St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-01
THE PLANET MARS.
1t Isn't SoFull Of "CanaIs" as For
InerIy SuDpOSed.


LICK OBSERVATORY. CAL, July 81
The giant telescope presented to the
Observatory OF California by James
Lick is making a record for
itself during the present appear
ance of Mars. For several days observa-
Ions of most remarkable character have
been obtained by the Mount Hamilton
astronomers. The near approach of
the planet and its consequent brillianey
and size at this time have enabled OBJ
servers to utilize the full powers of
the instrument with most interest
ing results. Drawings by all the
astronomers exhibit numerous changes
in its principal characteristics since the
celebrated sketches made by the Mill
anese astronomer Schiaparelli. Many
of his almost fanciful details are shown
to have no existence in reality. None
of the so-called canals are doubled
or 'geminated'' as he depicted them.
All of those curious streaks,
whatever they may be, are broad
they were seen through the Lick tele-
scope two years ago. This will be bit
ter disappointment to many visionary
theorists, who have found in the exist
ence of these ''eanals, "and particularly
in the announcement that all were seen
to be doubled, most lndisputable evil
dence that Mars was Inhabited by hu-
man beings.
The most startling Of all MountHamil-
ton observations are those made on the
two tiny moons OF the planet, which
were first discovered by Casaph Hall,in
Washington, during the opposition of
1877, ana which have since been seen at
brief intervals, and only in the
very largest telescopes. Not only
have these little attendants (by
long odds the faintest planetary
bodies to be seen anywhere in the sky
been in plain view for the best part of
month. but of late astronomers have
regularly observed their eclipses i'll the
shaiiow of Mars. The news of this
week will be received with greatest
establishment at all those OBJ
servatories which possess telescopes
large and powerful enough to show
moons, for at most of them it has only
been possible to get glimpses Of the tiny
bodies by the most persistent efforts.
and astronomers are 10th to believe that
the Lick telescope enables these minute
specks OF light 10 be steadily followed
right up to the limb Of the planet.
The director of the observatory states
that the satellites are seen to disappear
in the eclipse upon reaching the line of
the shadow with almost the same in
Simultaneous effect which is seen when
the dark limbs of the moon pass over a
bright star in the sky. Within space
of only two-tenthS of second the whole
bOuY OF the moon is seen TO be immersed
I'D shadow cast out into space by the
globe of Mars.
1t is almost impossible to convey
proper idea of the insignificant size of
these little satellites or the eXtraordin-
ariIy mall scale nnOp yyhiaI, fhair
bits are drawn. The inner satellite is
probably about eight miles IN diameter,
and the outer one about twenty.
The first is less than 1900
miles from the surface of the
planet and the other about three times
that distance. They revolve so rapidly
about the planet that the inner one
appears to move through the sky
almost to the east and consequently
revolution in less than eight hours,
so that it seems to be new three
times Il day. In one evening this
little attendant passes through all four
quarters of the moon. The light which
they give the planet at night must be
very insignificant. AS seen through the
giant refractor, they appear to be two
points of light with no sensible disc.
1t has only been possible heretofore to
estimate the size OF these bodies by
comparing the amount Of light reflected
by them with that reflected by the
planet Mars itself, whose size is known,
bat now by means of these eclipse OBJ
Servations we have a direct measure of
their size, since it is found
that each of the satellites
moves its OWL diameter in about two
tenths of a second. and we can easily
tell from our knowledge of their ORBITS
just what space in miles each of them
moves through in that time. 1t is quite
certain that the Lick observatory
studies of the planet Mars during this
portion Of 1892 will pass into history.