New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02

own ohScrvatlOns.
We have, however. obtained satisfactory cvi-
dence on another point of equal importance re-
lating TO the surface of Mars in spite Of the late
beginning Of our observations | refer 10 NJ.
ferotlns announcement Of the submcrgcnce OF
the continent Iibya in April last Writing TO
the Paris Academy Of Sciences NJ Pcrrotin the
director OF the great observatory at Nice,
speaks first Of the canals on Mars some Of which
he was able TO see doubled and then goes on 70
say that of the notifications on the surface Of
Mars the most important is the disappearance
of a continent which extended on both sides OF
the equator in longitude go degrees tho cont
ncnt Lihya of NJ Schiaparclli's map This con
tinent is of n triangular form and is bounded on
the south and west by and on the north
and east by canals Although plainly visible two
years ago, it exists no longer The neighboring
sea If sea it is has totally submerged it. To the
reddish white color of the continents has succeed
ed the black rather deep blue hue OF the seas
Of Mars"
do not know the exact date Of these observa-
tons, but | presume them TO have been made
IN April ard early May of this year, since they
were printed by the Paris Academy on May Ii.
They have been made the basis OF far-rcaching
speculations. For instance, we read in the French
journal L'Astronomle' for July. 1888, that
important occurrences from the Chronological,
observation-disclosures, perhaps, human point Of
view are just now taking place on the surface
OF this nelghDoring world and much more Of
the same kind From the scientific journals
thus news has gone into the newspaper press and
into current information. hundred visitors 10
the Lick Observatory have inquired if these changes
on Mars were observed here, and have been deeply
disappointed when they have learned that our
do
In fact, out Of the forty drawings which we
have been able to secure since July 8 no loss
than eight represent tn continent Libga in its
accustomed place. just as it was portrayed by
NJ. Schlapareili in 1878 not 10 speak of many
later drawings by others. IL fact, drawings by
Mr.. ID. Smart of London. on May 7, and by
H. tmmmarioa. Of Paris, on June ., have recently
been published. and help 10 fiji up the history Of
Libya, from the date OF NJ Peuotin's announce
ment &c the dare Of our first observations. Both
Of these drawings show Libya in It's accustomed
state-weu out 0t the water of the ncgEboring
sea Il il really had been submerged" IN Apul
aAd mad really emerged by May =. tbs would
have been indeed a singular fact. But il seems
TO me that these astounding revelations OF even
human import have their basis in q confusion
Of terms. Who knows that the continent lIbya
neighbofing parts are really " seas" and canals
We know that Mars has aqueous vapOr in its
atmosphere, Dub VINO na> yet decided winch part
OF Its variegated surface furnishes this by evapora
ton
Suppose that the region viewed by Mr.. Perrotin
had been simply under clouds for certain period
Might they not have produced the change III color
which he undoubtedly observed However we may
account for the appearances before the beginning
of May, ii seems clear from our own observations
that this continent" has remained III its normal
STATE from July 10 until now. and the drawings
OF ElammarlOn and Smart seem 10 show that IL
NG> 50 III early May and in carry June.
their observations before the public promptly.
They usually defend themselves by quoting such
cases a. this, and by pointing out the harm that
is done science when scnsatlOnahsm cfcepN ID, and
wrong or hasty conclusions are drawn and run
their course of error around the world Ii appears
that there Is stln some thing to be sald IN iaNor
OF an early communication by the scientific mon
But they realize the danger Of
HislnteIp probation of their observations, they Will
or should be careful TO give them III sober words
which cannot be exaggerated or misunderstood.
To return to the case in point, II seems that
our OBSERVATIONS ciearN sh2" tiht L'py" uQes sun
eXist-Just as II has III the past Ana IL i a
reasonable inference that the dissertations OBJ
served by NJ. Perrotin were something IN the
nature of yelling by clouds, rather than the terrific
OF the submergence OF continent
Our observations upon the ncbulae in the last
FIVE weeks have been most interesting and i'm
portant. The power of the great telescope IS no
where better shown than in reviewing objects
which are familiar IN other great ana small teie-
scope, and 10y the drawings ana descriptions OF
lass1M, Icr>chcl and Lord Rose. The ncbuIa
n Lyra. known % all po>srssOrs OF small ana large
telescopes has not only showed Us nov feature
and many new and minute stars within IT, but
IL has also afforded by the critical situations ana
irran gcmeuts Of these stars new proofs that tHe
force which formed this ncbula was . central
force. If we please. we may assume thHt ms
force gravitatOn; II tins step Is too hazardous
ana il certainly is no. proved for any ncbula, we
IAN with certainty say that Tins particular hebuE,
with its ONals Of stars and ncbuous matter WAS
formed by the action Of central forces
Othor wrll-knOWn ncbdue have afforded sirlS-
ing and interesting features when 10 l' uIi'icu.
to describe without the ana Of illustrate 'iio VI-e
i'm particular Ina, seemed 10 be IF especial import
refer TO the planetary neDula 81 II. w. Dricohi'
'Ir Schaebcrle and myself have observed i-iH on
many occasons and ii seems 10 be the first rep
rescutative Of new ciAss Of obleets-a class Of
lehulac where the nebulous matter appears %
be- and very probably, in fact. i. arranged IN the
orm of "a helix or screw, just a. If the nc3ulae
lad been formed by one brilliant particle Pc
rolving around the central star ana leaving
brilliant train, while the central star itself was
alidly moving through space.
Sir William Hcrschc the first to cnumerate
md To- classify the ncbulac Lord Roses giant
etlector resolved many Of Herschcls nebulae INTO
iars, while many others renamed unr' solved .
The spectroscope appears TO have shown that many
y these last o,a a of Ib gb i ncrc,ng ncbaac
,amclv those whose parts were disposed lh
pirals On the fiat ground Of the sky. II appears
o US that in this planetary ncbula OF heFSch'is .
We have the first example Of still another new
las IN which the Parts. AT least. appear - I
Ne disposed in the form Of helix. Several other .
t,uiae already examined snow cfIufHtfH 'l iI'
ONO form and II is more than likely that other
crlcct examples Of the class can be found
There are many large telescopes IN america .
chicb will easily show this structure. and W. f
ope they may be turned on this. object ada .
he remarl, that the focus for the central star
which is yclowish. and for the nebnla .wmcn
( blue. are not quite the same, and that me +
olicol forms are best seen when the focus for the
TAR is changed slightly, For Clark telescopes
bout 10000 to 1000 Of the focal length -,
Our observations Of Jupiter have been much
pterrupted by the necessity of observing
Iare. and Of photographne the moon noon
: the most favorable hours for viewing TINS
Ianct Still we have seen enough to know that .
inch vet remains to be done here.
Mr.. Rnrnham has also utilized the hours whom
he telescope was not I'm NE for other purposes oy
iscovoring new binary stars H. he~ already
Isl Of some twenty or moro such. all with distances
.rostinc ~ those is Gamma Cassiopeac a star Of
he second magnitude, with most minute com
anton close within the rays not two seconds on.
is in q favorable situation az present. ana VIII DC
faet the largest TELESCOPES