The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-24
THE ATMOSPHERIC OF MARS.
Evidence of It's MISREPRESENTATION
as to It's Depths.

New York Tribune.
The announcement by Professor Camp
spectroscopeio studies of Mars indicate
that the planet has scarcely any atmos-
pnere naturally raises the question, what
there Is any air there at all? In the first
place, after 1t became certain that some
of the CONGREGATIONS of Mars were not
mere shifting cloud-forms, but were per-
manent, and hence geographical, it was
perceived that these features were more
the disc than at its edge. A slight gray.
ish or blush observation seemed to haunt
the borders much Of the time. Secondly,
faint local areas Of cloudiness are seen at
times, which temporarily impair the sharp
ness with which continental outlines are
perceived. Thirdly. while no signs of vio-
sion of the polar caps Supposed to be of
ice) which melt away to almost nothing
in summer, suggest the probability that
evaporation, transportation of water vapor
from place to place, and precipitation in
the form of snow are common occurrences.
All of these phenomena have been taken
TO mean that Mars has an atmosphere of
some sort, behaving much like that Of the
earth.
Higgins and others began to examine the
various planets with a spectroscope. It
was then discovered that Mars did not
shine by any light of its own, but merely
reflected solar rays. But the appearance
of absorption bands" in the spectrum of
the planet which did not appear in the
oOAdI III luAiCdlCC lUAl tuC IlkIl
passed through some medium around that
orb which abstracted certain rays. Some
of these absorption lines were identified
as corresponding to those produced by our
but others were peculiar to Mars, for if
the instrument were directed to the moon
Would be missing. In 1857 secehi. the eml
inent Italian astronomer, reported on the
result of his spectroscopic researches, that
the characteristic atmosphere lines in the
spectrum of Mars came out more strongly
when the edge Of the planet was exam
med than from the center. He believed.
however, that the air there was limited
and rarefied. Vogel, in Germany, in 1872,
made observations confirming those of Hug
ence of water vapor in the Marian atmos-
phere.
Professor Campbelrs observations are
somewhat at variance with those OF Hug
lines in the spectrum of Mars that cannot
be seen also in that of the moon, which is
supposed TO be devoid Of air, and he per-
ceives no greater Intensity when examining
the edge than at the center of the disc of
Mars But astronomical spectroscopy was
only in its infancy thirty years ago. and
Observatory is a magnificent instrument
much superior TO those used by Higgins
and Secchi in 1867. Moreover. Professor
Campbell is a skillful worker in this partic-
ular field. His verdict. therefore. If not con-
elusive, is entitled TO great confidence.
Another set of facts have a bearing on
the question:. MARS Is IL smaller DOdy than
the earth, and. according to the nebular
hypothesis, was formed earlier. Hence II
ought to nave radiated out into space much
more of its original heat than the earth
Again, IL is further from the sun than we
are, In about tine proportion of l52 to 100
and derives warmth from the central ort
of our system in the ration OF 100 TO 23l
as compared with the earth. Yet the growth
and diminution OF its polar caps betray,
a climate very much like that on the earth
possibly milder. Almost the only explana
/ ffOp ~ tbiS c1rnricinO fact that b,c 49,.
received with favor Is that the atmosphere
cloak of the planet is warmer than ours
and checks radiation more effectually. It
be sure, the material which forms thos,
caps may not be ice. but some substanc.
which passes from the liquid to the sole
state at a much lower temperature. w
have reason TO believe, however, that Their
is water vapor in the atmosphere OF Mars
and ind 1t hard to reject the notion that /