Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-02-21
LEACINo ASTRONOMICAL EVENT
OF THE MONTH.
ONWASHiNGTONS BIRTHDAY
Earth and Mars VIII Then Sc Side
by Side-Gigantic Race of the &c.
estiaI Bodies - Scientific Selief
That Mars Is Inhabited Now Re-
ceiVng Much Attention.


month of February is the opposition
of Mars. due the 22d of the month
Washingtons birthday. Indeed, it is
one of the great astronomical events
of the year, for it is more than two
years since the last opposition, which
occurred Jan. is, 1889. On that
date the earth and Mars were side by
side, rushing like two mad race horses,
in their respective paths round about
the sun. The earth was on its mettle
and, getting the lead, steadily drew
ahead of Mars, till he was left far be-
hind, and Jan. Is, 1900, saw the two
planets on opposite sides of their or
bits, for on that date the sun was di.
rectly between them and thus Mars
was in conjunction with the sun.
From that date till now the earth has
been gaining on Mars until, the 22d,
they will once more be side by side.
Opposition" means in the directly op-
posite quarter of the sky from the sun.
The sun, earth and Mars will be prac-
ucally in a straight line, with the
earth between. When it is midnight,
therefore, Mars will be on the me-
ridian. At the beginning of the
month Mars will rise not far from
Z O'Clock. The planet will be in con-
junction with the moon the 9Th.
Mars is now to come nearer the
earth than he has been for more than
two years, says a writer in the Brook.
11-t, ar1n &c l,ot No
will appear much larger and brighter
than commonly, and yet not as large
and bright as sometimes. For the two
planets do not come equally near at
every opposition. Their nearest ap-
proach occurs only once in fifteen
years. Owing to the eccentricity of
the orbits of the earth and Mars
they come the nearest, $4,000 600
miles when opposition occurs in Au.
gust or September; but if opposition
occurs in February or March, they are
as far APART as they can be at such a
time, about 60,O000OO miles. The
present opposition is, therefore, one of
the poorest possible. Still, placing the
present distance of 60,000,000 miles
against the possible extreme distance
of 247 600 900 miles, it is apparent that
Mars is very near.
Just rs the moon Is overtaking and
passing the sun every twenty-nine and
a half days, so the earth ovSrtakes
and passes Mars at intervals VI about
two years ana two months. Mars
then comes UP fiery red in the eastern
sky, and when at his nearest some
times excites popular apprehension
even outshining Sirius with his angry
flame. That Mars should appear larger
and brighter at opposition is but
natural, since we are so much nearer
the planet than commonly; but for
another reason as well, if the opposi
ton occur in August or September, for
then Mars it at perhelion, that is, at
his least distance from the sun, and
the orbit of Mars is so eccentric that
he is 25,000,000 miles nearer the sun
at that time than when opposite that
point. The earths variation of dis
lance from the sun is, on the other
hand. only about 3,250,000 miles. Mars,
therefore, receives so per cent more
light and heat from the sun at some
times than at others. Hence, If op-
position occurs at such times Mars is
brighter on this account as well as on
account of neaTness.
1t is manifest that a planet that va
ries its distance from the sun by 25.
10000 miles must feel the effect of il
very seriously Indeed, the earths
slight variation causes our northern
hemisphere to experience eight days
less of winter than of summer On
Mars, however, according to Lowell
the northern hemisphere experiences
1S1 days of winter to 147 OF summer
and in the southern hemisphere, 147
days Of winter to 1S1 of summer. But
it must be remembered that Mars
year is equal to about two of ou1
years, while the diurnal revolution OF
that planet gives it day of about
equal length with ours, namely TWEEN.
ty-four hours and forty minutes.
The diameter of Mars is only about
4,2l5 miles, making it much smaller
world than the earth. having only
about one-fourth the surface of the lat
ter, while it's volume is about one.
seventh that Of the earth. It's mass
that is, its matter weighed UPS only
a little more than one-tenth that OF
the earth. The power of gravitation
on the surface of Mars is little more
than one-third that on the surface OF
the earth. This means that a man
weighing $50 pounds on the earth
would, If transferred to Mars, weigh
only about so; therefore, if possessed
of the same degree Of strength which
he enjoys here, he could leap three
times as high as he can on the earth
and could lift objects weighing three
times what he could lift here. because
they would lose two-thirds of tbeit
weight by being located on Mars. The
planet has two moons.
The orbital velocity of Mars is 200
miles per minute, which is $50 less
than that Of the earth. This lowe,
rate OF speed, coupled with the greater
distance around it's orbit, accounts for
us year being about twice our own.
Tor once around its orbit constitutes
the year of any planet On Mars
moreover thfc war go .,,a-t.za T. -