midnight
It was desirable that the qualities of each of the ships should first be carefully tested , and for this reason the leader of the expedition determined that the moon should be the first port of space at which the squadron would call . It chanced that the moon was so situated at this time as to be nearly in a line between the earth and Mars , which latter was in opposition to the sun , and consequently as favorably situated as possible for the purposes of the voyage . What would be , then , for 99 out of the 100 ships of the squadron , a trial trip would at the same time be a step of a quarter of a million of miles gained in the direction of our journey , and so no time would be wasted . The departure from the earth was arranged to occur precisely at midnight . The moon near the full was hanging high over head , and a marvelous spectacle was presented to the eyes of those below as the great squadron of floating ships , with their insignia lights ablaze , cast loose and began slowly to move away on their adventurous and unprecedented expedition into the great unknown . A tremendous cheer , billowing up from the throats of millions of excited men and women , seemed to rend the curtain of the night , and made the airships tremble with the atmospheric vibrations that were set in motion . Instantly magnificent fireworks were displayed in honor of our departure .