Chapter XII

COLOUR AND BRIGHTNESS OF LUNAR DETAILS: CHRONOLOGY OF FORMATIONS,
AND FINALITY OF EXISTING FEATURES. 143
Absence of Conspicuous Colour—Slight Tints of
“Seas”—Cause—Probable Variety of Tints in small
Patches—Diversity of Brightness of Details—Most
Conspicuous at Full Moon—Classification of
Shades—Exaggerated Contrasts in Photographs—Brightest
Portions probably the latest formed—Chronology of
Formations—Large Craters older than Small—Mountains older
than Craters—Bright Streaks comparatively recent—Cracks
most recent of all Features—Question of existing
Change—Evidence from Observation—Paucity of such
Evidence—Supposed Case of _Linné_—Theoretical
Discussion—Relative Cooling Tendencies of Earth and
Moon—Earth nearly assumed its final Condition—Moon
probably cooled Ages upon Ages ago—Possible slight Changes
from Solar Heating—Disintegrating Action