The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-04-25
The Age of Mars.

statement of his opinions in regard to tn q
age of Mars. If his theory is all right,
all the Martian Astronomy will have to
begin over again with the A. b. g. stage
He rests his theory upon the new cosmo-
genical theory recently advanced by Col.
du Legondes, of the French army reput-
ing the Laplace theory of the formation
of worlds.
eff in asking how old is the planet
Mars one means how much time has
elapsed since the elements which now
from the planet were united in single
sphere, the question can receive on de-
finite answer. Whereas geologists, having
under their eyes all the materials of the
outer crust of the earth, still disagree as
the various periods which marked the
first solidfying of our globe, we
could not define, even approximately,
the time required for the complete evOlu-
tion Of planet concerning whose very
surface we know practically nothing. But
in regard to the rank occupied by Mars
in the chronological order of the forma-
tion of planets the problem is not insolu-
BILE, and it would be readily made clear
if, as formerly, the cosmogenic theory of
Laplace were accepted without objection
being raised. According to this theory
the planets were formed successively by
the condensation of the solar nebulosi,y,
which caused rings of vapor to detach
themselves along its equator. Following
this theory Mars would come Immediate
ly before the earth, its nearest neighbor
on the side of the sun, and would be older
than we
However, this conclusion seems un-
sound. First of all it would be surprising
that planet so small as Mars, being
older than the earth, should not have
reached the end of its evolution. Under
our eyes we have striking example of
the rapidity with which small bodies un-
dergo the various stages of steller life.
The moon, the earth's satellite and con-
temporary. is to-day rigid in its last form.
BY its density Mars closely resembles the
formation of the moon, in size it is a
mean between the earth and the MOON
if Mars were really so much older than
the earth it would consequently be in the
same physical condition as the moon.
Calculations as to the age of Mars
have always been based on the Laplace
theory. Now this theory has not only
not been confined by moters observation
but has indeed been contradicted by it.
1t is in consequence, only rational to lay
aside the hypothesis and it's natural con-
clusions.
"But there is another cosmogenic the
ory, which appeals more readily to astron-
omers, and against which no serious OBJ
lection has been raised; moreover, it ex-
plains most of the peculiarities of our So
lar system.
This hypothesis, first advanced by Col
du Ligondes, is simply that planets arr
the result of condensation of slightly
flattened spherical nebulae, in the inter
ior of which the movements were pretty
much equal in all directions. Thus the
necessity of assuming systematic initial
movement, rotary or in whirls, as with
the Laplace theory, is obviated. It. is
indeed, to the equality of diversified
INDICTMENTS that nebulae owe their first
shape.
"After forming the nebulae fatten
more and more, while in the centre local
condensations are produced AS "a result
of progressive fiattening most of these
cOndensations fiually gather in the plane
O. the equator and give birth first to
rings and then to planetary globes. Now
from the very principle of universal at
traction it is clear that the impol tance Of
these spheres will increare in accordance
with the age of the agglOmeratiOns which
gave rise to them Thus the first spheres
to start in their formation would be the
largest. since they would have fewer ex-
terror influence to resist Jupiter, the
greatest of the planets, would, therefore,
be also the most ancient. Between this
giant OF the planetary system and the sun
itself the SYSTEM of the earth and the
moon preponderates. 1t must, therefore,
be the oldest of all the inferior systems.
In the intermediate zone occupied by
Mars and the multitude Of little planets
the materials, drawn in different direc-
tiOns, had some difficulty in coming to-
gether the scattering of the little planets
on eccentric and greatly inclined orbits
is a proof of this.
'Mars then has had its formation re-
tarded and its volume diminished by the
opposite actions of the earth and Jupiter.
Its planetary formation is relatively re-
cent. 1t came long after the earth, at
the time when the interior planets were
in process of creation, at the same period
with Venus and Mercery, although it is
not possible to say whether Mars is older
Or younger than these Compared to
Venus, which seems almost surrounded
by thick clouds, the planet Mars, with
its rart fledand almost always clear a, mos
phere, set ms the more advanced in cvulu- |
ton, or older of the two But the lcugth
of the evolution of a planet depends upon
the quantity Of heat absorbed during its
formation, as well as,upon its mass Ac-
cording to the new cosmogenic theory
this quantity of heart varies with bodies |
of equal volume in proportion to the |
distance from the sun. Thus, if Mas
and Venus were of the same size.