The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-11
THE Planet MAILS.

1t will be strange if the present opposi-
ton Of Mars passes away without adding
something to our knowledge of the planet
In every observatory in tie world tele-
scopes OF the greatest power are directed TO
Mars. and the most careful observers are
preserving records of their observations.
When the planet begins TO recede from
view astronomy ought 10 have accumulated
mass OF facts, from which some deduc-
tons may be drawn.
OF course, 1t is not to be expected that
any telescope instrument now in use will
solve the question whether the planet is in
habited or not. 1t is reckOned that TO detect
objects which were obviously The work of
human hands, telescope of 1000 times the
power OF the great 36-inch instrument at
Mount Hamilton would be required, and
then the question would arise whether the
ray Of light would not be dispersed by such
power SO that it could not be gathered in
focus. To detect an object mile long at
distance Of 33,001000 miles, some new dis
covery in optics is necessary. Such q dis.
covery is not by any means beyond the
reach of possibility. A few years ago it
seemed ridiculous to suggest that one might
become acquainted with the constituent
elements Of the sun and the moon. Yet this
the spectrOscOpe enables us to do. Some day
some similar discovery may reveal the
aspect OF the outer crust of the planets
probably by combination of the telescope
ana Tie microscope. The members of the
French Academy Of Sciences are 50 hope full
on the subject that they promptly accepted
a donation OF 100000 francs from wealthy
lady TO be devoted to experiments designed
to enlarge the capacity of telescopes
Good work in observing the planet Mars
is being done by the Harvard expedition
which has pitched its tent on the top of
mountain near Arequipa, In Peru. The
advantage of that station is that the atmos-
phere is clear and dry, and that Mars is
ufeetiy overhead. whereas here the planet
is seen low down, and observations are
liable TO be interfered with by atmospheric
vibrations. On several days lately, when
the sky was apparently clear, the planet
was seen through Professor Davidson's
telescope in the observatory on Oetavia
street like blurred lump OF wool, the rays
Of light having to pass through alternate
layers of hot and cold air rushing seward
and landward. At Arequpa Professor
Pickering and his assistants have encoun-
tered no sucn obstacles. The professor re-
ports constant and active movement on the
planet. A small dark spot would appear
one day. would be larger the next, and
"Oulu hnally swell Into considerable
area, winch might be a great sea or lake.
a ihe would show itself lear one of the
poles, ana would widen gradually. until Il
assumed continental proportions. The in.
ference OF The observer was that its growtb
was due TO the melting of bodies of snov
Oiher spots or lines, blue In color. apne,rsa
near The equator, and then after dav or
TWO merged into other spots adjacent. mr.
disappeared. Whatever caused the spot.
IL is evident that the law of Mars is incess-
ant motion and activity.
The canal question is still where Seha.
parelli left it fifteen years ago. OF the ex-
istence Of narrow streaks apparently cir
cumscribing the surface Of the planet there
seems TO be no doubt; whether they are
canals, as the Italian philosopher coniec-
tured, or what they are no one knows.
Observation seems to confirm the theory
that most Of them are twins. Alongside
each peak there appears to be slim par
allel streak at small distance, and this
small streak comes and goes. At first blush
one is inclined to ascriDe these phenomena
to atmospheric agency. But many aslrono-
mers cling TO the belief that the larger
streaks n all events are water; If they are
the parallel lines may also DO water IL so.
what makes them come and go?
There appears to be an impression among
persons who are apt to take superficial views
oi the laws Of the universe that If the