Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-16
SNOW SEEN ON MARS.
What N. Flammarion Deduces From
His Recent Observations.
SIGNS OF HOT WEATHER THERE.
Water Courses Seen on the Same Level
Between Flat Ground.
ITS INHABITANTS SIMILAR TO OURS

In a cable letter transmitted Saturday NJ.
Camille Flammarion says: Every one can
admire at the present moment the brill
fancy of the red star which brightens the
heavens with its fiery light. This star will
reign for several months over our heads. 1t
shines with greater luster than any other in
the heavens, because it is now at its nearest
points to the earth, an event which has not
taken place since 1877, and which will not
recur before 1909.
For more than two centuries and half
scientific observations have been directed
to an analysis of this neighboring world.
We gradually learned that this globe is
composed, like the globe on which We
dwell, of continents and seas: that it is sur
rounded by an atmosphere in which the
spectral analysis reveals the presence of a
watery rapor; that its years are twice as
long as ours; that seasons are of the same
intensity as ours, but twice as long; that
its poles are covered with snow during the
winter, and almost entirely free from it
during the summer, and that the climate
closely resembles that of the earth; in a
word, that this other world ap pears to be
habitable just as ours is.
The last perihelic appearance of Mars, in
1877, resulted in curious discoveries, and
since then much progress has been made.
At the observe tory in Milan Schiaparelli
succeeded in making a Topographic trian-
gu!ation map OF Mars with a precision al
most equal to that of terrestrial maps. He
discovered the famous canals, which were at
first objects of so much natural skepticism,
but whose existence has been confirmed by
observation.
Mars naturally occupies fore most place
in the work of this observatory at Juvisy,
ard, since the beginning of May, not a day
has elapsed without the planet being OBJ
served and drawings made. Its austral
dcclination, however, has kept 1t little
above our horizon, and it has not been
able to disengage itself from the low-lying
mists.
Snow and Water Discovered.
Nevertheless, we obtained results which
are not wanting in interest.
First, with regard to polar SHOWS, it is no
longer possible to doubt that the white
spots at the poles are due to snow which ac-
cumulates during the winter and melts
under the rays of the summer sun. Doubt
less this snow and this water may differ in
some chemical properties from terrestrial
water, but it is analogous in aspects and
transformations. The atmosphere is more
rarifed than ours and the lighter barometer
is always at a low point. Evaporation is
easier SHOWS are less dense, ice softer and
melts more easily, but there remains great
analogy between them astronomically. OBJ
servation and spectral analysis combined
show us there is real water identical with
ours
The most characteristic fact this year
relating to the higher austral polar snow,
now turned towards US. with an inclination
of 14o in MAY, 16o in June, 14o in July,
aud 100 in August, has been their rapid
melting under the heat of the summer sun.
Mars had its spring equinox May 20, and
will not have its summer solstice till Octo-
Der 13 next; nevertheless austral polar snow
has already diminished by three-fourths.
Should this rate of progression continue the
polar snow of Mars will have almost entirely
melted bv the summer solstice, thing not
hitherto seen. May there not have been in
Mars as with us hot summer without rain?
A short and altogether senseless para
graph, concocted by an ignoramus, has re-
Gently appeared in the newspapers. stating
that observations now being made of Mars
have not shown the enigmatic lines to
which the name canal has been given, and
that these alleged formations are only fads
OF the Italian astronomer. 1t is pity that
play a want even of common courtesy
now ard one of the most eminent astronomers
OF modern times, should have been laid be- |
fore some millions of readers. The truth is
the exact opposite.
Canals Clearly Def1ncd. |
In spite of the low position of the planet, |
With regard to our horizon and the conse- |
quent difficulty in making observations, a |
certain number of these canals have been |
clearly defined, even at the Observatory of |
Juvisy, whose equatorial is of moderate d.
mensions, but whose observers are Jealous, |
ardent and laborious.
have been especially occupied measur-
ing the diameter of Mars and of the Cape.
As regards the canals 1 have only been able
to recognize personally the presence of Mas
myth, Indus and Ganges. The diameter of
Mars have ascertained to be 9 minutes SO
seconds instead of IL minutes 10 seconds