The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
Mara and the Earth.

planet Mars, which has been growing
brighter during the summer until now 1t Is
the most conspicuous phenomenon In tho
evening skies, will DO closer to tho earth
than 1t has been ut any time since the sum-
NOR OF 1877. The precise time OF the oppo-
sition Is 1 III o'clock on Thursday morning.
but tho difference In Mars's distance from
tho earth for several days before and after
that time will be immaterial. At least M
teen years will elapse before Mars again
comes so near to the earth rs 1t will bc this
week. This event Is called on opposition OF
Mars because that planet. travelling around
the sun In more remote orbit than that OF
the earth. comes. at the time mentioned,
into such position that, as seen from the
earth. 1t is Mt point in the sky exactly OPP
posite to the sun.
It Is an occurrence Of the very highest
interest to astronomers. because Mars has
Of lato years come to be regarded rs in
many respects the most interesting OF all
tho members OF the solar family beyond tho
earth. At tho last previous close approach
OF Mars. in 1877. tho discovery OF its two
strange moons was made. 8nd 1t may DO
expected that these moons will now again
be seen under favorable circumstances. and
that we shall learn something worth know
ing about tho magnitude and the motions
OF these singular little bodies. But tho
most interesting results to be obtained by
the observations now TO be made upon Mars.
rotate rather to the planet itself and the
condition and peculiarltiee OF its atrnos-
phere aud ito surface. Abouta dozen years
ago the announcement was made Of SCHIAP-
ARE1L1's discovery Of what have been called
the canals Of Mars. Although every astrono-
NOR armed with great telescope who has
looked for these so-called canIls has not
succeeded in seeing all Of them. set enough
has been observed with the great LICK tele-
scope. and with other powerful Instruments,
fully to confirm the italian astronomers
discovery that Mars really possesses a
network Of straight lines. covering Its
whole surface between tho polar circles.
and which are apparently water coursea.
The name canals was probably attached to
them chiefly on account Of their straight
ness. and the idea that they are actual nrti-
fetal canals has probably never been enter
tanned by any astronomer. Their great
magnitude alone seems sufficient to dispel
1t. They are hundreds. and sometimes
thousands Of miles in length. and their
average width Is not lcss than seventy-five
to hundred miles. 1t can hardly be con-
ceived that the most gigantic Inhabitants
with which the Imagination might people
the planet Mars would be able to construct
canals Of such size.
Then. too. ScH1APARELLTs singular OBJ
scrvation Of tho periodical doubling o: the
canals seems to indicate that they are
natural phenomena. although their real
nature Is yet mystery. At about the time
OF the vernal equinox In Mars. according to
the Italian astronomer. rows OF faint spOts
begin to mako their appearance alongside
many Of the canals. and these. after few
days, become better defined md blend to-
gether. making lines resembling images Of
the canals. Finally they become as sharp
and definite as the originals.
All sorts Of theories have been advanced
to account for these singular phenomena.
but nothing has yet been offered which
seems an ade1 uate explanation. Evident
ly Mars. which In many respects stri!1-
tngly resembles our own world. having an
atmosphere. water. snow and ice. clouds.
seasons. aud other familiar terrestrial phe-
nomena. Is In some respects far different
and water upon Mars Is entirely unlike
that upon tho earth. Instead Of having
only one-quarter Of its surface dry lond. rs
is the case with our planet. Mars has it's
surface about equally divided between land
and water It's oceans and It's continents
are proportionately far less extensive than
those Of the earth. Most OF its seas are
long and narrow. and the curious network
Of water courses called canals divides up
the continents into still smaller portions.
making Of them 80 many archipclagos.
Since 1877 very great advances have been
made In our means Of studying the surface
conditions Of such n planet as Mars. We
have telescopes OF fnr greater power than
any that existed at that time. The spectro-
scope has also been improved. and the Won
derful art Of astronomical photography
may almost DO said to have been invented
and perfected since Mars last paid visit
to the vicinity OF tho earth. 1t Ia altogether
probable. then. that tho present opposition
will result In some most interesting and
possibly startling discoveries concerning
this marvellous neighbor OF ours In tho
sky. 1t is not to be expected, OF course.
that wo shall DO able to obtain direct owl
donce that Mars Is an Inhabited world. Tho
power OF our instruments would need to be
increased hundreds and. indeed. thousands
OF times In order to accom- pllsh that. But
1t Is not too much to expect that we shall
obtain evidence which will enable US.
reasoning upon analogics. to say with
high degree OF probability whether Mars
simply mimics tho earth In tho possession
of an atmosphere and wator while yet re-
naming lifcless. or whether. along with
those great requisites for tho support of
life. 1t Is also adorned by the presence OF
living and intelligent beings.
A great deal has boon said Of lnto con-
corning the possibility OF our commune
eating with the inhabitants Of Mars.
good French lady. Nine. GUzMAN. who died
last year. was so well convinced that tho
Inhabitants OF tho earth would yet be able
TO communicate with their neighbors upon
Mars. that she left the sum OF $40. 600 in tho
care OF the Academy of Sciences In Paris as
d legacy to be given to the discoycrer of tho