The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-04
MARS DISCUSSED BY SCIENTISTS.
ObSeryat' ons of Prof. Holden in California and
Prof. Pickering in South America.

NoRTHFIELD, Mimi, Oct. 3.-The October
number of Astronomy, q scientific maya
zine edited by Prof. W. w. Paine, of Garlic
ton College, contains several valuable pa
pers on the recent observations of the plan.
ct Mars. The first is by Prof. Edward S.
Holden, who, under date of Aug. IS, ex-
plains the work done by the big Lick tel
escope In California, giving his conclusions
as follows: II may briefly state my indi-
vidual conclusions, as derived from a com-
parison of my own observation of Mars at
the opposition of 1875 and at all succeeding
ones, TO be that the changes in the surface
features of Mars, as we now know them,
are probably not capable of being COM
pletely explained by terrestrial snalogies.
What are we to make of the lake
called Fons Juventes, for example.
which was seen as q single object in
1877, which was not visible in 1879, and
which has been seen both SIN gle and double
during the present year. The OAR areas
on Mars may be water and the red areas
land: but bow are we to explain the family
colored areas like Hesperia of Deucalionl's
rsgionf Are they vast shoals like the grand
banks of Newfoundland Are they solid
land or are they waterf IL it conceivable
that an observer on Mars, examining the
earth In any part OF it's recent history.
would have seen any such amazing topo-
graphical changes rs we have this year OBJ
served, not to speak of changes from oppo-
sition TO opposition. 1t appears to me that
a careful examination of the long series of
drawings of Mars. which we owe to Prof.
Sehiaparelli and to others uD to the pres
ent time, will make it evident that there
are enormous difficulties in the way of conf
pletely explaining the recorded phenomena
by the terrestrial analogies unless We also
introduce serious notifications"
Prof. William II. PICKERING. OF Harvard
College. who has been Observing Mars in
South America. writes ut length under date
of Arequipa. Peru. AuG. IL. 1892. He gives
with great detail a report OF bis obeerva-
tlofs. which showed many and rapid
changes on the planet. and in conclusion,
says: In seeking 20 explain these obser-
statiOns L would merely point out the fact
that the changes occurred at a time when
the snow was melting with great rapidly:
That a dark channel suddenly appeared
July IL. which had not been seen ut the
last previous observation of this region,
June u; that it shortly disappeared again
and that a few days after this
event the northern sea largely increased
in area temporarily. or at least
that Its southern shores became much
darker. think these changes cannot he
explained by arean cloud effects. We
have already observed large whitish
patches upon the planet. which undergo
considerable change I'D shape and extent
from night TO night. We are now studying
them carefully, although we find them
rather difficult of observation. These
changes are inclined to refer To clouds, al
though the matter Is not as simple as it
might at first appear. If these effects are
really due TO clouds. they are quite differ
ent 10 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
covered in the press dispatches.