The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-08-10
FIERY MARSIN REVIEW
UNUSUAL CAPERS OF THE
MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER.
All tho Telescopes of the World Pointed
at tho Planet Much New Scientific
knowledge Expected by Investigators.
Nothing Yet Proved.


Lick Observatory has replied TO many
Inquiries received during the present
opposition of Mars, by telegraph and by
letter, said Prof. Holden the other day.
These inquiries indicate widespread in
terest, Tat in very many cases, at least,
they appear TO be based on misappre-
hension of the kind of work which is
now being done on the planet here and
elsewhere. The case is not as IL as
tronomers were pushing out on an un-
known ocean expecting TO find an un-
known continent. In such q case the
mere announcement of discovery would
be all that was needed and expected.
The actual circumstances are very diff
ferent. 1t is as if some one had I'M
dertaken to make q new survey OF
the State of Arkansas. For exam
pie, he would begin by measuring
the base lines and by setting stakes
and by observing angles and
distances. At the end OF weeks and
months he would have his note books
filled with figures, and after q long sea-
son Of calculation 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 to
us. They are rather unfavorable in
that the planet is very far south and
therefore low down in the sky and sub
ject to atmospheric disturbances. Fu-
ture oppositions, in which the planet
will be seen at greater altitude, will be-
more favorable, even if the planet be
then considerably more distant.
The immediate object of our work is
to make the map in question, and we
already have enough material to be sure
that we can considerably improve exist
ing maps, although some OF them are
very fine, especially that made by Prof.
Schiaparelli, for example. OF course,
the ultimate object of all observations
is to determine every possible physical
popularity Of the object 10 be investi-
gated. If it is a planet, we wish to
know how nearly it resembles the earth
and whether it is fit TO be inhabited by
beings like ourselves.
With respect to Mars it has been pro-
posed by certain very enthusiastic as
tronomers to determine the question,
Is the planet actually Inhabited? and
this is a more difficult as well as i'm
portant question than the mere inquiry
as to whether it is fit 10 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 l think it very doubtful if all OBJ
servatlons yet made, numerous as they
are, are at all sufficient to enable us to
pronounce even the lesser inquiry.
There is very little doubt that by and
by science will be able to interpret all
or nearly all of the phenomena now
seen and to arrive at certainties. just
now it must be confessed that only q
few things are certainly known with re-
spect to our nearest planetary neigh
bors. l may say that 1 observed the
planet at the opposition of 1875 and at
every opposition since that time, and
that my colleagues at Mount Hamilton
and myself have faithfully followed the
planet at the oppositions OF 1888, 1890,
and 1892. In fact, we are now giving
nearly all the time of the great tele-
SCOPE to this work.
The Lick telescope has a magnifying
power OF 1000, which would bring Mars
and its moons within an apparent dis
lance OF II, 800 miles from the earth at
the time of the nearest approach. But
Mars hangs at II declination Of % de-
grees, and the greatest magnifying pow
er that can be brought TO bear upon him
will not be over 700, il is thought That
means that Mars can be brought APP
parently within so, 900 miles of the
earth, and will appear through the
telescope as if it were an object 90, 900
miles away viewed by the naked eve.