The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-08-27
THE PLANET OF WAR;
Facts About the Brilliant Mars Now
Adjoining the Southern
Heavens.
FlammariOn's Views Regarding the
Canals and Shows of the
Fiery Planet.

~ W IN - a.
from the sun and is so close to US that it
furnishes an interesting field for astro
nomical study. Mars is about 1900
miles in diameter and its day is about
forty minutes longer than ours. A. year
on Mars is equal to about two years
on this earth. Its mean distance
from the SUI is ll1, 100000 miles, varying
from 1~2S,OO0,0OO to 154,O0O.OOO. Just
now the relative positions of the earth
and Mars are such that the red planet is
only 100000 miles from US. It thus
becomes an easy object for astronomical
observation.
Camille Flammarion. the great French
astronomer, discusses the telescope ap-
pearance of Mars in the Chicago Trib.
une in the following words:
Everyone can admire at the present
moment the brilllancy of the red star
which brightens the heavens with it's
fiery light. The star will reign for sew
eral months over our heads. 1t shines
with greater luster than any other in the
heavens. because it is now at its nearest
points 10 the north, an event which has
not taken place since 1877, and which
will not recur before 1909.
For more than two centuries and "a half
scientific observations have been direct
ed 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 1t is surrounded by an atmosphere
in which the spectral analysis reveals the
presence Of a watery vapor; 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 Il word that this
other world appears 10 be habitable just
as ours is.
The last pcrihelic appearance Of Mars
in 1877 resulted in curious discoveries,
and since then much progress has been
made. At the observatory in Milan
Schiraparelli succeeded in making a
Topographic triangulation map of Mars
with a precision almost equal 10 that of
terrestrial maps. He discovered the
famous canals, which were at first OBJ
jects of so much natural skepticism, but
whose existence has been confirmed by
oosGi atioa - -
place in the work of this observatory at
Juvisy, and. since the beginning of May,
not a day has elapsed without the planet
ooInS H"aa an' nns' , =.
nt e eciina.lon noMe'ei' u'I Yep. =
ie.io ~ MasnnAn L naS no.
po w y t's'so ''e' u" "o
'o"-''ins "ii''''
Snow and Water Discovered.
Nevertheless. we obtain 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 accumulates during the winter
and melts under the rays of the summer
sun. Doubtless this snow and this
water may differ in some chemical pro-
perties from terrestrial water, but it is
analogous in aspects and transforma-
tions. The atmosphere is more raritied
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
a great analogy between them astrono
mically. Observation and spectral ana
lysis 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 toward US, with an
inclination of II degrees in MAY, III de
prees in June, Ii degrees in July and IL
degrees in August. has beer their rapid
melting under the heat of the summer
sun. Mars had its spring equinox May
| %. and will not have IFS summer s~oistice
fiji Oct. ID next, nevertheless the austral
nolar snow has diminished by three
fourths. Should this rate of progression
continue the nolar SNOW of Mars will
have almost entirely melted by the sum
mer s~olstice. a thing not hitherto seen.
Nav there moi have been in Mars. AS
wifi us q hot summer without rain.
A short and altogether senseless para
oranb. concocted by an ionoramus. has
Recently appeared in the