From the Earth to the Moon, Part 2, Chapter 8 summary

What happens

1. Nicholl notices unusually bright flames, identifies excess oxygen, and closes the valve that Michel mistakenly opens too far.
2. The companions recover, and Michel admits hiding chickens aboard to surprise his friends by releasing them on the moon.
3. Barbicane explains the point where Earth's and the moon's attractions balance, leaving the projectile and its contents without weight.
4. At about eleven, Nicholl drops a glass that stays suspended, and the companions experiment with floating objects, Diana, and themselves.
5. They drink a toast while floating, then gradually return toward the floor as lunar attraction takes over.
6. Michel imagines freedom from gravity, while Barbicane explains its necessity and discusses weaker gravity on the moon.

In this chapter

What to notice

Crossing this boundary makes lunar attraction dominant. The companions' temporary weightlessness marks a change from moving away from Earth to descending toward the moon.

Quick check