The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-02
KEEN EYES WATCHING MARS.
ASTRONOMERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE PLANRT,S NEARNESS.

The Great Lick Telescope Brought Into
Play Upon II for tho First Time Under
Favorable circumstances - Additional
Facts OF Great ImPortnncs Already
Learned About Our Interesting Neigh.
bor, and Further Discoveries Expected
that May Throw some Light on tho
Question OF Martial Inhabitants.
LICK OBSERVATORY. Aug. 1.-The astronomers
here are eagerly waiting for Wednesday night.
when Mars will be in opposition to the sum- In
order to confirm their observations made dur
ing the last month. Tho planet is closer to us
now than at any time since August fifteen
years ago when Prof. Hall Of Washington first
discovered it's satellites. and 1t will not fur
nish as good opportunities for observation
again till 1909. During July tho Mount 1lamil-
ton astronomers have been observing Mars
two hours each night. when the planet is on
the meridian. and they will continue these
observations throughout August The high
est magnifying power practicable has been
700 diameters. tho equivalent distance OF tho
planet being $4,000 miles. Mars Is now very
low in the sky. and when on the meridian is
only 81 degrees above the horizon. For this
reason the markings are very difficult to see.
the atmospheric disturbance being SO great
With the low altitude. the planets unsteadi-
ness due to the atmosphere. causes all tho
markings at times to disappear. The two
satellites. the two smallest objects known In
the solar system. are Just visible to an OBJ
server with the twelvo-inch telescope. whom
lie knows exactly where to look for them.
They are conspicuous objects in tho thirty six
inch telescope. and have boon seen by all WISH
tors The eclipscs OF the inner satellite in the
planets shadow are easily observable. Since
the outer satellite does not suffer eclipse now
it Is necessary to obtain the positions Of that
satellite by micrometrical measurements
which are Made regularly in order to properly
determine its orbit.
The south polar cap of Mars was unusually
brilliant and large month ago. but it is
rapidly diminishing in size and brightness
This variability of the polar caps has led
astronomers to believe that they are COM
posed Of snow and ice. Tho south polar cap
diminishes accordingly as summer in that
hemisphere comes on, and increases with the
advent Of winter. At the present time there
arc numerous dark markings within this
polar cap. as II there were large areas from
which tho snow had disappeared These
markings have not been seen before at any
observatory.
The region on the surface known as the
l.acus Soils is now seen nearly rs 1t appeared
through the thirty six Inch telescope during
the opposition OF 1890. ard very different from
its appearance rs shown in the drawings Of
Schiapareli. The Fons Juventutis fountain
OF youth. n large. dark region heretofore seen
single. now appears double through the large
rcfractor
But most remarkable Of all the observed
phenomena are three or more very prominent
bright projections on the southwest limb of
NiSihla for
time each evening about three weeks ago.
They will probably be visible on the south
west limb in about two or three weeks. when it
Is hoped to determine more fully their char
acte:. Apparently these projections arise
from very fright regions on the rsl6E6E-
Whether they are high mountains or are due
to some other phenorena it is now impossible
to say. Up to tho present time Schianareli's
canals have not been seen double. Drawings
of the planet are made on each clear evening
These drawings will finally be converted into
a single map at the close Of the summer OBJ
servations.
Last night on tho south polar cap very COM
pick and numerous dark markings were visi-
BILE The unique spectacle Of markings in tho
snow caps has been noted not only with the
large telescope. but also with the twelve inch
by Barnard. who some time ago observed that
on one night Il dark stroak would appear
across tho polar cap and then would follow a
separation. and then tho disappearance OF a
large portion Of the polar cap. leaving two
white spots.
Among astronomers there was great curios-
ty to know what the big Lick telescope would
accomplish in the observation of Mars dimin-
utive satellites. Nothing had been added to
the worlds knowledge of them for fifteen
years until now. when the great telescope has
made clear their phases and defined their di-
ametcrs. an achievement which marks an epoch
in astronomy. Just before Halls discovery.
the great eIuatorialte telescope Of tho Washing
ton Observatory had been completed. and it
was through this that the discovery was made
Since thea. the Lick telescope. Greaterthan all.
has been erected. and is having it, first chance
at Mars under the most favorable conditions.
Schiaparellis romantic theory Of terminated
canals has already been disproved. but any
night may bring into Wow objects even moro
indicative of the belief that the planet is in
habit"d. 1t is this possibility OF great iiscov-
cries that keeps the thoughts OF astronomers
the world around turned toward Mount
IiamiltOu.