three in the afternoon
But did it also convince them of the existence of an atmosphere on her surface whose vivifying molecules would render _ life _ possible ? This question they had again to leave unanswered -- it will hardly ever be answered in a way quite satisfactory to human curiosity . Still , infinite was their satisfaction at having hovered even for an instant on the very verge of such a great problem 's solution . It was now half-past three in the afternoon . The Projectile still pursued its curving but otherwise unknown path over the Moon 's invisible face . Had this path been disturbed by that dangerous meteor ? There was every reason to fear so -- though , disturbance or no disturbance , the curve it described should still be one strictly in accordance with the laws of Mechanical Philosophy .