The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-24

Iawas asking an astronomer whether IN
this period Of opposition it will really be
possible for US TO learn with detiniteness
the nature OF the life in the planet Mars.
Hardly" said he, except from condi-
tons. Still, suppose we should see the
forty-seyenth problem of Euclid mapped
out on the mountains OF the planet on some
gigantic scale. II would be absolute evil
oence not alone of life, but of intelligent
life-of progressive age like our own
Furthermore. Mars is an older planet
than ours. There ara those who claim that
we viii find absolute evidence during
these observations Of its decadence. Prof.
A. Winchell af1rms that Mars was habit
able nine and half million years ago, and
that our observations now will be con-
viucing Of its refrigeration. In fact, Prof.
Wincheil asserts that Mars is no longer
lingering in the terrestrial stage. but has
lost all water and atmosphere and is ad-
vanced far toward total refrigeration
But Prof. Holden, Prof. Hall Prof
Pickering and Camille Fiammarion oppose
that theory and adduce more interest
ing observations TO prove that not
alone is there an atmosphere in
Mars, but that the climate is very much
like that of our own planet. The melting
OF the Ice regions during the summer
period on Mars is one of the main areu-
ments advanced. Then, too, the spectrum
analysis has led 10 the inevitable coDclu-
sion that the atmosphere on Mars differs
from ours only in density and chemical
composition, but that life under somewhat
changed conditions from that on the earth
is possible and altogether probable.
Following out the theories that Mars is
fast approaching its end, come the obser-
vations made in 1877 and ISL The doubl-
ing of the so-called canals led to the
belief that its atmosphere was rapidly be-
coming vaporless, and that the sudden
cooling Of the planet would lead TO most
violent eruptiOns. Many an astronomer
viii look for conditions like those on our
moon, extinct craters and other evidences
OF dead world, during this present period
OF best observation.
Most interesting observations were made
OF Mars In 1877, at Milan, Italy, and there
also the discoveries this year promise TO be
important.
The late Richard A. Proctor made many
interesting observations. He found cloud
bearing atmosphere on Mars and seemed
satisfied that the dark spots on Mars were
seas and the light ochrist colored regions
continents. "a traveller said he, "can
visit almost every quarter OF that planet
without leaving water, and with land al
ways IN sight ana almost always on both
sides.p he believed that a trip of &c. 600
miles would enable a traveller 10 reach
every portion of land on the planet.
Mhfh las ever Oeeu the planet OF oOSer-
walton. Venus, when near the earth, is be-
tween the sun and this world, and always
shows as her dark side, making observa-
tions exceedingly difficult Mercury is also
''blinded' by sunlight al times when a
sight would be opportune, and Jupiter and
Saturn are ever surrounded by g mist
which is well nigh impenetrable. So we
have always considered Mars. bloody
named and rudy looking as he is, the best
point for observation Of planetary affairs
is il possible 10 communicate with such
beingss The only means Of communication
yet known TO science are through the sense
OF sight II there are astron oners IN Mars
who have foreseen oar close proximity
during this year, they may have made
preparations for il, They might erect in
some conspicuous place an eouilateral tri-
angle, which could not be attributed to
natural formation. Or. SIS has been sng-
Pested, they might give US a still more
complete proof by erecting a structure
corresponding in form TO the demcnstra-
ton Of Euclid, that the square of the hy-
pothenuse is equal to the sums Of the
square OF the sides of a right-angled tri-
angle, which would prove their acQuaint-
ance with geometry. But why should
they do this, when it would be so difficult
for US 70 replyl
At the very time they are most easily
seen by us we are so neraly between them
and the sun as TO be almost IL not
quite invisible to them. II we knew
that they possessed a telescope as