Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-25
ALL EYES ON MARS.

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much to every man and TO the country.
| ALL EYES ON MARS.
The Principal Event Of Astronomical Inter.
est Near at Hand.
On the night of the 9th of the coming
| month of August the attention of the astro
| nomical world will be turned toward the
planet Mars, which will be in opposition on
that date, and as this also occurs during the
| perihelion of that member of the solar sy5
| tenn, the distance between it and.our own
astronomical observers will be reduced to
| 81, SOC. 600 miles. 1t is but once in 15 years
| that this phenomenon happens, the planets
distance ranging from 234, 400, 900 miles at its
| superior conjunction to an average dis
tance of As, 10000 miles at its opposition, but
! once in that period these last figures are re-
duced by about 49, 900 miles owing to the
eccentricity of the orbit of the ruddy planet,
and It will thus be upon the 5th OF August
next that the earth and Mars will approach
| so closely.
| This is what gives the event its profound
| significance, and explains why 1t is that the
| expectations OF astronomers throughout the
world are raised to so exalted q pitch. At
| the last opposition of Mars the largest In
| strument. directed toward its surface was the
| then new 26inch equatorial at Washington,
| and the results then were so surprising and
unanticfpated that the astronomers were
| completely bewildered. On this occasion
| the great Lick telescope Will be turned TO-
ward the planet.
1t is one of the Wanderers on which the
Chaldaic astronomers gazed, and its blood
red color caused it to be named after the
god of war. Its position in the heavens and
its varying brilliancy enhanced the mystery
with which it had ever been associated in
the minds of the ancient wise men, and the
signs and pOrtents drawn from its changing
position or appearance have been the oc-
caslon of vast and direful consequences to
whole nations and people.
Is the Planet Inhabited?
With the advent of the telescope the in
terest in the martial planet in no way de-
creased. The mythical properties ascribed
to the planet, of course, disappeared and the
causes of its eccentric motions were ex-
planned, but it has ever been considered one
of the most interesting celestial objects, and
has been the subject of profound observa-
tion and calculation by the greatest of all
astronomers.
OF the heavenly bodies, therefore, and
only excepting our own satellite, the planet
Mars is better known than any other Its
mean distance from the sun is IA, 500, 900
miles. Its light and heat, derived from the
sun, is about one-half that received by the
earth. Its year lasts through $50 9S-l00 of
our days, while its day comprises "a hours 81
minutes 22.7 seconds of our time Its dame
ter is a little less than 200 miles. But these
facts have been determined for scores of
years and are no longer an essential part or
parcel of the mystery associated with it and
which it is hoped to partially, il not COM
pletely, solve at the coming opposition in
August.
"Is Mars inhabited?" has been the supreme
question asked about the planet ever since
investigation has discovered some new and
stupendous facts which analogously indi-
cate a condition which seems to fit it for
human habitation equally with our earth.
The determination of that vital question
opens up such field for conjecture that the
mind shrtnks from even an approach to the
subject. 1t is a question too great for con-
temptation, and yet there are many reasons
that are perfectly plausible and reasonable
that make the habitation OF our sister planet
an almost possible certainty.
Unexpected Discoveries May BE Made.
The solution of this question, it is hoped,
may be demonstrated by the great instru-
ment at the Lick Observatory at the near
approach of Mars in August, as it will be
only 35,500 600 miles from the earth at that
time.
Is it unrea sonable, therefore, to assume
that some great and nomentous discovery
may be expected from an Instrument so far
exceeding any that ever turned its aperture
upon a telescope object before. II these an
ticipations are realized the Lick telescope
Wilt confer an imperishable fame upon itself
and the hopes of the founder will be fully
justified.
It will be remembered that upon the last
opposition, which occurred in 1877, the lens
or the new Washington equatorial with an
aperture OF only 26 inches, was turned upon
Mars, with o result that astonished astrono-
mers throughout the world. 1t was upon
the 11th Of August of that year when Prof
Hall turned the great telescope upon the
planet and observed for the first time one
little satellite and on four nights afterward
another. One of these strangers was only
seven miles in diameter and the other but
five miles, and they revolve at distances
from the main planet of IA, 800 and $50 miles
The discovery OF these twin |
sa tellites of Mars created the greatest ex- |
element among astronomers. Prof Hall |
received the gold medal awarded to the |
tury. and the Washington Observatory ac-
quired an imperishable renown. The con-
sequen ces of the discovery of these almost |
satellites was amazing among |
Other Things to Be Accounted For.
The ruddy appearance of Mars is still
for. By some astronomers it
Is explained by theory of profound and
dense atmosphere heavily laden with moist
IRE, which gives the same effect as we OBJ
serve during a brilliant sunset, but this Is
disputed by others who ask to have ex-
planned the differing tints which Mars pre-
,ents when viewed telescopicalIy. Parts of
,he surface then appear to be of light
yreenish tint corresponding with the color
Dl CN0 Scu WIlIo tu0 ldnu ID vi u |
brilliant muddy hue, indicating that a veg
station on that planet may be of that color
N place OF green. as with us.
Fiammarion, Proctor and other popular
writer's on astronomical subjects embrace
;he theory of the habitation of Mars with
If not without qualification.
They recite the analogy existing in almost
very condition for the support of animal
ife upon the two planets and argue that
nature. which abhors waste, would hardly
create and support planet apparently well
itted for the abode of animated beings
Without supplying that want. These writers
lwell with rapture upon the idea of ami |
mated worlds and reject as improbable that
he myriads OF worlds which even unaided |
,ision can detect were created only for the
ratification of those earthly eyes who
,ccupy one of the smallest OF the terres-
rial creations.
These are some of the questions which the
reat Lick telescope may assist in answer
ng. 1t is not too much to hope that some
discovery may be announced that will con-
er upon that enormous instruments some of
he renowa which the one Mt Washington
cquired by its remarkable discovery Is
ears ago.
CLEVELAND BoMBARDED