Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-10-19
PLANET MARS.
Astronomers Preparing For Good Look al
it on Saturday.

have been for a long time looking forward
with great interest. 1t is an opposition of
the planet Mars. This of itself is not a
very remarkable occurrence, or one of special
interest unless rendered so by two cOndi
tons, namely, near approach Of the planet
to the earth, and its favorable situation for
observation. The first of these conditions
was fulfilled at the last opposition in '92,
but the last was not; at least in the north
ern hemisphere, where by far the larger
number of observers reside. This year,
however, both conditions will be fulfilled,
the planets declination being about SO de-
grees farther north than it was two years
ago, rendering observations in this hemis-
phere much more favorable.
The reason why Mars approaches SO
much nearer to the earth at one opposition
than another, is easily explained. His orbit
is elliptical, but, with the single exception
of Mercury, is more excentric, that is, it
varies more from perfect circle than any
other of the major planets. This variation
is SO great that when at its perihelion or
nearest approach to the sun, and, of course,
to the earth's orbit, which lies witha that
of Mars, it is about q millions of miles
nearer than at its aphelion or opposite point.
Now, when the earth happens to arrive at
that part of her orbit nearest the per-
ihelion of Mars when he is passing
that point, we have, of course, an opposi-
ton favorable for the telescope observa-
ton of his surface. Although 40 millions
of miles away at the coming opposition, that
distance, great as it is, will be more than
20 millions less than at an opposition oc-
curing at the sphelion point of his orbit.
Of toll nd
be for the next few weeks, pointed towards
Mars, and it is hoped that something may
be added to the present knowledge of the
planet.
The first drawing of the surface MAJ kings
Of Mars. was made in 1869 by Huyghens.
Although owing to inferior telescopes then
in use, it was q very crude production when
compared with modern works of the same
kind, it was, nevertheless, one of the most
important, as by means of spot observed,
and delineated on his map, the rotation of
the plant on its axis was proved, and also
the time CT that rotation. Thus the length
of its day is nov known within one-tensh of
a second, and is only about 4 minutes
longer than terrestrial day.
The disc of the planet, as seen through
telescope presents the appearance of divi-
slollS, as CI tdUu dNu WateI, Dut Oh sflapS
and relative dimensions differing greatly
from those on the earth, the seas, or what
are supposed by many to be such, being of
greenish or BLUSH tinge, while the land is
of dull red hue. which gives to the planet
the ruddy color it presents to the naked
eye. The color of certain portions Of the
surface is not, however, constant all the
ye8r round, which may be the result of
changes in the vegetation of the planet at
different seasons of the Marian wear,
which. by the way, is a little less than two
of our years. His seasons are similar to
those of the earth, as the inclination Of the
axis of rotation to that of his orbit is only
about degrees greater than that of the
earth. He has an atmosphere in which
clouds have been seen to float, and around
each pole, snow caps are plainly visible,
which increase and diminish in area as
winter or summer approaches. That 10
itself is proof that moisture exists IN the
| atmosphere, as ii shows that snow is depos-
tied in the winter in large amounts which
could not otherwise be the case; and this
theory is confirmed by spectroscopic OBJ
servstions.
Again, the heat that reaches Mars from
the sun is not much more than two-fifths
of thst which strikes the earth; but we
must not forget that the atmosphere there
is much less dense than that of the earth,
which serves as q sort of shield from the
suh's fierce rays; and the absorption
| by this means is so great that
the amount of heat that actually reaches
the earth's surface is probably no greater
than that which is received at the surface
of Mars; and this view is strengthened if
not absolutely proved, by the fact that the
SHOWS of the polar regions of Mars are con-
fined within as small an area relatively as
those of the earth.
There being so many points of resem-
blsnce between the two planets, the ques-
ton is often asked, Is not Mars, like the
earth, inhabited? The question, Of course,
can never be satisfactorily answered. as it
is wholly within the realm of speculation;
but still, We sometimes like to speculate,
even when We are morally sure that no
fruitful results will follow. 1t is true that
there exists some points of similarity, e.
nou2h, apparently to justify the conclusion
that human life may exist there; but then,
on the other hand, there are considerations
| which, it seems to me, ARE sufficient to show
that the chances are very much against it.
Tho enpIitions Mars or he *,