Therefore, even granting that we had already assumed the nature of an aerolite, it does not necessarily follow that we should fall on the Moon." "But," objected Ardan, "if we approach only near enough, I don't see how we can help--" "You don't see, it may be," said Barbican, "but you can see, if you only reflect a moment.

Have you not often seen the November meteors, for instance, streaking the skies, thousands at a time ?" "Yes; on several occasions I was so fortunate." "Well, did you ever see any of them strike the Earth's surface ?" asked Barbican.
"I can't say I ever did," was the candid reply, "but--" "Well, these shooting stars," continued Barbican, "or rather these wandering particles of matter, shine only from being inflamed by the friction of the atmosphere.

Therefore they can never be at a greater distance from the Earth than 30 or 40 miles at furthest, and yet they seldom fall on it.

So with our Projectile.

It may go very close to the Moon without falling into it." "But our roving Projectile must pull up somewhere in the long run," replied Ardan, "and I should like to know where that somewhere can be, if not in the Moon." "Softly again, dear boy," said Barbican; "how do you know that our Projectile must pull up somewhere ?" "It's self-evident," replied Ardan; "it can't keep moving for ever." "Whether it can or it can't depends altogether on which one of two mathematical curves it has followed in describing its course.