Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-10-04

NoRTHFIELD, MINI. October 3.-The
Just issued October number Of Astronomy,
a scientific magazine edited by Prof. w.
w. Payne, of Carleton College, contains
several valuable papers on the recent OBJ
seryations of the planet Mars. The first
is by Prof Edward $. Holden, who, under
date of August 10, explains the WORK done
by the big Lick telescope In California,
giving his conclusions as follows:
H"I may briefly state my individual con-
clusions, as derived by a comparison OF my
own observations Of Mars at the opposition
Of 1915 and at all succeeding ones 10 be that
the changes in the surface-features Of Mars
as We now know them are probably not ca
pable Of being completely explained by
terrestrial analogies.
"What are we 10 make of the lake called
Fons Juventae, for example, which was
single object In 1877, which was not visible
in 1879, and which has been both single and
double during the present years The dark
areas on Mars may be water and the red
areas land; but how are we 10 explain the
family colored areas like Hesperia or Deu-
calionis regionl are they vast shoals like
the grand banks of Newfoundland are
they solid land or are they waters
"ls it conceivable that an observer on
Mars, examining the earth In any part OF
its recent history would have seen any
such amazing topographic changes as we
have this year observed, not TO speak OF
changes from opposition 10 opposition! 10
appears 10 me that careful examination
OF the long series OF drawings Of Mars
which we
OWE To PROFESSOR scHIAPARELL
and 10 others up TO the present time will
make il evident that there are enormous
difficulties in the way Of completely ex-
planning the recorded phenomena by ter
restrial analogies unless we also introduce
serious notifications"
Prof. William Ii. Pickering. OF Harvard
College, who has been observing Mars In
South America, writes at length under
date Of Arequipa, Peru, August /, 1879.
He gives, with great detail, report OF his
observations, which showed many and
rapid chaages on the planet, and In con-
clusion says:
an seeking to explain these observations
I would merely point out the fact that the
changes occurred at q time when the snow
was melting with great rapidity, that q
dark channel suddenly appeared July ~,
which had not been seen at the last
previous observation Of this region juno
IL. that IL shortly disappeared again, and
that a few days after this event the north
ern sea largely increased In area tempor-
arily, or at least It's southern shores became
much darker. / think these changes cap
not be explained by cloud effec.c We keTe
already observed large whitish patches
upon the planet. which undergo considers
bic change In shape and extent from night
10 night. We are now studying them care
fully, although we find them rather DIM
cult OF observation. These changes we are
inclined TO refer 10 as clouds, although the
matter is not so simple as IL might az first
appear. If these effects are really due 10
clouds. they are quite different in character
from the other changes noted.'
Other papers describing the observations
made In various parts OF the world are also
published, but they have already been COW
cred In these dispatches.