The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-16
NEWS FROM The PLANET MARS
PROF. LOWELL TELLS HOW BE
PHOTOGRAPHED THE CANALS.
Achievement Of the Harvard Observers In
Arizona-Pho biography Expected In
the Near Future to Reveal Mere Facts
ConcernIny Our Planetary Neighbor.

Astronomers and scientists In general are
deeply interested in tfs modest announce
ment made by Prof. Percival Lowell and bis
associates at the Lowell Observatory In
Arizona recently that after several partial
successes and some complete failures
the greater canals Of the planet Mars had
at last been photographed.
Hitherto the general public has been
compelled to accept or to reject the e1is-
tence Of the Marian canals on the word OF
the stargazing fraternity. But with the
accomplishment Of the Harvard observers
in Arizona ievery one will now have an
opportunity to see the actual photographs
in proof of what has long been considered
as more or less of theory.
While several photographs we're taken
of the canals some weeks ago, 1t was not
until few days ago that the solar phetog-
raphers were ready to announce the
complete success OF the undertaking. Prof.
Lowell, in the following account OF the
achievement, Is unreserved in his belief
that the Marian canals closely correspond
to the familiar waterways OF the 50 me
general classification on this planet.
Up to the present time human knowledge
principal faots>regarding the planet being
thatit is l4l 500 900 miles from the sun and
approximately 100000 miles from the
earth. The Marian year has es7 days.
Mars is 1880 miles in diameter, the earth
being 1918, Jupiter 500 and the sun
800 400 miles.
"To photograph the canals Of Mars,
says Prof. Lowell, has for many years
been a purpose OF the observatory estab-
lished and maintained by Harvard College
in Arizona. The first attempt to meet
with even approximate success was made
In 1901 when q more or less satisfactory
print was made OF the Mare Aoidalium, or
Lake OF Acid.
"Yet, encouraging as that pioneer effort
was, no canal could then be detected on the
negative with absolute certainty. To-day
we can state as positive and final that there
are canals on Mas-because the photo
graphs say 90, and Photographic negative
is nothing II not truthful.
prior to the present time two difficulties
have stood In the way Of determining the
existence Of Marian canals beyond dis
pute one. the varying air waves which
now favor. now prevent, the defining Of
such minor details Of Marian topography
as the canals, and the other being the in
sufficient speed OF Photographic plates
in registering such details the eye has
a tremendous advantage over the camera.
since It can perceive mitch more sensi-
lively than a camera plate. besides re-
tanning an image only the twentieth part
OF a second. 1t can thus record the mo-
ment Of appariuon, which the Genera
even the most sensitive one-cannot or
has not hitherto been able to do.
Having knowledge OF these conditions
to be reckoned with. determined, With
the valuable assistance Of Mr., c. o. Lamp
land, TO have made a camera patterned
after what Is known In photography as q
boscopic film in which. behind Wallace
screen, many successive pictures might
he taken in hope Of securing among them
a few showing the Marian canals.
Despite the fact that thus far We have
not secured an automatic camera. ours
being worked by hand only, our photo
graphs are quite clear enough TO corroboEate