. There are at least two
distinct clefts on the floor, one running from the W. wall towards the
centre, and another on the S.E. side of the interior. The last throws out
two branches towards the S.W.
ROSSE.--A fine bright deep crater in the Mare Nectaris, N. of the pointed
termination of the W. wall of Fracastorius, with which it is connected by
a bold curved ridge, with a crater upon it. A ray from Tycho, striking
along the E. wall of Fracastorius passes near this object. A rill from
near Bohnenberger terminates at this crater.
POLYBIUS.--A ring-plain, about 17 miles in diameter, in the hilly region
S.E. of Fracastorius. The border is unbroken, except on the N., where it
is interrupted by a group of depressions. There is a long valley on the
S.W., at the bottom of which Schmidt shows a crater-chain.
NEANDER.--This ring-plain, 34 miles in diameter, a short distance W.S.W.
of Piccolomini, has a somewhat deformed rampart, which, however, except
on the N., where there is a narrow gap occupied by a small crater, is
continuous. It rises on the E. nearly 8000 feet above the floor, on which
there is a central mountain about 2500 feet high. Schmidt shows some
minor hills, a large crater on the N.E. side, and three smaller craters
in the interior.
PICCOLOMINI.--A ring-plain of a very massive type, about 57 miles in
diameter, S. of Fracastorius, with complex and prominently terraced
walls, surmounted by very many peaks; one of which on the E. attains a
height of 14,000 feet, and another, N. of it, on the same side, an
altitude of 15,000 feet above the interior. The crest of this grand
rampart is tolerably continuous, except on the S.W., where, for a
distance of twenty miles or more, its character as regards form and
brightness is entirely changed. Under a low sun, instead of a continuous
bright border, we note a wide gap occupied by a dusky rugged plateau,
which falls with a gentle gradient to the floor, and is traversed by
three or four parallel shallow valleys running towards the S. I can
recall no lunar formation which presents an appearance at all like this:
one is impressed with the idea that it has resulted from the collapse of
the upper portion of the wall, and the flow of some viscous material over
the wreck and down the inner slope. The difference between the reflective
power of this matter, whatever may be its nature, and the broad bright
dec
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