Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-05
is MARS INHABITED {?

The Question Which Is Now of So Great
Interest to Astronomical writers-Dis-
coveries That Have Been Made-Possi-
biiities OF the Future.
ROCHESTER,, N. Y. Aug. 4-Lewis NJ
Swift, the well-known astronomer, speaks of
Mars as follows:
Mars through the telescope is not an OBJ
ject of popular interest, comparing in this
respect unfavorably with the moon Jupiter
and his satellite, and with Saturn and his
rings but to the astronomer who appreciates
his histories this planet every Is to II years
presents great attractions. Unfortunately
for Northern observers his great Southern
declination at such opposirions is unfavor-
able for the delicate observation necessary
for the settlement of several disputed Ques-
tions.
II the orbits of both the earth and Mars
were circular his opposition distances would
forever be the same, but as both orbits are
enptical it follows that a favorable opposi-
tion can only take place when the earth Is
in aphelion furthest from the sun and Mars
in perthelion nearest the sun: Then ne
shines with q brilliancy rival1ng thac OF
both Venus and Jupiter and arrests public
attention. as he rises early In the evening,
many thinking 1t a reappearance OF tne star
of Bethlehem.
Intervals of About Fifteen Years.
Mars comes in opposition once in little
over two years, and not once In 10 years. as
has been published. 1t is only the favorable
oppositions that recur somewhat trregularly
at intervals Of about 16 years. The last one
of this sort occurred on September 5, 1877, at
which time two minute moons revolving
by Prof. Asaph Hall, which discovery caused
intense excitement The planet may have
more than the two known satellites, and
during this 70 1S hit
to bear upon it for further discovery, and
for. If possible, the settlement of the problem
OF the "canals of Mars"
our aid and impress upon the plates i'm
perishable details of those phenomena
termed by the Italian astronomer, Schia-
parelli, canals, oceans. gults. bays. etc, for
One astronomer, going beyond Schiapa-
relli-outHeroding Herod-declared that he
banks of the canals. But, pleasantry aside,
there is much that is my sterious In the
topography of the planet as viewed from the
earth. Some of its markings are changeable
stable and are indicative of solidity.
The Distance From the Earth.
As, however, he rotates on his axis 80
slowly no belts like those environing Jupiter
and Saturn are visible. The distance Of Mars
from the earth August will be about IS. 70o.-
600, but at the very favorable opposition Of
1880 it was less by 1000, 900 miles while in con-
junction, and on the other side of the sun
his distance was 2&5.000 900, and tho bright
ness of the planet was reduced to that OF
faint star.
His two satellites are named Phobos and
Deimos, or Dread and Terror.
At the discovery Of the outer one its dis
tance from the earth was equal to 900. 600
times its diameter, equivalent to seeing
ball two inches in diameter at the distance
of New York from Boston.
The contemplation OF the nearness and
the rapidity or motion OF Phobos suggests
some curious facts, among which are the
following: The rotation of Mars on his
axis requires 24h 27m, and the time OF revo-
luton, around Mars on the inner moon Is
In. 3sm. 24s., which means that the inhab-
itants of Mars. If they exist would have by
this n moon 20 tt nearly 81 moons per day " and
phases from new to full and from full to
new, or to pass from new moon to full, for
which change our moon requires ~ days,
would take only 58m.
So much more rapid is its revolution than
the rotation of Mars that it rises in the
West and sets in the East, while the outer
as they do on the EARTH This is the single
exception, Phobos being the only known
body in the solar system rising in the West
Could See the lnha bitants.
The distance ofthe inner satellite from the
surface of Mars is less than 600 miles, and
a magnifying power of 1000 would bring it
within mile, so that from the satellita It
would be easy to see on the planet people II
as large as terrestrial inhabitants.
To astronomical writers the inhabitabiity
of the planets. especially Of Mars, has long
been a most fascinating theme. That they
were created to that end is doubtless true,
but it does not follow that all are inhabited
or inhabitabIe. At the same time it would
require wide stretch of fancy to imagine
people existing on the planet Mercury, SO
near the sun that lead and sometimes SCI
enoe would be in a molten condition, or on
that distant planet, Neptune, whose temper
ature is 5000 below zero.
Though not denied that the Creator could
adapt life, animal and vegetable, to even
such habltats. yet that either of these
planets is now inhabited is in the highest
degree improbable.
On the evening of July 81 both satellites
were seen at this observatory by the writer
and Prof. Rodd, Director of Amherst Col
lege Observatory, who observed them at the
time of their discovery at the Naval OBJ
servatory in 1877 and who declared that he
saw them as clearly as with the 26-inch tele-
scope with which they were discovered.