The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1895-03-15
THE WEATHER ON MARS.
Visible Evidences Of o Warm
Spell ON the Planet.
An Extsnslve Thav Observed Which In
dfcatsd summer Ssaaon In the
Southern nemisphers OF Our
Neighborlng World.

Among the most interesting observa-
tions of Mars during the recent opposi-
ton were those relating to the gradual
disappearance Of the snow cap sur
rounding its southern pole, The disap-
pearance was due. Of course, to- the
fact that it was summer in the south
ern hemisphere of Mars, and the polar
SHOWS melted more and more rapidly
as the sun rose higher upon them. Yet,
although the reason was plain, and be-
cause it was plain, one could not watch
stifr process without experiencing al
strange feeling that amounted almost
to awe. 1t is quite easy, says the Sci
entifc American, to think disl ssion-
ately of the possibility that some things
may go on in other worlds just as they
do in this one as 'ong as your eyes have
not confirmed what is in your mind;
but when peering through telescope
you actually behold such occurrences,
the effect is startling. 1t is like com
ing suddenly in broad daylight upon
the scenery of dream. On June !
the snow around the south pole of Mars
was !, 400 miles across. A snow cap OF
proportionate dimensions on the earth
would, in the northern hemisphere, ex-
tend as far south as St Petersburg, the
southern point of Greenland and Mount
st. Elias in Alaska. BY July the di-
ameter of the snowy area had dimin-
ished to about 1900 miles. On August
it was only 1,1O0 miles and on August
81, the date of the summer solstice in
the southern hemisphere of Mars, the
snow cap WINS but 500 miles across. But
heat accumulates in a Martian summer
after the sun has begun to decline, Just
a. it does upon the earth, and accord
ingly the melting of the SHOWS contin-
ued after the solstice was passed At
the end of September the diameter of
the snow-coyered region was only about
$50 miles, and at the opening Of Novem-
ber it was less than 900 miles
Now comes curious fact, About the
middle of October it was reported that
the polar snow cap of Mars had van
ished; some Of the most powerful tele-
scopes failed TO reveal trace of It'll
Yet it is not probable that ii had actual
" entirely disappeared. The explana-
tion of the apparent disappearance is
no doubt to be found in the fact that
as the snow area diminished it left the
pole uncovered by receding to one side,
for previous observations have shown
that on Mars, as on the earth, what
may be called the pole of eold'
does not correspond in location with the
l5ole of the planets axis. Schiaparelli's
observations in 1877 and 1879 showed
that tie center Of the snow cap during
its minimum in those years was dis
placed toward that side of the pole
corresponding to an aFe0graDhic longi-
tude of about 40 degrees. With the
other side of the planet turned toward
the earth the SNOW cap would
have been invisible, being, so to
to speak, hidden behind the pole. This
= snr.ranilv inst what occurred
n tha middle of Oosober last. The
so,,tb ,,ole was then free from ice. and
~ center ~ the snowy region was
d;s,,aeed as in 1877 and 1879. along the
,asr;d;an of 40 degrees. But il was on
t,,a otl,er side Of the planet which was
a tha+ .;me nresented toward the
a.rtb dur;ncy The hest hours for obser.
sat;on and consequently no uolar snow
80 ssa,,. ~ hecause Il had no exist
anca b,,t because Il was concealed.
I. i v.,,,ah,o hovevar that at II,
:..;,-,,,.., nv na,., c,,, ',vas exceeding
~ ' n..alI ,a,.hans M s iess than ons hundred
!. .,aa sn.' :: j;o,na4ar r. n ench amid AM
n-s ~ a...sns;rs =. d;s.nnsarance af snow
S .nS ;as ea..,S - ,co,,rs ,,non tbe earth al
anu II ~ A. 49, ,s,,,,.at,s - an omen nola,
.'lo ~ o..s s,ae,,., u ,,e,,,art Il m,
~. ~ IL. a.s. A ~ ,,ror,,a-ed so,,th ,,ola y
,as. s..as ,'...,',,,,,a. ~ !, color and ganara
-.a.s ss.',,, zs f,;.,. .,,ta. .-a bel;evad /,
~ ~. .,,a.or arsos va ~ tbat nlanet Will,
y - - q N n aro,i IN, I, s,,cl
mass of land. perhaps no more than al