The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-26
NEWS ABOUT MARS.
OBTAINING EXACT KNOWLEDGE OF
THAT PLANET.

Atmosphere and CIimate-NIars Ir-
rigated by a Mighty Periodieal
FIocd-A Wonderful system or
Lakes.
From the Hartford Times.
Astronomers are jumping just now upon
Mr. Percival Lowell of Boston on ac-
count OF the announcement respecting his
recent observations of Mars. These obser-
vations were conducted through a pow
erful telescope at Flagstaff. Ariz Owing
to the extraordinary clearness of the at
mosphere in that region he was able to
see with distinctness the dark bands on
the planet, which Schiaparelli, the Italian
sky-searcher, believes to be canals But
Mr. Lowell is inclined TO think that the
bands may be strips of cultivated vegeta-
ton. The people of Mars. presumably,
are much larger than the earth's inhabi-
tants. and their standing crops may be
gigantic. Nothing forbids the magma
ing of Marian corn stalks 100 feet in
hight, and beans and peas of correspond
ing size. Fields of such Brobdignagian
would assuredly be visible from our point
OF view, and their growing and the reap
ing of them would account for the way
in which the bands referred to become
more distinct and fade again periodically.
But certain star-gazers are disposed to
cast derision upon Mr.. Lowells theory.
They used to sneeze at Schiapareln; but
the discoveries of that eminent astronomer
have been confirmed very fully of late by
reliable observers in various parts of the
world. His belief chat the so-called canals
are such in reality has gained many adj
herents, and, though the theory cannot
be said to be proved, it is strongly backed
by evidence. In truth, facts about this
sister planet, its geography, its atmos-
phere and its climate, are beginning 70 ne
known with surprising detinlteneSs. mat
1t is capable of supporting life is no longer
doubted, and in all probability plants and
animals-very likely intelligent being ike
ourselves-eXist upon 1t.
Two brilliant white spots of rounded
form and variable size were noticed on
Mars by some of the first astronomers
VINO studied that orb with the telescope.
1t was imagined that these were polar
ice-caps, and this theory is to-day accept
ed as correct beyond DOUBT. Ihey are
immense masses of snow and ice, similar
to those which to-day prevent naviga-
ton from reaching the poles of the earth.
Schiaparelli says that there are other
reasons for this belief apart from the ap-
pearance and situation of the white spots.
1t is observed that the latter diminish in
size with the approach of sumner ana IN
crease during the winter. In the second
half of the year 1892 the southern polar
cap was in fun view from the earth; dur
ing that interval, and especially in the
months of July and August, its rapid
diminution from week to week was very
evident even to those observing with
common telescopes. The snow, which at
the beginning formed a cap 1900 miles in
diameter progressively lessened, so that
three months later little more of it re-
manned than an area of perhaps $50 miles
in diameter and still less was seen in the
last days of 1882. In these months the
southern hemisphere of Mars had its
Observations of the alternate increase
and decrease Of the polar snow of Mars
are easily made even with telescopes of
moderate power, but they become much
- more interesting and instructive when
watched through intruments of great size.
With such powerful aid to vision one
sees black holes and huge assures in the
midst Of the icy regions; immense iso-
lated pieces many miles in extent stand
out from the principal mass and, dissolv-
ing, disappear little later. In short,
the same phenomena present themselves
TO the view as occur during the summer
of the Arctic region on the earth. The
southern snow of Mars, however, has
this popularity: Its center is not on the
pole, but $50 miles distant from the lat
ter. 1t is probable that when the ice area
Is reduced to its smallest extent the south
pole of Mars is uncovered, On this ac~
count it may be imagined that explorers
on the Arean planet have already achieved
the discovery of their south pole
The southern ice-caD is in the midst of
huge, dark spot which, with it's branch
es, occupies nearly one-third of the
whole surface of Mars. This dark spot is
supposed to be the principal ocean Of the
planet Here, again. is an interesting like
ness to conditions on the earth. The
northern snow cap of Mars is centered
almost exactly upon its pole 1t is located
in the region of yellow color which is be-
lieved to be the main continental mass of
the planet. This circumstance has to do
with very extraordinary phenomenon,
which has no analogy on the earth. When
the SHOWS accumulated during the long
winter begin to melt, the region surround
ing the pole is flooded: In fact, the mum
uation IS on a gigantic scale, converting
thousands of square miles Of land into a
temporary sea- As will be explained pres
entity this mighty periodical inundation
has lmDOrtant Influence the al
fairs of the Marian sphere
The Arean year is nearly twice as long
as one of ours, says SchiaparelH, and
whereas the winter of eleven months du-
ration allows, time for a great accumula-
ton of snow, the melting process goes on
Tor eleven months of summer that follow
If conditions were the same on the earth
our northern ice-cap would nearly or quite
disappear. That is what happens on Mars
where the snow area is reduced so much
as to present only a very small point to
the view of the telescope. other white
spots that come and go are frequently
seen on various parts of Mars and it is
supposed that they are transitory snow
fans: Occasionally they are observed in
the torrid zone of that planet, and ii is
suggested that these may be the snow
covered tops of lofty mountains
Inc polar SHOWS of Mars prove beyond
dispute that the planet, like the earth,
Is surrounded by an atmosphere capable
Of transporting vapor from one place to
another. These SHOWS are in fact pre-
clpltations of Vapor, condensed by the
cold The existence of an atmosphere
charged with vapor has been confirmed
also by spectroscopic observations, which
shows that this atmosphere must be of a
composition differing little from our own.
and carrying much watery vapor. This
IS a fact of the highest Importance, be-
cause it fully indorses the idea that the
seas and SHOWS of Mars are of water
and no other substance. Another inter
esting conclusion is that the temperature
o! the planet, Notwithstanding its greater
dlsance from the sun, is about the same
as that of the earth. This is indicated
by the observed phenomena of melting
and freezing.
Tho extraordinary periodical inunda-
ton, to which allusion has already been
made, is spread out to a great distance
by means of a network of canals. Per-
maps these canals are the principal means,
il not the only one, by which water and
with il animal and vegetable life, are
dinused over the arid surface Of the plan
e. on Mars IL rains very rarely, and
possibly II does not rain at all. OF this
tact there is satisfactory proof Imagine
yourself on the MOON and turn your gaze
toward the earth You will be disappoint-
Cd n you expect to see the continents
ana islands of the world clearly defined