Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-29

telescope Of only eight inches aperture
and have been partially confirmed by
other observers during subsequent OPP
positions aud with much larger aper-
tures. The so-ealled canals" had long
been known 10 exist. although the term
has been only used for convenience,
since NC have no means Of knowing
that they contain water. The peeoi-
iarity noticed by schiaparelli. Perrotin
and other observers Ia that lines par
sllel u the canals are seen Ia many
eases, forming what Is called the dnpli-
cation Of the canals The Importance Of
this discovery consists IN the fact that
these duplicating lines are not permar
nent. but are subject 10 changes APP
psrently corresponding To the sea-
son Of the year In Mars, the lines
making their appearance soon after the
spring opens. lasting during the summer
and disappearing upon the approach OF
winter Observations of our own moon
show great changes at different times.
owing To the angle with which the suns
rays strike the mountains and valleys;
and II is not impossible that the OBJ
served changes in Mars arise from some
similar cause. The presumptions, how
ever, are In favor of the theory that il
is the growth of vegetation that causes
the lines IL appear, and the falling OF
the leaves which causes them To appear.
1t is in order To determine by an accu-
mutation of facts whether this is the
true theory, and whether we have this
- "A - h.. NJ
etable life upon our neighboring
planet, that every large telescope all
over the world viii probably be direct
ed To the planet Mars during the COM
ing week, 10 confirm and add to the rev.
Citations already made.
Small telescopes win show the oceans
and the continents of Mars much better
than at ordinary times; but any tele-
scope, in a favorable location, with an
aperture of eight inches or more, may
aid in giving US testimony upon this
point of vital interest. While much de-
ponds upon the telescope, much also de-
ponds upon the observer. and upon the
attention of the observer being directed
10 the point To be examined. 1t usual
ly requires very much smaller aper-
ture 10 see an object once discovered
than was required to make the original
discovery. And still more depends on
the nearness of the planet II the ad-
vantage of telescope We're in proper
ton To its aperture, twenty-eight inches
aperture now would be equivalent to
thirty-six inches aperture two years ago.
But owing to the increased thickness of
glass to be traversed and other causes.
still smaller apertures, such as that at
Washington or at Princeton, can now
show more than could be seen in the
Lick telescope when Prof. Holden de-
clared that he had had such views of
Mars las no other astronomer ever be-
fore had" And yet the Lick observers
will retain their prominence. While
from others we may expect many addi-
tional facts, it is still to the Lick OBJ
servatory that we must look for the
best evidence of the condition of our
sister planets.
1t was not until three months after
Mars was nearest to us in 1888 that it
was possible to make regular observa-
tons at Lick observatory. At that time
the earth had passed SO far away from
the planet that the advantage of that
immense telescope could not be utilized.
1t was two years before the earth
again overlook Mars in it's passage
around the sun, and at that time
its distance from the earth was
so great that it was necessary to
wait two years more for the opposition
of 1892, at which time the circumstances
will be more favorable than for many
years to come. On June % we had
already approached as near to Mars as
when nearest in 1890, and ever since
that date the observers at Lick observ-
atory have had better opportunity
to scrutinize the appearance of the
planet than anyone has ever before
had. The opposition occurs on the
morning of August 4. but as Mars
does not reach its perihelion until Sep
TENDER Z. it will still be approaching
both the sun and the earth for two or
three days after August 4. although the
difference will be imperceptible. Com
pairing the surface of Mars when
nearest, the first few days in August,
with its surface when nearest two years
ago, it will be two-thirds larger, and
will give us a relatively palmer view of
the details upon its disc. Under the
best possible circumstances, the surface
cannot become more than one-twentieth
larger than at present opposition; so
that assuming favorable atmospheric
conditions during the first half of
August. which the climate OF California
makes almost certain, we can hope for
nothing more than can now be seen
until some still more powerful tcles-
cope shall be constructed.
HENRY nj. PARKHURsT
Smoked In Church.
The Puritan fathers who settled in
America were greatly addicted To smok-