The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-14

Recent observations Of the planet
Mars have been made by various as
tronomers. aud their reports have at
tracted much attention. Professor
Brashear OF Allegheny. was sao~n
some OF the reports and questioned
concerning his own observations. he
said:
MY observations of that planet ex-
tend over number Of years. the best
having been made ia the opposition Of
1877. the year in which the two minute
satellites Of that planet were discov-
cred During that year the snow cap
OF Mars was remarkably distinct At
times. and actually seemed to pro-
trude from the planets disc. But this
was evidently caused by irradiation.
During the past summer have made
a number of observations. but they
have been merely for the purpose OF
testing the accuracy Of the instruments
we have been making. Upon one oc-
casion an cight-inch telescope was
used. and the markings upon Mars
were found 10 be remarkably distinct.
Two or three OF the larger so-calrd
canals Of Schiaparelli were seen. while
the dcnser markings. such a. Secchc
continent. Maedler continent. Maraldi
sea aud others OF. the more prominent
markings came ont with great beauty.
and Notwithstanding the southern de-
clination OF the planets the general
outline OF the seas and continents aud
the polarized cap was timer than have
ever had the pleasure OF seeing them
There is no doubt. however. that ia
the beautiful sky Of Italy SchiaparcIl
has seen more details upon the planet
than any living observer.
Our own Mr.. Keller. OF the Lick
Observatory. has recently made some
drawings OF this planet that rival those
OF Green. and gives some details as
seen by the Lick refracior not seen AZ
all hy either Green or Schiapareli.
M. keelcr il not only the most accu-
rate observer. but he il known rs one
OF the most accurate delineators OF
celestial phenomena.
''In beautiful drawing OF this
planet. sent 10 me recently by him.
made from an observation made on
the evening OF the 9th OF June last.
the main continents came out with
great sharpness. aud quito a number
of Schiaparclii's so-callcd canals arc
readily seen. The most remarkable
things seen upon the drawings OF Mr..
Keller are two projections upon tho
northwestern terminator OF the planet.
These AFRO two bright spots OF en0r-
nous height never before seen by
observers so far as ! can learn. These
indicate elevations of twenty miles.
and although doubt h,rs been thrown
upon the observation. and il is thought
that the height OF these bright spots IS
Increased by irradiation. there IS little
doubt in my mind that MIR. Keller nut
them down just as he saw them. In
reply TO recent letter MIR. kccler
tells me that hc not only observed
these upon the terminator. bat that he
watched them for hours afierward As
they passed in upon the body OF the
planet by the latter's rotation.
The polar caps Of Mars always ap-
pear white. aud there Is almost cot
elusive evidence that they are either
ice or snow. because they are seen 10
diminish during the long summer Of
Mars. which Is twice rs long as ours.
and 10 increase during the winter az
the planet and reach almost 10 q lati-
tndu coinciding with the latitude OF
New York upon the earth. As long
ago a 1916. Mitchell. az tho Cincin-
natl Observatory, noticed dark spot
in the very center of the snow zone.
He saw this on the night OF the 18th OF
July. aud he records that on the fol-
lowing evening not q trace OF the dark
spot could bee seen aud il has never
sfterward been visible.
Certain II il that Mars i one OF the
most interesting planets TO The astron-
omer. but IL i only about once la fif-
teen years that the best observations
may be made. While the planel has
been quite close "a ns this year. is low
southern declination has prevented
good observations Ia this latitude
But 10 1892 the planet viii be as well
situated. or very nearly 80. rs IL was
In 1871. when. no doubt much will DO
learned Of the physical characteristics
OF our neighboring satellite There is
no doubt ia my mind that Il has an at
niosphere; that IL has water "A we'll as
land upon is surface; hence IL follows
that IL has yapor and clouds. FOR OBJ
servers have seen continents apnear
and disappear which can only 10 ex.
plained BY their being At times covered
with great cloud masses.
DO YOU think Mars Is inhabited.
Professor" askei the reporter.
Well. that y difficult TO tell. am
Of the opinion that every world that
has passed through the stages 81 our
own has had dwrllcrs upoa h like
those upon onr earth. and rs II Is cvi.
IDENTITY an older planet than ours. who
Knows but that i has better astrono-
mers. liner telescopes aud purer At
mosphere N which 70 observe than We
have. and that they already know
more about our earth In that FAR on