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68. 

We arrive, then, at the conclusion that the "total initial masses" necessary would be

6,436 lbs. or 3.21 tons; flash just visible, and

33,278 lbs. or 16.63 tons (or less); flash strikingly visible. A "total initial mass" of 8 or 10 tons would, without doubt, raise sufficient flash powder for clear visibility.

These masses could, of course, be much reduced by the employment of a larger telescope. For example, with an aperture of two feet, the masses would be reduced to one fourth of those just given. The use of such a large telescope would, however, limit considerably the possible number of observers. In all cases, the magnification should be so low that the entire lunar disk is in the field of the telescope.

It should be added that the probability of collision of a small object with meteors of the visible type of negligible, as is indicated in Appendix G, p. 80. 

This plan of sending a mass of flash powder to the surface of the moon, although a matter of much general interest, is not of obvious scientific importance. There are, however, [[underlined]] developments of the general method under discussion, which involve a number of important features not herein mentioned [[/underlined]], which could lead to results of much scientific interest. These developments involve many experimental difficulties, to be sure; but they depend upon nothing that is really impossible.