Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-17
PLANETARY SPECULATION.
A SkepticaI Observers Views-A BIact
rpot on the Sun Last Week.

A SkepticaI Observers Views-A Black
epot on the Sun Last Week.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
THE scientific world has been deeply inter-
ested and q good deal amused by the various
articles which have appeared lately in the
public prints in relation to the planet Mars.
Some of these items are not worth noticing,
while some Of the better ones need explana-
tion. The great Milan astronomer has seen
double canals very plainly. Another ''emi-
nent astronomer" has declared seriously
that he discovered trees on the banks OF the
canals; another says that Mars at his oppo-
sition in the year 1880 was within less than
1000 900 of miles of the earth; another has
seen something like signals on the planet,
and expects to be able to hold correspond
ence with the people there some day.
Now thoughtful people are inqutring
whether there is any foundation for these
notions, and whether there have been any
useful discoveries made of late on that orb.
We have an excellent test within our reach
by which to judge the value OF such pre-
tended discoveries. The moon is less than
one-quarter OF a million of miles from us.
1t has more than double the light that Mars
has; it has little or no atmosphere to OBJ
struct our view. always near us, giving op-
portunities of viewing her bright face, while
Mars at his nearest approach is but little
less than forty millions OF miles from US,
having a dense atmosphere which makes it
impossible to get clear view Of any objece
on his surface Still astronomers have never
been able, with their most improved instru-
menus, to arrive at any positive conclusion
in regard to the physical structure OF our
little neighbor.
By this test the man who can see canals,
either double or single, on Mars, could see u
grasshopper on the moon; and the man who
saw the trees on the banks of the canals
could hear the crickets sing on lunar even
ings. One of those eminent astronomer
once declared that his telescope was so
powerful that when he viewed q drove Of
30 near that he could hear them ting. 1t
would pay some enterprisfng individual to
collect, tabulate and publish the vagaries
that have appeared on that subject.
THIS spirit of speculation and conjecture,
though often ridiculous sometimes leads to
useful and important discoveries. 1t also
makes US careful of what we accept as truth
There are some things about the character
and movements OF the newly discovered
satellites that are hard to under
stand. For instance, the inner one
laws Of dynamics. According to reports It
makes three revolutions around the primary
in less time than the primary turn. on its
axis. The query Is: What Is the initial force
that staruAd the little fugitive at that out
rageous gait that breaks all previous rec
ords and reverses the apparent motions OF
all the members OF the solar system? Al
though / believe it is said that the actual
motion Of the satellites OF Uranus Ia retro
grade don't believe it.
We have good reasons for doubling many
Of the supposed discoveries of astronomers.
The celebrated astronomer, Leverrier, once
announced very confidently the discovery
of an inter-mercurial planet, calculated the
elements Of its orbit, gave the figures
and dubbed it Vulcan. But 1t has never
been seen since. He also declared that
Venus has a satellite. Others also pretended
to have seen it, but it can't be found with all
the helps Of modern science. 1t is not
make mistakes in their observations, con-
sidering the difficulties they have to con-
tend with But that is no excuse for guessing
and silly theorizing. In view Of these facts
some mistake in relation to the inner satel-
lite of Mars? Is it not possible that instead
of one there may be two or three, which
taken for one would account for the ap-
parent rapid motion OF the moon?
-
WHILE writing wish to call the attention
of scientists to another subject-that Of
the relation between electric disturbances
Of our atmosphere and solar disturbances.
The late auroral display and disturbances
were attributed to the great agitation going
on at the same time in the, SUMS surround
ings Now have not been able, after 30
wears observation, to discover any rela-
very general electric disturbance that pre-
vailed during the past few days goes TO dis
prove such relation. During all the time Of
This terrestrial disturbance the suns sur
face was unusually quiet. During last week
! very black spot passed over the disk with
put any change, and another similar one Is
now passing TRANQUILITY over tue same route
with q few smaller spots at various dis
tances all gliding peacefully over the fiery
sea. hope to see one of these spots return
1t the proper time but little changed, al
hOu oh One hOur NAV scatter Ii.
j. C. MCCORMICK.