The morning call., 1892-08-04
FROM MOUNT HAMILTON.
Professor Holden Tells of the WOri
Being Done by the Big Telescope.

Professor Holden Tells of the Work
Being Done by the Big Telescope.
LICK OBSERVATORY. Aug. 3.-The Lick
Observatory has replied to many inquiries
received during the present OppOS itlOD 0f
Mars, both by telegraph and by letter.
These Inquiries indicate 8 widespread IN
tereSt but in very many cases, at least, they
appear to be based on misapprehension Of
the kind of work which is now being done
on the planet here and elsewhere.
The case is not as if astronomers were
pushing out on an unknown ocean, expect
ing 10 find au unknown continent or a pas
sage TO India beyond the sea.
In such case the mere announce ment of
the discovery would be all that was needed
and expected.
The actual circumstances are very dif-
ferent.
1t is as il some one had undertaken TO
make new survey of the State of A.
kansas, for example. He would begin by
measuring the base lines and by setting
stakes and by observing angles and dis
tances. At the end of weeks and months
he would have his notebook filed with
figures, and after a long season Of calcula-
ton he would be able to issue new and
accurate map of the region-more accurate.
that is, than any preceding one.
This is precisely the immediate object of
the observations of Mars which are now
being made. The circumstances are very
favorable, in that the planet is unusually
near 10 us. They are rather unfayorable in
that the planet is very far south and there
fore low down in the sky and thus subject
TO atmospheric disturbances.
Future 0ppoStlons in which the planet
VIII be seen at greater altitude will be
more favorable, even if the planet is then
considerably more distant
The immediate object of our work is TO
npS oi n 4
have enough material TO be sure that we can
considerably improve existing maps. al
though some OF them are very fine, es-
pecially that made by Professor Schiapa-
relii.
OF course, the ultimate object of all OBJ
servations Is TO de eTmine every possible
physical popularity OF the object TO Ue in-
vestigated.
Ii il IS a planet we wish to know how
nearly 1t resembles the earth, and whether
II Is ht TO be inhabited by beings like our
selves With respect TO Mars it has been
proposed by certain very enthusiastic as
tronomers to determine the further Ques-
tlon, Is the planet actually inhabited? Aud
this Is tar more difficult (as well as im-
portanD question than the mere inquiry as
TO whether II Is lit to be so Inhabited.
In my opinion the time has not yet come
TO even speculate on the larger question, and
my reason for saying this Is that | thiak IL
very doubtful If all the observations yet
sufficient 10 enable Us 10 answer even the
lesser inquiry.
1t IS very easy and very convenient to call
certain areas on Mars land, and certain
other ones water, and TO go on 10 describe
certain indeDtatiOns as gulfs and certein
narrow lines as canals, but SO far as / kr~8
there is no absolute proof that the dark
parts OF Mars are yeritably water.
We know that the vapor of water exists
In the Martial atmosphere. The spectrO-
scope shows this. And there are certain
white areas at the poles of Mars which
look very much like snow caps. Ii is COM
monty said that these wax and wane with
tie seasons OF Mars in such way as to
prove them TO be such. They certainly wax
and wane and wax again, bat so do clou
and am not yet satisfied that they are not
In fact merely clouds They may be snow