The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-14
from Mars whom IL swung into limo between
that planet and the sun.

from Mars whom IL swung into limo between
that planet and the sun.
Neither were any Of the curious details In
the south polar snow region that have bcen
detected at the Lick Observatory and by Prof.
Pickering at Arequipa visible Mt Princeton on
the occasion Of my visit. l understand. how
ever. that some weeks ago Prof. Young saw
distinctly blue patch on the planet not far
from the equator. which recalls Prof. lick
ering's description OF the blue area noticed by
him in similar location.
1t needs but glance at Mars to perceive
that tho relations Of sea and land to ono
another III the dusky and reddish areas really
are. respectively. water and dry ground) are
very different from their relations upon the
earth. In the first place the seas arc compare
lively much smaller than upon the earth. and
their total area is only about equal to
the area OF the land, while on our
planet threo-Quarters OF the surface is
covered with water. Mars apparently
has both of its poles surrounded by water like
the earth. while broad bolt OF land encircles
the planet around tho equator. extending
through many degrees OF latitude in both dircc-
tions but being considerably more extensive
in the northern hemisphere. This belt Of land
is cut UP into small continents by straits con-
Meeting the water systems OF the hcmsphercs.
and according to Schaparelli. is traversei in
almost every conceivable direction by the mar
row. dusky bands called canals, which were
first seen by him aud which during the pres
ent opposition have been seen also at the
Lick Observatory. Probably no reputable
astronomer would give countenance to the
idea that these lines or bands. which soem to
be water courses because they arc connected
on all sides with the areas supposed to DO
seas. are artificial canals They show curious
.;, Ion, "a In,
phenomenon OF doubling witnessed by Schia-
parelli. which appear to depend upon tho
change OF Seasons Nobody who Is at all
familiar with tho phenomena OF optical de-
ception which beset the observer on all sides
Wien he Is working near tho limits Of vision
would be surprised If 1t should turn out that
the real appearance OF the so-called continents
Of Mars Is quite different from that which
they present with our present telescope
powers. That there Is something very sim
gular on that plauot no one can doubt who
has looked at it with n powerful telescope.
1t was easier to see the moons OF Mars than
to detect the finer details Of the markings on
its surface. Notwithstanding the haziness of
the atmosphere these two little dots OF light
wore perfectly distinct when the planet itself
was hidden behind a bar in the field of view.
and having once caught sight OF them in this
way it was not difficult to see them even in
the full glare of the planet. In the course Of
the evening the inner satellite. Phobos. which
circles round Mars at an average distance OF
onl; .. 80 miles from its surface. and with an
average velocity OF 4.SUO miles On hour. was
seen TO movo from it's greatest elongation
nearly to the edge of the planet. behind which
1t disappeared in tho course of its revolution.
The movement OF the outer satellite. Deimos.
whose average distance from the planet IL
1880 miles. was also perceptible.
In appearance nothing could be more insig-
niAcant than these little moons. the merest
specks OF light. not larger. 1t seemed than the
point Of u needle. but their evident motion
added an element Of intense interest to the
scene and one could not avoid thinking OF the
| appearance which they must present from the
surface Of Mars. Phobos. whose rapid flight
was so evident in the telescope. makes com
pete circuit of the planet three times in the
course of single day. and consequently
moves in the sky Of Mars in direction oppo-
site to that OF every other heavenly body.
II. as some ASTRONOMERS suspect. these
satellites did not originate like our moon from
the same mass out Of which the planet that
governs them was formed. but were originally
independent bodies. like the asteroids. the
interest in thcm is greatly increased. Accord
| ing to that view they must have been captured
| by Mars and compelled by his overpowering
| attraction to accompany him forever after in
his circuits about the sun. A slight additional
degree OF probability is lent to this
| theory by the fact that, although they
, were never seen until 1877. when Prof.
| Hall discovered them with the great
| Washington telescope. they have since
been visible with comparatively small tele-
scopes at nearly every opposition. Has Mars.
then. come into possession OF its satellites only
1,,o ,r-l,- t,,a .,t.,
tions Of those suppostitous astronomers on
Mars who have recently been pictured for us
with all the liveliness Of Gallo fancy? Tho
earth has picked up many u strange meteorite
in its long journey through the mysterious
realms OF space but It has never yet made
such catch as that OF pair of moons
GARRETT =. SERvIss.