Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-09-13

The continents are white, the bodies Of
water black. The continents are here
represented by numbers as follows 1.
Amazonis; 2, Memnonia; 3, Phlegra; 4,
Zephyria; 8. Acolis; 9, Elysium; q, Hes
peria s. Aetheria; 8, Libya, 10, Aeria;
II, Arabia; -, Eden; ID, Edom; IA. Chry-
sia; Is. Tempe; 16, Thossis; II, Arcadia.
The three islands are as follows, in the
order of their size Thryle |. Thryle II,
Argyle II.
II should be explained that this map is
drawn on what is known as Mercator's
projection. That is, as If the planet were
cylindrical in form and its surface had
been peeled of and rolled out fat like so
much paper. The map should be viewed
with the paper held sidewise, with the
South pole surrounded by the Australian
seal at the top. This reversal of the poles
is common to all astronomical maps, and
is the result Of the reversing powers Of
all astronomical telescopes.
-
Nebulse are perhaps the best objects on
which to test new glasses; at least they
are the most delicate. As each new glass
is put on certain nebulg parts that have
appeared flmy through other telescopes
are resolved into stars. But the favorite
object for astronomers in the planetary
system on which to bring new glasses to
bear is the planet Mars, especially when
Mars is in what is called opposition-that
is, when the planet, which revolves in an
orbit next exterior to that Of the earth, is
on the same side of the sun with the
earth, and is 145, 1000, COO miles nearer us
than when it is on the opposite side of
the earth from the sun. In 1916. when
the first Of the larger size glasses came to
America, Mars and the earth were az close
together as they ever get, or at an inter
val Of about SO, COG, 600 miles, and the glass
was tested upon the planet and some new
points noted. The Lick observatory was
not ready for observations till the middle
Of July last. An opposition Of Mara took
place during March April and May; but
notwithstanding shat they were rather
late for favorable observations. the Aatron-
omers of the Lick observatory made q
number Of careful drawings OF the planets
disc as seen through the instrument.
NJ Schiaparelh, Of the observatory at
Milan, ltslv has devoted himself to the
study Of Mars, and has made map Of its
surface, which is here given The por-
tions which are given in black in the msp
are supposed to represent water, tho
white land. On the planet these differ
ences are Of course, very much slighter
in degree, and are differences in color. 1t
will be seen that the map divides the sur
face into the land and the seas and the
lines which cross in every direction arc
called canals, though this is misnomer,
for some Of them are 600 miles long and
so miles wide. They are supposed to bs
the same substance as what are called
Marian seas, because they are of the
same color
The transitions. however, on the plan
et's surface are 50 sudden as to seriously
interfere with the land and water theory
NJ. Perrotin. director Of the observatory
at Nice. declares that the continent
marked libya ON the map about equal (
France in area entirely disappeared be
tween two observations, the latter mad,
in April last. The truth is that the SUI
and all the great planets which we cal
see under favorable circumstances under
go apparent rapid surface changes. Tit
variations on the disc of Saturn and thi
clouds" of Jupiter have long puzzled as
| tronolners. A few years ago great rec
spot appeared on the surface Of the latte
| planet, which has not yet entirely fade,
away. There occasionally appear spot
on the sun into which the whole eartl
could be thrust, and before the astron
omer can make drawing the whole np
pearance of the vast crater has changed
The theory. therefore, that Mars is com
posed of continents which are constantl'
being changed in their area or submergal
by oceans must DO taken purely as