The morning call., 1892-07-17
TIE OPPOSITION OF MARS.

Students of astronomy are furnishing
their telescopes against the opposition OF
Mars, which viii be complete a fortnight
from next Wednesday. On that daY, August
3, Mars will pass within 35.000.000 miles OF
the earth. proximity which 1t only reaches
once in fifteen years. Meanwhile II is draw
ing nearer daily, and those who have good
instruments can observe the planet more
closely than they have done since 1877. and
than they will again be able TO do till 1907.
Considering that Mars is at times 40, coo. 900
miles from the earth, its approach to within
a quarter of that distance is a memorable
event
On the last occasion when Mars was in
opposition Professor Asaph Hall of thenaval
observatory at Washington discovered its
two moons, little spheres only 60 miles in
diameter. But the discovery was doubted
In some quarters. Mars was Fastening away
when it was made, and thus the new men,
bers of our system were not studied as they
deserved Astronomers VIII take advantage
Of the present opposition to repair the
error. 1t may be taken for granted that the
latest pair OF the twenty moons in our solar
system will be the exposure of all telescopes
during the coming month. They seem to
be governed by laws which differ from
those which regulate our moon. AT times
both are visible together. travelling In OPP
posite directions, one of them with incOD-
ceivable rapidly, far exceeding that OF the
Planet itself Perhaps they may have
story to tell
Mars itself is a mystery regarding which
science would be gratfed for information
When it was last in opposition, Professor
Schiaparelli announced that the rectangular
bodies which had been taken for rivers and
seas were really canals constructed by the
hand of man. Four or five years after this
an English astronomer denied this theory,
and stated that Mars had lost all atmos-
phere and water and was rapidly becoming
a dead planet. plunged in perennial refrig-
GRAFTON like our moon. More lately other
observers aver that Mars has an atmosphere,
and that its poles, like those Of the earth.
are covered in the winter season with snow
and ice which melt as the spring advances.
Between these various opinions the observer
is free to choose that which strikes him as
the one that is most plausible.
There are cosmical reasons for regarding
Mars as Al older planet than the earth, SIS
there are reasons for considering Neptune
and Saturn younger planets. 1t is sup
posed that ali the planets 90 through the
same process If condensation, and that
when the nebular vapOr consolidates, so
that they become fitted for the habitation Of
man or CT some similar creature, refrigera-
ton begins through excess of radiation, and
goes on until the planet dies for want of
heat. This theory assumes that the outer
most planets are still in a semi-nebular
condition; that in the earth qualification
took place long ago and refrigeration has
begun. while In the older planets. as Mars,
refrigeration has preceded so far that it is
rapidly becoming. or has already become.
unfit 10 sustain life. These conjectures rest
on too frail basis to be entitled to implicit
faith, but there is plausi bic scientific theory
TO sustain them.
The march of modern investigation is
chiefly marked by the explosion OF accepted
beliefs. Students have been taught for
several generations that the moon has no
atmosphere. Bat there is no such thing as
a vacuum anywhere in nature, and if the
interspaces in the universe are filed with
something it must be attenuatei yapor.
which would condense through gravilation
on the surface of the moon. There is Moth
ing which astronomers are afraid to assert.
One who is pr0f0under than his fellows
tells us that Mars went out like the snnf II
a candle, and all life became extinct on its
oAtAAOCs NEtNtEu SsVtlsS1J duu ADst1D.ttJ
years ago; while II. Camille Flammarion
is quite satisfied that Mars is liveller than
ever. that the weather there is delightful,
ana vegetation abundant though Of rudy
hue. 1. would be unkind to ask these gen.
tlemen for their authority for such asser-
lions.
1t is possible-nay, it is probable-that
during the present opposition of Mars,
something more may be learned Of its sur
face than We now know. An opportunity
is afforded for some work by the astrono-
mers on Mount Hamilton. It would be a
feather in their cap If they solved some of
the problems which have puzzled foreign
| observers.