The Study of Astronomy, adapted to the capacities of youth / In twelve familiar dialogues, between a tutor and his pupil: explaining the general phænomena of the heavenly bodies, the theory of the tides, &c.

by teacher of astronomy John Stedman

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[15]. Here it must be observed that there will be a little variation from sun-rising to sun-setting, as the earth is advancing in its orbit.

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DIALOGUE XI.

Tutor.

I now propose giving you a description of the moon, and I doubt not it will afford you some degree of pleasure.

Pupil. Indeed it will, as I know little more than that she is a secondary planet or satellite, revolving round the earth, and with it round the sun.

Tutor. You know her mean distance from the earth.

Pupil. I did not recollect that: 240 thousand miles.

Tutor. Right. Her diameter is about 2161 miles, and her bulk about a fiftieth part of the earth’s. Her axis is almost perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, consequently she can have no diversity of seasons.