Wilkins, John - A discovery of a new world : or a discourse tending to prove, that 'tis probable there may be another Habitable World in the Moon ; with a discourse concerning the Probability of a Passage thither; unto which is added, a discourse concerning a New Planet, tending to prove, that 'tis probable our earth is one of the Planets

10694That the Moon may be a World.

2. ’Tis obſerv'd, that the Suns total Eclip-
ſes, when there is no part of his Body diſcern-
able, yet there does not always follow ſo great
a darkneſs, as might be expected from his to-
tal Abſence. Now ’tis probable, that the rea-
ſon is, becauſe theſe thicker Vapours, being
Enlightned by his Beams, do convey ſome
Light unto us, notwithſtanding the Interpoſiti-
on of the Moon betwixt his Body and our
Earth.

3. This likewife is by ſome gueſt to be the
Reaſon of the Crepuſculum, or that light which
we have before the Suns Rifing.

Now, if there be ſuch Evaporations from
the Sun, much more then from the Moon,
which does conſiſt of a more groſs and impure
ſubſtance. The other Arguments are taken
from ſeveral Obſervations in the Moon her
ſelf, and do more directly tend to the Proof
of this Propoſition.

2. ’Tis obſerv'd, that ſo much of the Moon
as is enlightned, is always part of her bigger
Circle, than that which is darker. The fre-
quent Experience of others hath prov'd this,
and an eaſie Obſervation may quickly confirm
it. But now this cannot proceed from any
other cauſe ſo probable, as from this Orb of
Air; eſpecially when we confider how that
Planet ſhining with a borrow'd Light, doth
not ſend forth any ſuch Rays as may make her
Appearance bigger than her Body.

3. When the Moon, being half enlightned,
begins to cover any Star, if the Star be towards
the obſcurer part, then may it by the Perſpe-
ctive be diſcern'd, to be nearer unto the

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