The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-26

600 Miles Away.
To spend Il fortune fer the mere sake
nt looking at "A star seems anything but
a scientific preceding, yet for months
past the worlds scientists have been
making the costliest preparations for
;hat very thing.
On the 18th Of this month the planet
MAJ is III %perihelion. as the astronomers
say, which means that it will then be
nearest the sun. An expedition COM
prisiny members of the faculty of all
the leading universities in the country,
also Of Oxford, Cambridge, Trinity ard
Barcelona, will on that dag inaugurate
i'll Mexico observations of Mars. The
character is such that the greatest re-
suits are expected. The work will be
under the special supervision of the
Harvard observatory staff.
The somewhat hackneyed problems
regarding Mars are not to form the
chief subjects Of investigation. Far from
IT The canals Of the planet really be-
long to ancient history HOW. The ques-
1ion Of the population of Mars will be
approached from another standpoint al
together.
Camille FlammIrion, the famous
French sta gazcr, who has taken the
greatest interest in the coming expedi-
ton, gives it as his opinion that the
canals can no longer figure in astrono-
my as the main element of Importance
i'll the fiery planet. In this Sc%hiaparclli,
the no less eminent Italian astral ex-
pert, comedies. The Harvard authori-
ties. needing these views, have had their
new 500, 600 lens, constructed solely
for the purpose Of the expedition, re-
tractcd for general examination Of ev-
ervthing connected with Mars. Not a
scintilla Of evidence bearing upon the
existence Of jewellers On the surface of
the planet will escape the scrutiny of
the watchers. .....
The region of Oaxaca, in Mexico, and
the neighborhCod Of the capital city it.
self were selected as the site for the
temporary observatory, because nowhere
else in the world can the red star be
gazed upon to better advantage.
The accompanying paraphernalia
have been in process Of manufacture for
three years. The mechanism is so deli
cate that three exceedingly minute hair
springs hold it in control. 1t will be
shipped on a special car within "a few
days, and attaches Of the observatory
are to accompany it through to its des-
tination.
The achievements Of astronomers in
the past have been wondrous indeed,
but the results of this American under
taking are confidently expected to be-
come historical. Ten thousand dollars
Is the sum expended upon the photo
graphing appliances alone.
Perhaps this will be the first time
the kaleidoscope has ever figured as a
factor in astronomy, 1t will register 90
changes in a second, a lower fraction of
time than any previously recorded. The
grand total of expense for the undertake
ing is a round $500, 600.
No wonder the astronomical world
looks for very definite results regarding
the momentous and fascinating riddle
Of population. But that is by no means
the only question the far away star
must answer.
AS every ~schoolboy would know if he
studied his lessons, Mars is the planet
whose orbit is nearest the earth. His
exact diameter is not known. The COM
ing expedition will ascertain it, thanks
TO the directions of Professor Pickering,
but it is about 400 miles.
On June IL next the expedition, &C.
cording to its own calculation, w II
view the planet when it is nearly five
times as bright as the ordinary phases
allow it to be. The star will also be
most brilliantly illuminated by the rays
of the sun, and as its distance from the
earth will be no more than 33, 800. coo
miles the superb telescope Will com
mard it perfectly.
Only once every 70 years can Mars
be examined under the rIOst favorable
auspices. when the blaze Of the planet
IS SO gorgeous as to lead to the impress
sion that 1t is a new star.
The highest astronomical skill will
be QtplCycd, so 10 speak. to gather facts
for the science. Not alone the staff Of
Harvard observatory. but represent
tlves Of the Lick staff. Of the Greenwich
observatory, of the astronomical observ.
atory i'll Turin and numerous other seats
Of the heavenly science are to take part
IN the long Mexican vigils. The reports
OF the work are to be translated into
every European language.
The people who live on Mars, assum-
ing them to nave any existence at all,
are TO be left without any excuse for
not knowing of our existence. although
we may not be thoroughly aware of
theirs. The Martians must, in the ma
ture Of things, be far in advance Of our
selves intellectually. physically. and it
may be morally.
Once the luminiferous ether now sun
dering Mars and earth like a dividing
chasln has been penetrated the whole
difficulty vanlshcs. Then not messages,
but mectings-hnw imperfect and par
nal fhayr r,a tryn y,,nftnrc, litt1, ,-.D