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There is a distinct crater on the S. wall, not shown in the maps. Between this side of the formation and the bay is a number of hills running parallel to the shore-line: these, with the intervening valleys, will repay examination at sunrise. MAUPERTUIS. A great mountain enclosure of irregular shape, about 20 miles in diameter, in the midst of the Sinus Iridum highlands, N. of Laplace.
Its resemblance in situation to the conical mountain Pico in the Azores strikes the observer. Eastward of Plato a line of highlands, separating the Mare Imbrium from the Mare Frigoris, carries the eye to the beautiful semicircular Sinus Iridum, or "Bay of Rainbows."
On the edge of the Mare Frigoris, N.W. of Condamine, are many little craters with bright rims and a distinct short cleft, running parallel to the coast-line. The winding valleys in the region bordering the Sinus Iridum, and other curious details, render this portion of the moon's surface almost unique. BOUGUER. A bright regular little ring-plain, about 8 miles in diameter, N. of Bianchini.
FOUCAULT. A bright deep ring-plain, about 10 miles in diameter, lying E. of the mountains fringing the Sinus Iridum, between Bianchini and Harpalus. A very lofty peak rises near its N. border, and, according to Neison, it has a distinct central mountain, though neither Madler or Schmidt show any detail within.
A triangular mountain on the S.E. and a winding ridge running up to the N. wall are prominent features at sunrise, as are also the brilliant summits of a group of hills some distance to the E.N.E. CARLINI. A small but prominent and deep little crater about 5 miles in diameter on the Mare Imbrium about midway between Lambert and the Sinus Iridum.
THE HERACLIDES PROMONTORY. The less lofty but still very imposing headland at the E. end of the Sinus Iridum, rising more than 4000 feet above it. It consists of a number of distinct mountains, forming a triangular-shaped group running out to a point at the S.W. extremity of the bay, and projecting considerably beyond the shore-line.
The Sinus Iridum highlands, bordering the beautiful bay on the north-east side of the Mare Imbrium, rank among the loftiest and most intricate systems on the moon, and, like the Apennines, present a steep face to the grey plain from which they rise, though differing from them in other respects.
SHARP. A ring-plain somewhat smaller than the last, on the E. of the Sinus Iridum, from the coast-line of which it is separated by lofty mountains. There is a distinct crater at the foot of its N.E. wall, and a bright central mountain on the floor.
BIANCHINI. A fine ring-plain, about 18 miles in diameter, on the N.E. side of the Sinus Iridum, surrounded by the lofty mountains defining the border of the bay. Its walls, which are prominently terraced within, rise about 7000 feet on the E., and about 8000 feet on the W. above the floor, which includes a prominent ridge and a conspicuous central mountain.
The winding lines, like submerged ridges, delicately marking the floor of the Sinus Iridum and that of the Mare beyond, are beautiful telescopic objects. The "bay" is about one hundred and thirty-five miles long by eighty-four broad. The Mare Imbrium, covering 340,000 square miles, is sparingly dotted over with craters. All of the more conspicuous of them are indicated in the chart.
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