The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-09
AMERICA is AHEAD
Progress Made in the Observation
of the Planet Mars.
AS SEEN By A PARIS ASTRONOMER
The beautiful Planet Shining Mzhtly and
Brilliantly Above Cur Heads-Ob-
seryatiOns by Scientists.

Especial TO THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch
PARIS, Aug. s. -s'To the editor of the
New York Herald" 1t is impossible not TO
notice that while here the papers are &C.
cupied with unimportant political contro-
VERSES, crimes, balls, theatres, fashions
and other utilities, the American papers
devote the best part of their space to the
triumphal march of the first of sciences in
these last weeks, especially of the besutl-
full planet Mars, which shines nightly and
brilliantly above our heads, is the subject
of extremely interesting articles. AS this
neighboring world has not for moment
been lost sight of by the Juvissy observa-
tory since it came within range, propose
to address soon general article based on
the results of our observations, in which
we have had the good fortune to be assisted
by collaborateurs as Jealous as they are
skilleb-Guiot Guenisset, Schmoll and
Mabiere. Today l will simply touch upon
the great and important observations made
through the grand equatorial of the Mount
Hamilton observatory, the most powerful
telescope in the world. According to these
observations the Martial canals have been
recognized and confirmed, out the illus
trious director of Lick observatory aids ::
''Ihe latest observations have disproved
Sciaparellis' theory that the canals in Mars
are double; it follows that the double
canals have not been seen. The case is the
same here at the Juvlssy observatory. A
certain number of canals were observed
out all were simple. l will mention as
example the Nasmyth Pass, the Indus,
Ganges, Gigas, Iris, Borden, the Cituaux
canal and Pyriphligetor, which is seen to
have different course. The observations
were the more difficult as the planet has
great Austral latitude and is consequently
but little above our horizon, aud thus
scarcely energies from the mundane mists
even at its meriden passage, but it is near
est the point in its course to the earth and
is really magnificent spectacle. The
point TO which | wish to draw Professor
Holden's attention is that not having seen
the double canals l do not contradict
Schiaparellis' observations. Why. Be-
cause they are
ONLY SEEN DOUBLE IN THE SPRING
and autumn of Mans. little after the
spring equinox and little before the au-
tumn equinox, the examinations disappear
in the summer and in the winter. Now
the inhabitants of the south hemisphere of
Mars are in midsummer and those of the
north hemisphere in midwinter. The
and autumn equinox of the north hemi-
sphere occurred on March 20 last.
The summer solstice OF the south hemi-
sphere and the winter solstice of the north
hemis phere will occur Oct 13 next. We
cannot, therefors. observe the examinations
during the present observation OF Mars.
1t is well known that on this neigh boring
planet the seasons are
TWICE AS LONG AS WITH Us,
lasting nearly six months instead of three
The present opposition Of Mars coming
nine weeks before the summer solstce of
the south hemisphere and as in 1871, the
canals appear simple, and Schiaparelli,
who discovered them, was careful to warn
astronomers what could happen this year.
Here is what he wrote in March, 1882 1T
win not De long before these conjectures
are verified, as the opportunity will pre-
sent itself in 1892. The opposition in that
year will take place under almost the same
conditions as that Of 1877, ana the total aD-
sence of termination must be expected"
1t is evident that our knowledge of Mars
is becoming very precise and doubtless we
shall soon know more OF that planets
meterology than that of the earth.
CAMILLE FLAMMARION.